NYMTA Completes Valley Stream Station Renovation, Advancing Accessibility and State of Good Repair

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has completed a comprehensive renovation of the Valley Stream Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Station, delivering long-awaited accessibility improvements, modernized facilities, and critical state-of-good-repair upgrades at one of the railroad’s busiest locations. The project was finished on time and on budget, underscoring the authority’s focus on delivering results for riders.

Serving approximately 137,000 customers each month, the Valley Stream Station plays a vital role in the region’s commuter rail network. The renovation improves access and safety while positioning the station to better serve customers for decades to come.

“The new MTA is all about results,” said Janno Lieber, MTA chair and CEO. “137,000 riders use this station every month, and we’re thrilled to deliver these long-awaited upgrades. There’s more to come as part of the 2025–2029 Capital Plan’s $6 billion investment in LIRR projects.”

The work at Valley Stream was delivered using a design-build contracting approach, which streamlines project delivery by allowing a single private-sector consortium to manage both design and construction from start to finish. The station renovation is part of a larger bundle of projects that will add seven accessible stations to the LIRR system and replace elevators and escalators at two additional accessible locations.

The design-build team included Citnalta/Scalamandre, J.V. with Parsons Transportation Group serving as designer of record, supported by major subcontractors Bana Electric, Mid-American, Premier, Superior, and Welkin.

At Valley Stream, crews replaced the existing escalator, installed a new staircase, and upgraded an elevator, while also constructing a new elevator machine room and electrical room. Additional improvements included service upgrades, weather-protected elevator vestibules, new parking spaces, enhanced lighting, upgraded sidewalks and crosswalks, and new closed-circuit television cameras to improve safety and visibility.

The project also addressed extensive state-of-good-repair needs, including new station signage; painting steel columns and girders; repairing structural cracks and spalling; replacing tactile warning strips, platform markers, and rubbing edge boards; and upgrading the station’s public address system.

“Valley Stream is one of the LIRR’s busiest stations, and we were able to perform major upgrades and state-of-good-repair work with minimal impact to our customers,” said Rob Free, president of the Long Island Rail Road. “So much of this project was completed by our in-house workforce, and I’m looking forward to more projects like these to improve the customer experience at more LIRR stations throughout the system.”

The Valley Stream renovation was supported by more than $12 million in federal funding, highlighting the role of federal investment in advancing accessibility and preserving critical rail infrastructure.