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WALKSITFUNMUSIC

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NYLONG ISLAND INDEX BUILD A BETTER BURB COMPETITION

Long Island downtown centers such as Port Jefferson

Station owe their existence to the rail line; their identity and

fortunes are entwined with it. But the rail corridor is divisive

and unattractive. It acts as a boundary and an impediment

to the stimulus the town needs to be lively and have a

growing economy. The character of rail operations in these

urban centers must be re-evaluated, the impact objectively

assessed, and interventions made so that the rail spaceitself becomes a positive catalyst for the area.

This proposal seeks to reclaim land currently given over to

underutilized and disruptive track infrastructure, creating a

linear activity armature that allows for recreation, art, and

commerce centered on repurposed and re-imagined rail

cars. This takes place in the corridor to the east of Main

Street and is made possible by ending passenger rail service

on the west side of Main Street. No longer subject to regular

rail corridor trafc, Main Street activity can freely expand to

Proposed S

the south. The new rail station, appropria

railroad terminus, is the centerpiece of new

development and incorporates multi-mo

such as to the ferry service to the north. T

forms a new, denser core of mixed-use acti

town center to a higher level of use on th

while invigorating the historic Main Street.

The new Rail Park corridor is animated by

tion of rail cars re-purposed for a wide var

The rail cars move on two tracks left in pla

scaped trailway for pedestrian and bike tra

majority of the corridor. Platforms provide p

to the cars; docking buildings provide util

Passage along the corridor culminates at

storage yard, now a center where the com

act with artists and engineers who adapt r

use and display in the Rail Park or anywhe

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RAIL PARK PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NYLONG ISLAND INDEX BUILD A BETTER BURB COMPETITION

Downtown Armature Car BarnThe symbolism of the intersection of the railroad and Main Street is transformed into the true

heart of Port Jefferson Station, becoming a destination for visitors and a vibrant self-sustaining

urban center for residents. With the relocation of passenger service to the west of Main Street,

and the redevelopment of the rail corridor as public realm space to the east, the rail corridor no

longer divides the community but unies it.

The re-imagined rail corridor becomes a linking armature, reaching out into the adjacent urban

fabric of the town and providing opportunities for recreation, cultural interaction and commercial

stimulation that are completely unique to Port Jefferson Station. An ever-changing array of rail cars

that are repurposed to accommodate a wide range of creative and compelling programs populate

this linear public space, extending into the Downtown area. These cars create events along the

generous walking and biking pathways which link to the surrounding neighborhoods, redening the

rail corridor as a positive asset to the nearby community.

The disruptive storage of transit rail stock is re

urban center. The former storage yard is reada

space where engineers and artists transform re

functioning program and pieces of art, or restore

for educational use.

Existing conditions, train station parking lots. Existing conditions, rail corridor east of station. Existing conditions, aerial image of MTA railyard.

Retired or outdated railcars present tremendous unta

for adaptation as evocative program elements. This p

an environment for artists, engineers, and community

develop ways of reimagining rail infrastructure.

Existing buildings

New buildings

Rail car docking stations

Linear Rail Park

Enhanced green space

Legend

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RAIL PARK PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NYLONG ISLAND INDEX BUILD A BETTER BURB COMPETITIONDOWNTOWNNew transit oriented development is proposed to create a vibrant and dense urban core for Port Jefferson. With a dynamic mix of uses, the layout

of new development promotes social interaction, supports increased commercial activity, and encourages the exchange of ideas. The new program

encompasses retail, ofce, cultural and residential uses. Lof t-like ex space is provided with the ability to connect directly with the rail car program

to support a variety of cultural or commercial functions or events. The development replaces large areas of transit parking lots; daily commuters are

now drawn through an active streetscape as a regular part of their routine.

Above: Plan of the downtown development area.

Key to downtown plan:

1. New passenger rail station.

2. Educational center with stationary exhibit sidings/retail/

ofce.

3. Mixed-useretail/ofce.

4. Mixed-use retail/resid ential.5. Residential.

6. Hotel.

7. Multi-level parking deck (700 stalls)

8. Commercialexspacewithdockingstations.

9. Rail car docking station (connected to pedestrian

observation bridge).

10. Exi sting historic train station (Rail Museum).

11. Convention center/community gathering space.

12. Ancillary/service space for convention center with two

parking decks below-grade (270 stalls).

13. Green space activated with trails.

Downtown Program Summary:

Commercial 204,700 SF

Retail 104,200 SF

Ofce 100,500SF

Residential 230,900 SF

32 townhouses

44 2BR units

54 1BR units

Flex space 55,500 SF

Community/Cultural 42,500 SF

Exhibit Hall 17,000 SF

Educational 22,000 SF

Museum 3,500 SF

Above: Aerial view of the downtown development area, looking west towards the new passenger rail station.

Top left: View from plaza through new development and hotel towards historic rail station.

Top right: View west along armature towards new rail station and associated development.

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(Bar/restaurant car)

(Cowork

Larger,convertedautotransport

incubator space for small-scale comme

coworking spaces are monitored and

conductors who encourage cross-p

and play, and help entrepren

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RAIL PARK PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NYLONG ISLAND INDEX BUILD A BETTER BURB COMPETITIONARMATUREThe reclaimed rail corridor and associated track infrastructure is adapted for pedest

and expanded to include new green spaces and connections to adjacent neigh

tracks function as a long gallery for reprogrammed rail cars, in essence creating

urban street bordered by attractive, and variegated, uses. Rail Park operators loc

varying lengths of time at a given access platform or dock, creating events and ac

be regularly scheduled and expected or randomly occurring and surprising. Con

rest of the LIRR system is maintained through the new passenger station allow

exchange of the reprogrammed railcars exporting/importing goods and ideas to

Island or beyond.

Above: View of the rail corridor in active use, looking towards Car Barn and former

MTA storage yard.

Right: A legend for decoding the idealized repurposing of existing rail infrastructure.

1. Rail car docking station.

2. Tri-level auto transport car adapted to gallery/ museum program.

3. High-cube boxcar functioning as a farmers market.

4. High-cube boxcar serving as display for vertical gardens and farmers products.

5. Rail car access platform.

6. Pedestrian thoroughfare.

7. Bicycle lane, connecting to existing streets and trails.

8. Centralrailcardockingstationandexspace.

9. Car Barn: Rail car repair/ada ptive reuse studios and visitor center.

10. Landscaped buffer to adjacent existing industrial properties.

Railcarsmodiedtobeexhibitsorartprovide

interest for pedestrians between programmed

cars, or for observers watching the train pass on

to the next destination.

(Tree hopper)

(Greenhouse car)

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RAIL PARK PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NYLONG ISLAND INDEX BUILD A BETTER BURB COMPETITION

(Performance venue)

(Tandemhalfpipeatbeds)

Above: Aerial view of the new creative rail yard,

warehouse, and central docking station.

Right: A legend for the warehouse and railyard.

1. Rail car access platforms.

2. Rail car docking station.

3. Yard control/Viewi ng platform for visitors.

4. Central docking station (for large programs).5. Rail car repair/restora tion/renovati on

warehouse.

6. Visitors and interpretive center.

7. Overhead access for visitors (within warehouse

as well to provide safe viewing over shop).

8. Rail car display siding.

9. Visitor parking.

CAR BARNPart factory and part artists studio, the new Car Barn located in the former railyard

supports program activity in the Rail Park and becomes a regional destination of its own.

The public is welcomed to observe the activity associated with transforming the rail cars

while a visitors center provides interpretive information on the process. The extent of

creative rail stock can be seen here at all times, regardless of which cars are scheduled

to be stationed at docks, platforms, or other stops on the LIRR.

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