NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The federal government has given the go-ahead for Metro-North to build four new rail stations in the Bronx, Gov.
Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
The stations will be constructed in Hunts Point, Parkchester, Morris Park and Co-Op City, according to a press release.
Cuomo notes the first-ever Metro-North stations in the Bronx will dramatically cut the commute times into Manhattan from those areas.
“The commute from Co-Op City to Penn Station, currently 75 minutes, will be cut to 25 minutes. The commute from Hunts Point to Penn Station, currently 45 minutes, will be cut to 16 minutes,” the governor’s office said in a release.
At a press conference on Thursday, the governor said the rail stations will make it significantly easier to travel to Westchester and Connecticut.
“Remember this day because it is going to be transformative for these communities,” he said.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. says the construction projects will provide an economic boost to the communities on the tail-end of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This will create thousands of jobs ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “It will create opportunity for more housing.”
The project will cost $1.5 billion and should be completed in four years.
Gov. Cuomo says New York State will also soon resume work on the Metro-North Penn Station Access Project, which was paused by the pandemic.
"As vaccination rates go up and COVID-19 abates, it's time to refocus our efforts on the critical infrastructure projects we need to deliver for New York's future and economic recovery from the pandemic," Cuomo said. "Connecting Metro-North to Penn Station has long been an important next step not just for New York City's economic growth and development, but for protecting our environment and providing more equitable access to transit in our communities. This restarted selection process for a firm to build four new stations will expand access to transit in the Bronx and help to create a new corridor between Manhattan and the Mid-Hudson region."
Cuomo proposed the Metro-North projects in his 2014 State of the State address.
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