The latest victim of the MTA’s budget shortfalls may be the LIRR Third Track project.

LIRR President Helena Williams told Newsday in a story published last week that the project, which would add an additional track to the Main Line between New Hyde Park and Hicksville, would likely not be included in the next MTA capital program, which will run from 2010-2014.

Williams said the project remains a vital component of the agency’s overall network strategy, and that it would be completed after 2014.

Transit advocates, business leaders, and environmental groups strongly support the project and have not taken the news lightly. On July 16, the newly formed Long Island Transit Coalition held a press conference at MTA Headquarters and called for state elected officials to fully fund projects in the MTA’s capital program, including the LIRR Third Track and the Grand Central Terminal East Side Access project. Coalition members include TSTC, the Long Island Contractor’s Association, Regional Plan Association, LI Federation of Labor, NY League of Conservation Voters, LI Progressive Coalition, LIRR Commuter Council, Sustainable Long Island, Vision Long Island, and others. (Read the press release here.)

Story originally published July 11.