New Metro North Route To Penn Station Is Full Steam Ahead

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — The new train route from the Sound Shore to Penn Station is no longer stuck at the station.

On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the resumption of the Metro-North Penn Station Access Project. The plans had been put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic and related uncertainties about MTA funding.

"As vaccination rates go up and COVID-19 abates, it's time to refocus our efforts on the critical infrastructure projects we need to deliver for New York's future and economic recovery from the pandemic," Cuomo said in a statement announcing resumption of the ambitious project. "Connecting Metro-North to Penn Station has long been an important next step not just for New York City's economic growth and development, but for protecting our environment and providing more equitable access to transit in our communities.”

Plans call for Metro-North trains to use a rail line owned by Amtrak. Those rails are currently used by Amtrak's Northeast Corridor trains connecting directly to Penn Station.

The Amtrak trains do not stop in the Bronx. Part of the project will require building four new stations along the line to accommodate commuters in the borough.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer says while resumption of the project will be good for the region economically, the new transportation options will also bring more equality to the expanded opportunities it will create.

"The Metro-North Railroad has long provided a vital economic and social connection between Westchester County and New York City, and expanding it to Penn Station is a commonsense step that will bring huge economic benefits to our county,” Latimer said. “Governor Cuomo has championed this project and I am heartened to see it move forward, even in the midst of the terrible COVID-19 pandemic. This won't just help commuters travel from Westchester to Manhattan; it will also help residents, businesses and families move from the Bronx to our county and provide new opportunities for commerce and economic development in the region."

Plans call for the four new stations to be built along the line at Hunts Point, Parkchester, Morris Park and Co-op City in the Bronx. The MTA had previously selected firms to design and build these stations, but the plans were tabled due to uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

The commute from Co-op City to Penn Station is currently 75 minutes. The commute time is expected to be reduced to 25 minutes when the new line is in operation.

The commute time from Hunts Point to Penn Station is currently 45 minutes. Commuters will be able to make the trip in 16 minutes once the new route is in place.

"This is an exciting project that will be as transformative for Metro-North as it is for the Bronx," MTA Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said. "We look forward to doing everything we can to support this project to bring Metro-North service to an entirely new part of the Bronx and give customers on our New Haven Line — historically our busiest — a choice of new destinations as they plan their travel."