Connect Long Island - Midway Crossing

The concept for Midway Crossing envisions a 15-year build out plan comprising four phases of construction for 170+ acres.

The project will undergo extensive environmental and regulatory review processes to address and mitigate local concerns and further refine and maximize the region’s economic development potential.

A Community Driven Process

Summer 2022 Public Outreach

Four public meetings were held from July to September 2022 in the communities of Ronkonkoma, Holbrook and Bohemia, with a total of 570 residents and stakeholders in attendance across these four meetings. An additional two stakeholder meetings were held for civic organizations and emergency responders in June and September 2022.

Based upon the public feedback collected from these events, the site plan of Midway Crossing was updated with the removal of a proposed Sports and Entertainment District in response to concerns over the use that were raised. In place of the Sports and Entertainment District, additional life sciences uses were incorporated into the new site plan, finalized at the start of 2023, in recognition of the public support expressed at the community meetings for Midway Crossing's Life Sciences Center. Additionally, as a result of these Summer 2022 meetings, expressed public interest in green spaces on the site of Midway Crossing culminated in the addition of a centralized park and multiple parklets to the updated Midway Crossing Site Plan.

Current Site

Midway Crossing Project Location

Midway Crossing represents a once-in-a-generation, transit-oriented development opportunity not only for Ronkonkoma, but also for the region as a whole. High daily ridership on the Ronkonkoma line (over 9 million in 2018), coupled with proximity to regional transportation assets, and the underutilization of land surrounding the train station makes a project in Ronkonkoma a real transformational possibility. This project would comprise redevelopment of the commuter parking lot and the Town of Islip compost facility into a true destination.

Currently, the Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) terminal, located on the south side of the airport land, has no direct connection to the Ronkonkoma LIRR station. A terminal potentially relocated to the north side of the airport would allow a direct “train to plane” link between the terminal and the train.

Proposed Project

Midway Crossing comprises three main elements: A Life Sciences/Commercial District, Retail and Shopping, and a Convention Center and Hotel. The Town of Islip is also simultaneously pursuing an Airport component to explore a potential North Terminal. The Town will pursue planning, environmental review and funding of the airport component while Suffolk County and the JLL team will pursue the same for all the other elements of Midway Crossing.

The proposed 15 year, four-phase, build out plan for the site is shown in the chart and site plan below. There are also plans to create a true "train to plane connection” connecting the Ronkonkoma LIRR Station directly to the potential new north terminal via an 1800 foot walkable pedestrian corridor. Park and open space will be dispersed throughout the project site.

Midway Crossing is a prime example of public/private collaboration. The public stakeholders include Suffolk County, the Town of Islip, New York State and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The private stakeholders include JLL as Master Developer, Cameron Engineering and Crawford Architects NY.

Please note: all figures above represent estimates

Economic Impacts

The Long Island Regional Planning Council named Midway Crossing a “Project of Regional Significance” due to its size, scope and opportunity for regional economic benefits. The projected $3.3 billion annual economic benefit includes increased wages, tourism, induced consumer demand and more that will significantly help the surrounding communities while also having impacts throughout Long Island and beyond.

Benefits include:

Establishment of a Life Sciences Hub
- Strengthened Long Island Innovation Corridor
  - New Life Sciences cluster that will facilitate collaboration amongst research institutions, commercialization firms and service providers to create an innovation hub.
- Over 4,000 new permanent high paying jobs in the field of life sciences
- Next generation of medical research, laboratories and product development space
- Attraction of leading local health-care providers
New and Improved Infrastructure
- Redesigned roads, bicycle accommodations, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, and modernized transit and parking technology to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion and emissions
- New sewer system to accommodate growth and lessen climate impacts
New Park and Open Spaces
- The project will feature multiple pocket parks and parklets throughout the project site as well as a centralized parksquare
New Convention Center and Hotel
- Multipurpose exhibition hall to host local, regional and national trade shows, conferences, seminars and other events.
- Indoor convention center totaling over 300,000 sq ft programmed to host conventions, youth sports tournaments and community events
- New hotel to service convention center, airport visitors and local tourism
New Retail Opportunities: A mix of daily services and destination retail
Leveraging MTA investments in the Long Island Railroad for East Side Access, Second Track and Third Track improvements and serves as the basis for further transportation investments.
Commitment to Sustainability
- Goal of majority of energy supplied to site being renewable by 2030
- Goal of achieving a net-zero carbon footprint at site by 2040
- New Micro-grid
- Serves as an emergency response asset
A true "train to plane" connection: an 1,800 foot walkway that will directly connect the LIRR to the new North Terminal at ISP
- Spearheaded by the Airport and complements the development of the rest of the site

Regional Context: Connect LI via Ronkonkoma

Public transit investment is a cornerstone of Suffolk County’s planning and economic development strategy. In 2012, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced Connect Long Island (CLI), a long-term regional transportation and development plan that aims to drive sustainable growth by supporting transit-oriented development (TOD) and building modern transportation infrastructure connected to major research/educational institutions and emerging high-tech companies.

The Long Island Innovation Zone (I-Zone), which is a component of the CLI initiative, serves as part of the solution to the “brain drain” problem Long Island has been experiencing for several years. The I-Zone plan suggests investment in growing Long Island’s innovation economy, enabling Suffolk County to attract and retain young people and high-paying jobs. It will also expand the tax base to help lessen the tax burden for all residents. Development in Ronkonkoma is a critical component of the I-Zone as well as the overall CLI plan due to its unprecedented intermodal connections and potential to bolster the county’s innovation economy.

CLI also integrates seamlessly with the Long Island Railroad’s (LIRR) billions of dollars of investment for the Double Track, Third Track, and East Side Access projects. Residents in Suffolk County now have the ability to reach the east side of Manhattan more quickly and easily. Similarly, with increased frequency, companies on Long Island will be able to draw more talent from the NYC pool. Development at Ronkonkoma leverages these historic transportation investments to establish an economic and recreational hub while also connecting crucial regional transportation assets.

Get Involved

Please stay tuned for more information and the date for the inaugural meeting of the Midway Crossing Local Development Corporation (MCLDC).

Keep in Touch

Email Us: midwaycrossing@suffolkcountyny.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuffolkCountyEconomicDevelopmentPlanning

Twitter: @suffolkecodev

Midway Crossing