County and Yonkers push MTA to expand Penn Station access

With progress being made on opening up access to Penn Station for riders using the Metro-North New Haven Line, Westchester County and Yonkers are joining hands to push the MTA to study the possibilities for opening up Penn Station to trains on the Hudson Line.

Potential routing already exists east of the Hudson River that could be modified to allow Hudson Line trains to go direct to Penn Station or there might be a possibility of routing trains to join the route to be used by the New Haven Line trains that will be sent to Queens and then underground similar to the way Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains are routed today.

At a Jan. 17 news conference held at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, Westchester County Executive George Latimer was joined by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and other officials to urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to begin a study of the ways in which direct access to Penn Station could be offered to Hudson Line riders.

In a letter Latimer wrote to the MTA’s CEO Janno Lieber, Latimer said, “The advantages of such a connection are abundant. Improved transportation links would not only further ease congestion but also foster economic growth, enhance accessibility to job opportunities, and contribute to the overall quality of life for residents in Westchester County, the Bronx and beyond.”

MTA statistics show that in 2022 the Hudson Line’s ridership rose 56.7% from where it was in 2021 with approximately 3.6 million more rides. The total annual East of Hudson (Harlem Line, Hudson Line and New Haven Line) ridership was approximately 48 million, approximately 17.9 million more rides than the 30.1 million for 2021.

Latimer expressed support for the progress made with the West Side Access program on the New Haven Line, which links Metro-North’s New Haven Line service with four new Bronx Stations into Manhattan’s Penn Station on the West Side, Latimer said it is time for a parallel initiative on the Hudson River side of Metro North.

According to statistics from the MTA provided in its 2022 overview, the Hudson Line’s ridership rose 56.7% from 2021 with approximately 3.6 million more rides. The total annual East of Hudson (Harlem Line, Hudson Line and New Haven Line) ridership was approximately 48 million, approximately 17.9 million more rides than the 30.1 million for 2021.

Latimer wants the MTA to undertake a comprehensive study to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of establishing West Side Access from Westchester and the Bronx on the Hudson Line to Penn Station. He believes the existing Amtrak line in the corridor presents a strategic opportunity to leverage the infrastructure for the benefit of the communities along the Hudson River.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said that there would be instant benefits in the way of economic growth and commuting improvements if direct access to Penn Station became a reality.

“As the fastest growing big city in New York state and the gateway to the Hudson Valley, Yonkers supports Westchester County’s quest to expand transportation access to the metropolitan area,” Spano said.

Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy commented, “Beyond improving transportation accessibility, the West Side Access project presents regional economic growth possibilities. Increased ridership on the Hudson Line can generate employment opportunities beyond Yonkers as businesses in nearby towns and cities seek additional employees to meet the growing demand.”

Latimer noted that the benefits of opening up Hudson Line access to Penn Station also would be felt beyond Westchester, in Putnam and Dutchess for instance.

“I am confident that the leadership and expertise of the MTA can bring this vision to fruition, ensuring that the benefits of improved transportation infrastructure are equitably distributed throughout the region,” Latimer said.