Connecticut Metro-North Shore Line East Rail
Commuter Council
The following
information is provided by Metro-North:
Metro- North Penn
Station Access Study
Overview
Metro-North Railroad has initiated a Major
Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (MIS/DEIS) to examine the
potential social, economic and environmental impacts of connecting
Metro-North’s Harlem, Hudson and New Haven Line services to Pennsylvania
Station, New York (Penn Station). Metro-North’s Harlem, Hudson and New Haven
Lines currently terminate at Grand Central Terminal on the East Side of
Manhattan. There are existing track connections from Metro-North’s New Haven
and Hudson Lines to Penn Station on the West Side of Manhattan which could be
used to provide access for Metro-North trains into Penn Station. Alternatives
using the Harlem Line may require track reconstruction. In addition, the study
will examine the potential to construct and provide service to intermediate station(s)
on the Hudson Line on the West Side of Manhattan, and on the New Haven Line at
Co-Op City in the Bronx. The Penn Station Access MIS/DEIS will include analysis
of alternatives, environmental documentation, and proactive public outreach and
interagency coordination.
Study Objectives
The MIS/DEIS will thoroughly examine the
demand for, and the opportunities and constraints related to, providing
improved access to Penn Station from the Metro-North service territory and
enhancing regional connectivity. Penn Station access may also serve to increase
Metro-North ridership, improve system flexibility, provide additional capacity
to accommodate potential future growth in Metro-North ridership, and support
regional economic development goals and improvements in regional air quality
and quality of life.
Provision of service to areas not currently
served by Metro-North could improve the following types of travel:
• Travel to work on Manhattan’s West
Side (Penn Station and Upper West Side areas);
• Travel to suburban work places in
Long Island and New Jersey (via transfer at Penn Station to Long Island Rail
Road or New Jersey Transit service);
• Travel to work places in the vicinity
of possible new stations on the West Side of Manhattan and Co-Op City in the
Bronx;
• Travel from the West Side of
Manhattan and Co-Op City to work places in communities in the Metro-North
service area;
• Non-work-related travel to Long
Island and New Jersey; and
• Non-work-related travel to
Manhattan’s West Side for visits to shops, shows and museums.
Study Schedule
The Penn Station Access Study was initiated
in Winter 1999. Initial project activities include data collection,
establishing study goals and objectives, and preparing the study public
outreach and interagency coordination program. The study is anticipated to take
approximately 18 months to complete.
The schedule for project activities is:
• September/October 1999: Public Scoping Meetings;
Identification of Alternatives
• FalI 1999/Winter 2000: Detailed
Development and Evaluation of Alternatives
• Summer 2000: Distribution of MIS/DEIS
The Metro-North Penn Station Access study
will involve coordination with local, state and federal agencies and outreach
to interested organizations and members of the general public. A public
outreach/interagency coordination program has been prepared and will be carried
out to facilitate dissemination of information about the study; encourage open
discussion of project details and issues; and give ample opportunity for
comments and questions from the public and involved agencies. The public
outreach/interagency coordination program will be initiated with public and
agency scoping sessions in September/October and continue throughout the study
with project committee meetings (Technical Advisory Committee, Community
Liaison Committee) and may include public open houses; workshops; public
hearing(s); and distribution of study fact sheets and newsletters.
If you wish additional information on the
Penn Station Access Study, or wish to be placed on the study’s mailing list,
please:
Call Our Toll-Free Study
Information Line:
1-877-MN R-PENN
Visit Our Website: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/
Contact Us in Writing:
Todd DiScala
Project Manager
Metro-North Railroad
420 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
