I-Zone

The Long Island Innovation Zone or the "I-Zone” is a comprehensive plan to integrate Long Island’s major innovation and transportation assets. A component of the larger Connect Long Island initiative, the I-Zone serves as part of the solution to the “brain drain” Long Island has been experiencing for several years, enabling our region to once again become a competitive option for the young, highly-skilled workers needed to build and sustain an innovation economy.

I-Zone comprises four major projects.

1. The transformation of the Nicolls Road corridor into a multimodal corridor complete with an extensive hiking and biking network.
   • Will create the first direct north-south public transportation connection between the three LIRR lines – Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma and Montauk.
   • Nicolls Road BRT will link all regional assets along the route from Stony Brook to Patchogue.
   • The hiking/biking network will connect existing green spaces as well as work places, downtowns and education centers, reducing our reliance on automobiles.
2. The completion of the Ronkonkoma Hub adjacent to the Ronkonkoma LIRR Station.
   • This 50-acre development is projected to generate nearly $250 million in economic activity per year, create 3,000 new jobs, spur $60 million in increased wages, and create the type of walkable mixed-use downtown which is attractive to young workers, professionals, and empty-nesters.


Master Developer for the Ronkonkoma Hub, TRITEC Real Estate

3. Ronkonkoma South
   • Beginning in 2016, the Ronkonkoma Civic Association undertook a multi-year community planning effort for the area immediately south of the Ronkonkoma Train Station. After many public meetings and with the participation of hundreds of community residents, four development concepts were developed by the community for the parcels and parking area between Railroad Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road tracks at Ronkonkoma Station.
   • At the request of the Ronkonkoma Civic Association, Suffolk County, in conjunction with the Town of Islip, released a Request for Qualifications seeking plans from master developers in response to these four development concepts. Based on their responsiveness to the community’s vision, their understanding of the community setting and its goals, and their experience and capacity to deliver projects of a comparable scale, a team led by JLL was selected to further refine a “Destination Hub” concept featuring an entertainment and sports arena, a hotel and conference space, a STEM/STEAM center that will partner with local school districts, and a medical research facility – all in the absence of residential uses.


BNL’s National Synchrotron Light Source II

4. The future construction of a new state-of-the-art airport terminal on the north side of Long Island MacArthur Airport adjacent to the Ronkonkoma LIRR and the Hub.
   • Would establish a simple, fast train-to-plane connection.
   • The new terminal would allow travelers to walk off their plane and have a direct connection to New York City by rail in less than an hour.
5. Relocation of the greatly underutilized Yaphank LIRR Station approximately 4 miles east to Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL).
   • The tracks of the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma line run along the southern edge of BNL’s property.
   • A new train station at this global research center would allow BNL to become fully integrated into the region’s transportation network, enabling travel between assets easily and without a car.

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