Long Island civic groups applauded a letter sent Thursday by three state senators to the state Department of Transportation demanding that plans to build a controversial rail-truck facility at the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center site in Brentwood be withdrawn.

According to Newsday, Sens. John Flanagan (R-East Northport), Owen Johnson (R-West Babylon) and Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood) sent the letter Wednesday to DOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn, saying that the Long Island Truck and Rail Intermodal Facility would have a harmful impact on neighbors.

The project has long been touted by the state DOT as an answer to traffic congestion on the island by encouraging shipping by rail to the Brentwood site. From there, small trucks would transport to their destination. But neighborhood civic associations have rallied against the project, claiming it would clog up local roads and harm animals living in the Edgewood preserve.