N.Y. MTA marks 2009 with major improvements

[IMAGE]NYTransitIMprovements2009FULL.jpg[/IMAGE] For the New York MTA Metro-North Railroad, the year 2009 was marked by major improvements and advancements in transportation including an unsurpassed 97.8 percent on-time performance record for the year.

Other improvements included:

• The Yankees-East 153rd Street Station opened to acclaim and proved an immediate success with as much as 15 percent of Yankee game attendees arriving via Metro-North, and daily ridership increasing.

•  The introduction of real-time train information that can be viewed on flat-screen monitors currently installed at select key stations. Station monitors give information on the next nine arrivals and departures. This real-time information will soon be available via smart phones and computer.

• Just-built coach and locomotive shops at our maintenance facility at the Croton-Harmon Yard. These new shops replaced a century-old facility, and provide a 21st century environment for rail fleet maintenance.  

•  Newly established bus shuttle service between Fairfield, Conn. and Southeast, N.Y., created three new park-and-ride lots offering better choices for customers.

• The creation of a second ticket vending machine center in Grand Central Terminal and the addition of 40 TVMs at outlying stations. A new, system-wide vending machine contract will soon see snack and beverage machines on most station platforms. 

• Major renovation and rehabilitation of the historic 1890 Tarrytown train station, bringing its historic architecture back to life. The Poughkeepsie Station also received a new tile roof, restored terra cotta cornice, brick repointing, new windows and doors throughout the four-story building.

• Grand Central Terminal — the world’s largest train terminal — had its 4,000 incandescent light bulbs replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs. The CFLs more clearly illuminate the historic lighting fixtures and chandeliers and save more than $200,000 in electricity costs in 2009. 

• In other station work, ground was broken at Cortlandt for a major expansion including an extended overpass and new elevated waiting area, a new western parking lot and an access road connecting to a new Route 9A intersection. At Tarrytown, federal stimulus money jump-started a total tear down and rebuild of platforms, staircases, elevators and overpasses. Also, stations including Ossining, Scarborough, Philipse Manor, Port Chester and Rye received major improvements repairs, updates and customer amenities.