Plans for the station were first announced in July 2019 by New York governorAndrew Cuomo. New York Arena Partners, the main party behind the Belmont Park redevelopment, will pay $97 million of the estimated $105 million cost, with the balance being paid by the state. The eastbound platform will open first, in 2021, followed by the westbound platform in late 2022. When completed, it would be the first completely new LIRR station since 1976, when the now-dismantled Southampton Campus station opened. It would be served by Hempstead Branch trains at all times. The project is seen as vital to the Belmont Park redevelopment. Though the Elmont station will serve a portion of Elmont that does not currently have full-time train service, opponents of the Belmont Park Arena have claimed that the station plans conceal the real motivation behind building the arena. The LIRR anticipates that the new Elmont station would not be expected to generate new commuter ridership but would instead result in a shift of existing riders living in Bellerose Terrace and Elmont that currently use other stations. With the operation of the Elmont station, existing levels of commuter service would be maintained to other LIRR stations and the addition of the Elmont station would not be anticipated to result in an impact to commuter service.
Station layout (planned)
This station will have two 12-car-long side platforms, both of which will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Unlike the Belmont Park station directly to the south, it will be able to serve Main Line trains from both the west and east. The station will also include platform canopies, LED signs, benches, USB charging ports, bike racks, and art. Parking will be available at an existing 2,860-space parking lot, with 150 spaces specifically for commuters. Outside the station, an electric shuttle bus service will take passengers to the Belmont Park development. The station would be located directly east of the overpass across the Cross Island Parkway. The location of the station will give platform access on the Bellerose Terrace side via an overpass. Though designated the Elmont Station, the location of the proposed station is to the nearest residence in Elmont. All residents of the Nassau County portion of Bellerose, many in the Queens portion of Bellerose and many Floral Park residents will live to this station than anyone in Elmont. The main entrance and dedicated parking for commuters is on the existing Belmont Park property in the northwestern corner of Elmont. Direct road access to the commuter lot will be via the Cross Island Parkway entrance and exit to and from the Belmont Park property.
