Public Hearing For Metro-North's Penn Station Access Project

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The public is invited to review the environmental assessment for the MTA's Penn Station Access Project to supply Metro-North service between Connecticut, Westchester, the Bronx, Long Island and Manhattan’s thriving west side.

A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, and written comments may be submitted until July 3.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority's plan is to introduce New Haven Line passenger service into and out of Penn Station and connect it to Amtrak in Westchester County.

The service will use Amtrak's neglected Hell's Gate track, which will be rehabilitated. Four new ADA-accessible Metro-North stations will be constructed in the eastern Bronx at Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park, and Co-op City.

The $1.583 billion project represents the largest expansion of Metro-North Railroad since it was created 37 years ago. Founded in 1983 when the MTA assumed control of Conrail commuter operations in New York and Connecticut, Metro-North has 384 route miles and 775 miles of track going to 124 stations in seven counties in New York State — Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Bronx, New York, Rockland, and Orange — and Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

About 30,000 passengers per day are expected to use the new service. Daily, 13,000 riders will get on or off at the four new stations in the East Bronx. Metro-North expects to operate 102 trains on the Hell Gate Line, while 60 Amtrak trains are expected to use it.

Officials expect the new rail line to spur the local economy and attract regional talent; they point to increasing accessibility to underserved areas and improving reliability and on-time performance for intercity passengers.

Because the construction would take place along the existing railroad right-of-way, it "would result in predominantly minor or no impacts to environmental technical areas," according to the environmental assessment.

SEE: 3 Firms May Bid On New Hell Gate Commuter Line

Click to join or even comment at the public hearing from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Can't take time for the public hearing but want to add your opinion to the record? Written comments may be submitted by mail, email (PSAOutreach@mtacd.org) or via theproject website. Comments must be received by July 3.

Mail written comments to:
MTA Government & Community Relations
Re: Penn Station Access EA
2 Broadway, D17.140
New York, NY 10004