Metro-North will receive nearly $1B to make upgrades to the Grand Central Terminal Trainshed and the Park Avenue Viaduct

Investment in the Harlem Line will enable Metro-North to add a third track

Most of the funding will go toward fixing New York City's subways

The largest-ever capital plan in Metropolitan Transportation Authority history includes nearly $5 billion for Metro-North, an investment that will help open Manhattan's West Side to Westchester County commuters for the first time and fix aging track underneath Grand Central Terminal.

The MTA’s five-year, $51.5 billion capital plan announced Monday will increase spending on infrastructure for the authority’s subways, bridges, tunnels and commuter rails by 70 percent over current levels.

Some $4.7 billion has been earmarked for Metro-North’s Penn Station Access Plan, which will create four new train stations in the Bronx, as well as upgrades to the Grand Central Trainshed, Park Avenue Viaduct and other fixes.

The trainshed’s underground bridges span 75 acres north of the terminal and support 44 Metro-North tracks. The viaduct runs from 97th Street to the Harlem River and is nearly two miles long.

Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chief development officer, said the trainshed needs immediate upgrades.

“We have a 100-year-old structure there and over time the interaction of concrete, steel and water creates challenges that we must address,” Lieber said. “This program is taking on those challenges.”

Some $895 million will be invested in both projects. Combined, the two structures are used by more than 700 trains per day.

Other Metro-North programs that will receive funding under the MTA’s capital program for the years 2020-24:

$621 million to improve accessibility at stations and deliver wheelchair access to nearly 80 percent of Metro-North stations. Harlem Line stations in the Bronx and Westchester County will be improved and repairs will be made to stations on the upper Hudson and Harlem lines.

$485 million to replace Metro-North’s fleet of 140 electric-powered M3 cars.

$187 million for improvements on Metro-North service West of Hudson, which includes the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines. The railroad says the investment will improve reverse-peak and off-peak service and support a 60 percent increase in daily service.

$184 million to improve infrastructure on the Harlem Line, including the construction of two electrical substations, the design of three more and expanded parking at Southeast Station.

Lieber said the Harlem Line investment will increase train capacity by adding a third track along a line that runs through White Plains, one of Metro-North’s busiest stations.

“The proposed 2020-2024 Capital Program will allow Metro-North to continue its aggressive programs to upgrade its aging infrastructure and to improve the customer experience,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi.

About $25 billion of the plan will come from bonds backed by revenue streams authorized in this year’s state budget, the MTA said. Another $15 billion will come from tolls on drivers using Manhattan’s Central Business District, an initiative passed by state lawmakers and signed into law by Gov Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.

The remainder will come from federal state and local resources.

The largest chunk of money – $37.3 billion – will go to fixing the New York City Subway System.

“This plan expands service, increases reliability, speeds up the system and delivers the world’s largest ever investment in accessibility, for both NYC Transit and the MTA’s commuter rails and at the end of this five-year period, New Yorkers will see a revitalized and modern system for the 21st Century and beyond,” said MTA chairman Patrick Foye.

The Penn Station Access Project is expected to serve some 50,000 customers per day.

Commuters from the Sound Shore towns of New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester and Harrison would, for the first time, have a one-seat ride to the West Side of Manhattan. The plan calls for New Haven Line trains to split after New Rochelle, with some trains heading to Grand Central and others into Penn Station.

Four new stations will be created in the Bronx in Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester and Hunts Point.

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