Metro-North Installs Emergency Call Structure At Bronxville

BRONXVILLE, NY —Super-safe emergency call boxes have been installed at 12 stations on Metro-North Railroad's Harlem and Hudson Lines including Bronxville, and two more are in the works.

“Keeping our customers safe and secure is always the top priority at Metro-North,” said Catherine Rinaldi, president of the commuter railroad. “The installation of these cameras and Help Point stations gives us additional tools to keep everyone safe, while also giving our customers peace of mind as they continue to return to the system.”

Officials described the Help Point devices as sleek metal enclosures that contain an emergency call box with a direct line to the MTA Police Department. Each is topped with a high intensity LED beacon for high visibility to help deter potential crime. The devices use cellular wireless networks to call the MTA Police Department emergency call center.

They have been deployed at high traffic access points on the station platforms.

Help Points debuted in the subway system in 2011 and have been well received by customers, Metro-North officials said.

Once the project is completed, 40 percent of Metro-North's New York stations will have Help Points.

Help Points were installed at:

• Bedford Hills
• Bronxville
• Chappaqua
• Hawthorne
• Katonah
• Marble Hill
• Mount Kisco
• North White Plains
• Pleasantville
• University Heights
• Valhalla
• Woodlawn

In the current phase of Help Point installations, the following stations have been added:

• Beacon
• Southeast

Metro-North also installed security cameras with cellular wireless technology, able to provide real-time streaming, so Metro-North Security and the MTA Police Department can assess platform crowding and review incidents remotely.

The Help Point and security camera construction project was awarded in December 2019 through the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program, to Alliance Tri-State Construction, Inc. of Staten Island, for a 14-month, $2.7 million contract. The original contract was for the installation of security camera systems and Help Points at 12 stations. All were successfully completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

The early completion allowed Metro-North to request the installation of Help Points at Southeast on the Harlem Line and Beacon on the Hudson Line. Even with the additional stations, the final completion of the project is expected to be within the original 14-month contractual duration.