FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $39 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDING FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TARRYTOWN TRAIN STATION
Grant Will Expedite the Upgrade of the Second Busiest Station on Metro-North's Hudson Line
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of a $39 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to facilitate the complete reconstruction of MTA Metro-North Railroad's Tarrytown train station.
Tarrytown, the second busiest station on the Hudson Line with 2,825 inbound boardings a day from Westchester and Rockland Counties, is the last of 16 Hudson Line stations to be completely torn down and rebuilt as part of the Hudson Line Stations Improvement Project. Construction work will proceed at Tarrytown while maintaining regular Metro-North train service, as more than 45,000 New Yorkers use the Hudson Line each weekday.
"Thanks to President Obama and our congressional delegation, we are putting these funds to work so that New Yorkers can get back to work, while also increasing access to quality transportation," Governor Paterson said. "This shovel-ready and job-ready project is just one of many across the State that are providing much needed capital improvements to our infrastructure and positioning our State for positive growth in the years to come."
"This much-needed funding will enable Metro-North to dramatically improve the daily experience of thousands of commuters and visitors at this busy station," Metro-North President Howard Permut said. "When it's finished, along with improvements to the historic station building now underway, this station will be a welcoming front door for this bustling riverfront village."
By spring 2012 all station elements will be replaced, including the entire platform and both pedestrian overpasses. Two existing elevators will be replaced and a third will be added to serve the west side parking area. Construction workers will also replace six staircases serving the overpasses and two that connect the platform to the sidewalks on east side.
The new platforms will have canopies outfitted with pigeon-proof netting, gooseneck lighting, heated shelters, benches, recycling centers, railings, information kiosks, public address systems, tactile warning strips for the visually impaired and visual information systems for people with auditory impairments. The new overpasses will be enclosed and heated, will feature additional benches and ticket vending machines and will be built in a historic style akin to all the other rehabilitated Hudson Line stations.
Construction of the new platforms will begin immediately and handicapped accessibility will be maintained with elevator service throughout construction. CCTV cameras already installed in 2007 with funding secured by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky will also remain in service.
A construction contract was awarded last week to Yonkers Contracting Corp. of Yonkers, N.Y. Construction management for the platform work is being done by URS Corp.
Concurrently, work is underway on the Tarrytown Station building itself, a historic location that has been in continuous use since it was built in 1890 by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. Upon completion, the station building will feature a new slate roof, gutters and canopy supports. The roof overhang on the eastern façade, which had been truncated to accommodate the height of buses at the curb, is being restored to its original dimensions.
Design of the building restoration was done by DMJM-Harris (now AECOM) and the work is being done by Agency Construction of Mamaroneck. The construction work on the building is being funded by the MTA's current 2005-2009 Capital Program.
A traffic study is also underway by Metro-North, in coordination with the village, to look at ways for improving vehicular and pedestrian traffic flows in the station area along Depot Plaza.
Metro-North employs approximately 6,000 people from throughout the Tri-State area and runs a system comprising almost 800 miles of track on five main lines and three branches in nine counties and two states.
The following quotes were provided in support of the Tarrytown train station reconstruction:
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer said: "Funding these construction projects at the Tarrytown Train Station is a win-win for the thousands of commuters that rely on Metro-North train service every day. These federal dollars through the Economic Recovery Act will improve transportation service for New Yorkers, ensuring that our stations, platforms and tracks are safe and up-to-date for the people who depend on them and create much needed jobs in the process."
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: "This is the right investment for New York. These federal dollars will help upgrade infrastructure, improve public transportation and help rebuild our economy. I will continue working with Governor Paterson, Senator Schumer and the entire Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government."
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey said: "Rebuilding the Tarrytown train station will bring jobs to our community while improving one of the busiest stations on the Hudson line. It also promotes the use of mass transportation which reduces congestion on our roads. I am pleased the federal stimulus is delivering these benefits to our region."
Congressman Eliot Engel: "By improving the stations on the Hudson Line, we are encouraging mass transit, a key part of our goal to help America get off foreign oil and to combat global warming. The more people we get on trains, the fewer who are driving. As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where I introduced legislation to get America off foreign oil, I congratulate Governor Paterson for getting the stimulus money to work for commuters and for the environment."
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said: "This funding is a welcome investment in improving the quality of life for our residents and commuters. I am pleased to work with President Obama, Governor Paterson and our Congressional Representatives to ensure that federal stimulus dollars are put to use on projects that will have a lasting impact in our community. As one of the busiest stations on the Hudson line, thousands of people will continuously benefit from the much-needed safety and structural improvements."
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said: "New York State has been the economic engine of our nation. Past generations had the foresight to plan, fund and build the infrastructure needed to make that possible. It is our responsibility as elected officials and as citizens to do the same for future generations. I am thrilled to join with Governor Paterson in seeing our transportation dollars put to work so quickly on such a needed and vital project."
Westchester County Executive Andy Spano said: "Aside from the benefits of putting people to work, the new Tarrytown station will make travel more comfortable and convenient for Westchester commuters as well as encourage those who don't currently take advantage of mass transit to do so, and that can only benefit our environment. I'd like to thank the President, Congress, Governor Paterson and Metro North for making these improvements possible."
Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell said: "The Metro North Railroad Station is a major gateway into the Village. We are extremely pleased that funding is being provided through the federal stimulus program to rehabilitate the Tarrytown station. It is much needed and once completed, will provide an aesthetically pleasing welcome to Tarrytown. The Village and Metro North are working cooperatively to make this construction project as painless as possible."