Metro-North Moves Forward on Penn Station Plans

Metro-North is moving ahead on a plan to route both New Haven and Hudson Line trains into Penn Station.

 According to the railroad, ”For each line, one alternative would have provided service in all time periods and included the construction of new stations in New York City in areas not currently served by regional rail service. The second alternative involved providing service only during off-peak and weekend periods with no new stations.”

Metro-North continues:

“While still under consideration for implementation, the off-peak and weekend service alternatives will no longer be included in the federal environmental review.  It was determined that the off-peak and weekend services, without new stations, could be implemented using existing equipment and infrastructure without the need for federal funding.” Metro-North is moving forward on a plan to route the Hudson Line to Penn Station during all time periods via Amtrak’s Empire Connection, with two new stations on Manhattan’s west side in the vicinity of West 125th and the Upper West Side. Also green-lighted is  New Haven LinesService to Penn during all time periods via the Hell Gate Line, with three new stations in the east Bronx in the vicinity of Co-op City, Parkchester and Hunts Point.

Don’t hold your breath — these things take years and years. Metro-North will next prepare an Environmental Assessment, which is expected to be complete in 2011.