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Metro North Dedicates New Parking Garage

Posted by
on November 2nd, 2015 at 4:42 am

This past Friday, MTA Metro-North Railroad dedicated a new parking garage at the North White Plains Station. Here is more via the official press release I received:

MTA Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti was joined today by federal, state and local officials at the ribbon-cutting for the newly completed North White Plains Parking Garage located at the southeast corner of Bond Street and Haarlem Avenue, across from the Metro-North North White Plains train station. North White Plains station is one of the busiest stations in Metro-North’s service area, serving almost 2,200 customers during the weekday and almost 1,300 riders on the weekend.

The 186,000 square foot, 500 parking space garage, which provides a net additional 391 parking spaces around the station, opened to the public on October 5. It includes three floors of permit parking (on the first, second and third floors) and two floors of metered parking (on the fourth floor and roof) including spaces on the first and second floors that are accessible to disabled customers through the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Electric vehicle charging stations are available on the second floor and scooter parking is available on all floors except for the roof. Bicycle racks and storage are located inside the building.

“I am so proud to cut the ribbon today on a facility that will serve the needs of our commuters who must drive to their station, and also recognizes the importance of multi-modal access,” said Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti. “The fact that it was completed in a timely, cost-effective way confirms our continued commitment to our customers.”

Numerous community improvements make the area around the garage more pedestrian-friendly.
These enhancements include planted landscaping, several new crosswalks, and a new traffic and pedestrian signal at the intersection of Bond Street, Broadway and Otis Avenue. New decorative lighting includes the installation of architectural light poles around the perimeter of the garage with nine additional poles installed on Bond Street and Broadway.

The City of White Plains, with the support of Metro-North, converted Haarlem Avenue to a two-way street from Bond Street to the garage entrance making it easier for our customers to use the garage from both directions.

The garage also has a storefront retail space along Haarlem Avenue that is available to provide customer compatible service. And, there’s a new “Kiss-n-Ride” area at the North White Plains Station that accommodates drop-offs, as well as a taxi queue.

Another unique feature of the North White Plains Parking Garage is the site-specific artwork commissioned by MTA Arts & Design. The selection from Situ Studio, titled Percolate, features various forms of vaporizing droplets referencing the role water has played in the history of White Plains, going back to the “heavy mist” that gave the city its name, as well as the Kensico reservoir which provides New York City with water. Percolate consists of approximately 125 stainless steel panels in ever-changing forms of water bubbles that clad the metal mesh, appearing as a natural formation on the facade of the building.

A contract was awarded in 2013, to design and build the garage, following a preliminary design. The work included demolition of an existing 109-space parking garage, an existing maintenance building, a small surface lot and several utility sheds. The Design/Build process allowed for some construction to take place during demolition and without disrupting utility service to the office building at 525 North Broadway.

The preliminary design for the project was performed by Gannett Fleming Engineers and Architects. Prismatic Development was the design builder and the URS Corporation provided construction inspection and supervision. A team of several firms including Clarke Caton Hintz, Langan Engineering, FST Engineering and Kelter & Gilligo Consulting Engineers ensured that the element and assembly designs were consistent with the preliminary vision.

The project, which was funded entirely by a $41.8 million federal Congestion Mitigation / Air Quality grant and completed under budget, accommodates the increased demand for parking at North White Plains Station as Metro-North ridership continues to grow. This investment, as well as those associated with the MTA Capital Plan, demonstrate the increased need to upgrade, expand and keep our transit system reliable for the entire region.

Metro-North Railroad was able to accomplish the work in an efficient and convenient manner with the cooperation of Westchester County, the city of White Plains, the town of North Castle, Consolidated Edison, New York State Department of Transportation and the United States Department of Transportation.

The North White Plains Parking Garage is operated by LAZ Parking. An on-site attendant is in the garage Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The base fee for daily meters is $7.25 for 16 hours. The base fee for a 12 month permit is $1,136. Free weekend and holiday parking is available in all spaces. For more information about the facility, visit: http://www.rrparking.com/parking_lots/38

US Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “I am proud to be a part of this new parking garage dedication, which will serve thousands of commuting residents in White Plains and elsewhere, who rely on Metro-North for their daily commute, weekend trips and transportation into the
NYC metropolitan area. As any commuter knows, finding safe, available parking at the North White Plains Train Station has been a struggle, and this new facility will go a long way in making the daily commute more efficient and practical for all Metro-North customers who come here every day. This shows when working with our local, state and federal stakeholders, we can make meaningful progress to enhance the commuters’ daily life right here in Westchester County.”

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “The new parking garage at the North White Plains train station is part of a critical upgrade of public transit for Westchester. This federal investment in our transportation infrastructure, which created almost 400 additional parking spaces, plus bicycle parking, and electric car charging stations, improves the daily experience for commuters and benefits our environment.”

US Representative Nita Lowey said: “By increasing convenience for Metro North riders, we can take some of the hassle out of the daily commute. I’m pleased that a $41.8 million federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant fully funded the construction of this new North White Plains Station garage. Residents of the Lower Hudson Valley send their hard-earned tax dollars to Washington each day, and this return on that investment is already providing better parking options for commuters. I will continue working as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee to ensure our region’s transportation needs are met.”

New York State Senator George Latimer said: “Investing in our infrastructure is a wise investment. When the services supporting our commuter rail system are improved, it bolsters the entire system. We will have more commuters using using the trains, which is good for the environment. The station will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means greater access for all. Today is a good day to be a Metro-North traveler.”

New York State Assemblyman David Buchwald said: “When I was a Common Council Member in White Plains, the plans for this commuter parking garage were presented. Now, as a State Assemblyman representing nine towns in Westchester, it is great to see this new facility open for all who use the North White Plains Metro-North station. It is important that Metro-North has worked to take into account the concerns of area residents in order to get to this occasion.”

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said: “Metro-North is part of the lifeblood of commerce for Westchester, New York City and the region. The county was proud to support this project, which will provide an additional 500, much-in-demand parking spaces in North White Plains. Getting people out of their cars and onto mass transit is a boost for the economy and the environment.”

Westchester County Legislator Benjamin Boykin II said: “I am pleased that we have a new parking facility for the North White Plains Metro-North Railroad Station that provides increased parking for customers. The facility incorporates energy efficient technology such as electric vehicle charging stations and provides spaces for scooter parking while enhancing pedestrian safety. This new expanded facility was built due to the importance of this station to the region’s mass transit system. The beautiful water inspired art work which is incorporated into the façade of the building is specific to the history of White Plains, which was named from the Indian word “Quarropas” or white marshes or plains.”

White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach said: “We value our relationship with MTA Metro-North. With two very active stations within the City, I believe it is important that we work together for the benefit of our mutual constituents. I’m pleased to say that this was the case with the new garage, as illustrated by the pedestrian-friendly improvements to the site, which Metro-North took very seriously and worked cooperatively with us to achieve.”

xoxo Transit Blogger

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FASTRACK Returns To The E

Posted by
on November 2nd, 2015 at 4:36 am

Riders of the E Train in Queens should take note that beginning tonight & for 4 consecutive nights, FASTRACK will be returning. Here are more details via the official press release I received:

MTA New York City Transit’s FASTRACK program returns to the E line along a portion of Queens Boulevard. For four consecutive weeknights, beginning Monday, November 2, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., to early Friday morning, November 6, E service will be suspended in both directions between Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Briarwood. E trains will operate on its normal route between World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan and Briarwood, at that point, trains will be rerouted via the F line to/from Jamaica-179 St.
As a travel alternative, customers are advised to use free shuttle buses operating between Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Kew Gardens-Union Tpke, making station stops at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av, Jamaica-Van Wyck, and Briarwood. Transfer between E trains and free shuttle buses at Kew Gardens-Union Tpke or Briarwood. For additional connections between Manhattan and Jamaica Center, consider using the A and J via free transfer at Broadway Junction. The A also connects with the JFK AirTrain at Howard Beach.

Joseph Leader, Senior Vice President for the Department of Subways, said, “All subway stakeholders win with FASTRACK. Workers have a better and safer work environment, customers benefit from better train service, improved aesthetics and increased reliability, and more work is performed in a shorter amount of time.”

During our previous FASTRACK in September 2015, train service was suspended for four consecutive nights between Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Briarwood, as NYC Transit workers took full advantage of the seven hours of train-free access each night to perform a range of cleaning and maintenance tasks of station and tunnel infrastructure, signal equipment, and track and third rail components. Track workers scraped and cleaned 7,765 feet of track, cleaned 815 feet of track under and around the third rail, installed 306 track plates, and 15 rails. Infrastructure workers repaired 42 leaks, while signal crews performed maintenance work on signal equipment. At stations, workers replaced 612 light bulbs, washed 315 fixtures and replaced 19 platform signs. This represents only a portion of the work completed during this FASTRACK diversion.

FASTRACK has been designed around the careful determination that there is adequate alternate means of transportation, including enhanced services along some bus lines during work periods. Alternative transportation options will be detailed in announcements and posters on trains, in stations and on selected buses; brochures will be available in both English and Spanish. Information on this FASTRACK is available on the web at http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/fastrack_E.htm#serviceChanges

FASTRACK was introduced in January 2012, devoting four straight weeknights to perform maintenance work in tunnels, stations and on tracks, completely suspending service within a given line segment for a seven-hour period between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., allowing an army of maintenance workers to perform dozens of tasks.

Our next FASTRACK overnight closure is scheduled to begin Monday night November 9, and ending early Friday morning, November 13, on the A line between 59 St and 168 St, and on the D line between 59 St and 161 St-Yankee Stadium.

The changes have been noted on the service diversions page which can be viewed by clicking here.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 10-30-15

Posted by
on October 30th, 2015 at 6:35 am

Get a start on your Halloween weekend travel plans as I have just updated the Service Diversions through all of next week.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Former MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway Dies

Posted by
on October 23rd, 2015 at 5:43 pm

Some sad news to report as former MTA Chairman E. Virgil Conway has died at the age of 85. Here is more via press release:

E. Virgil Conway, who served as both Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) chairman and as a member of the MTA Board, died Wednesday in Southampton, New York. He was 85.

After finding success as both an attorney and a banker, Virgil began his tenure with the MTA Board as our Westchester representative. In 1995, he was asked by then-Governor George E. Pataki to take on the responsibility of chairman. He continued in that role until March 2001, serving as the seventh chairman of the MTA.

“Virgil was a hugely influential and effective chairman, and many of the successes and accomplishments the MTA celebrates today are the result of his hard work and his heartfelt service to the region,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “He remains a beloved member of the MTA family, and he will be sorely missed.”

Virgil spearheaded the preparation and funding for the 2000-2004 Capital Program, which at the time was the most ambitious and far-reaching program in MTA history. That effort launched several extraordinary projects to expand the system and change the shape of the region’s public transit to fuel our economy and better serve our customers.

These megaprojects include the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access—bringing the Long Island Rail Road directly into Grand Central Terminal—and our recently-completed 7 Train extension to Manhattan’s Far West Side. Virgil’s efforts helped ensure these projects will transform our region, while at the same time improving service reliability by giving customers new ways to get where they’re going—to, from, and within New York City.

Virgil also oversaw the rollout of the MTA’s iconic MetroCard. He implemented fare discounts and eliminated “two-fare zones”—dramatically reducing the average cost of a ride. He brought to fruition the restoration of Grand Central Terminal, which began under his predecessor, Peter E. Stangl. And he was instrumental in bringing essential components of our system to a state of good repair, continuing the MTA’s decades-long work to rebuild from the graffiti, grime, and overall disrepair of the 1970s and ‘80s.

My condolences go out to the family & friends of Mr. Conway.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 10-23-15

Posted by
on October 23rd, 2015 at 5:40 pm

Get a start on your weekend travel plans as I have just updated the Service Diversions through all of next week.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions