Amtrak derails Metro North progress; MOU still not inked
From page 4
This station will only be accessible
from the East Tremont Avenue side because
a Con Edison yard prevents entry
to the station on the track’s north
side. That ETA to Penn is 22 minutes.
The Hunts Point station will be
built near its century-old predecessor
below Hunts Point Avenue. This station
will have access from both sides of
the tracks. The MTA is looking into rehabbing
the current dilapidated building
for future station use. Penn Station
would be a 20-minute trip from here.
The Co-op City station would go in
the back portion of Section 5, near Baychester
Village. This one-sided station,
would bring rapid transit to one of the
most isolated sections of the city, carrying
commuters to Penn Station in a
half hour.
While many focused on the travel
times to Manhattan, several people
noted the wonderful employment opportunities
this project would open
to Bronxites in Westchester and Connecticut.
This is a dream come true to the
residents of the east Bronx, but there
is one major concern that’s been ignored
by the MTA, but didn’t go unnoticed
by those attending the workshop
- parking.
The proposed Morris Park station’s location. City Planning
No parking lots will be constructed
for the new commuter service, according
to Carol Samol in the NYC Department
of City Planning. A parking lot
would cost approximately $7 million
to build, according to one professional
attending the workshop, and would require
public funding.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 88 ECEMBER 14-20, 2018 BTR
During the 3-hour workshop attendees
were asked to write down
what they want to see at the new stations.
Surely adequate parking topped
the list.
Another activity asked the working
group how often it is that they drive
to the Morris Park area vs. taking
mass transit. Again as a shock only
to the MTA, the response was heavily
weighed towards car use.
But, taking fi rst things fi rst, a
signed agreement with Amtrak is
on Ruben Diaz, Jr.’s Christmas wish
list, paving the way for the project to
start.