Back in 2021, Suffolk County officials helped the Long Island Rail Road (MTA) select the new location for the Yaphank train station to be located near the Brookhaven National Lab.

At that time, former Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone and then-Brookhaven Town supervisor and current Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine agreed the new location should be near the lab and the William Floyd Parkway to create a connection for the Yaphank community.

“Relocation of the Yaphank Long Island Rail Road station closer to the Brookhaven Lab site will be a game-changer,” said Ann Emrick, the BNL’s deputy director for operations, noting they host several thousand guest scientists annually—both from the United States and internationally. “This gives them a direct rail connection to the four major airports in the region.”

“It also opens up a public transit option for our 2,900-plus employees who live across Long Island and in New York City, with this expanded access making Brookhaven Lab more attractive as an employer in the region. Finally, the move will increase access to the lab’s existing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs, which reach more than 30,000 students and teachers in the region each year,” she added.

Current Brookhaven Town supervisor and then-deputy supervisor, Daniel J. Panico, also supports the project.

“I strongly support this relocation and encourage the LIRR to move forward. This began as an idea that I had almost a decade ago that was brought forward by former supervisor and current county executive Ed Romaine,” he said. “We supported, and continue to support, the industrial park right off of William Floyd Parkway while the former county executive envisioned a location inside of BNL. Now comes the question of time and when.”

According to Panico, the LIRR has been working with the town’s planning department, highway department and attorneys for AVR Reality, which has property available for the relocation.  

“This move will allow much easier access to the Ronkonkoma line right off of William Floyd Parkway, which will be a popular access point inside of our bustling industrial park and area in general,” he said.

However, the new location could not be confirmed by the LIRR.

The LIRR has been looking to move the Yaphank station for years as it sees low ridership. The station is currently located on Yaphank Avenue, just south of the Suffolk County Board of Elections. However, ridership numbers could not be provided by the LIRR at this time. 

The plan, according to LIRR media liaison Dave Steckel, does not include a building but rather a platform and parking. He also said a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in December of last year. However, no timetable or full cost was made available at this time.