Senator Bonacic Working with Metro-North to Provide Funding to Enable Port Jervis Metro-North Station Accessibility Improvements

(Middletown, NY)- Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) today announced that he is working with Metro-North to provide funding that would enable Metro-North Railroad to make improvements at the Port Jervis Station that will allow mobility-impaired New Yorkers to conveniently access train service for the first time.

In tandem with installation of a new signal system on the Port Jervis Line associated with the roll-out of a safety system known as Positive Train Control, Metro-North plans to build a new two-car-long, 10-foot wide high level island platform at Port Jervis, between Track 1 and Track 2. The platform will be reachable by a ramp that will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and a rail-level walkway that will have gates and flashing lights as protection for customers. The platform will be partially covered by a canopy, and will require infrastructure work to create space to build the platform on land currently occupied by tracks.

While the overall project, estimated to be complete by the end of 2020, is expected to cost a total of $4 million, only a portion of that total would be for the components that will allow for compliance with the Americans with Disability Act.

“Boarding a train for the mobility impaired right now is an exercise in frustration, and that will soon change,” Senator Bonacic said. “As this station is the end of the Port Jervis Line, these improvements will benefit not only Port Jervis residents, but everyone seeking to access the station from surrounding areas and Sullivan County.”

Catherine Rinaldi, Acting President of MTA Metro-North Railroad, said, “Metro-North is pleased to be able to partner with Senator Bonacic on this important accessibility project, and we are deeply appreciative of his commitment to transform the experience of our customers.”

MTA Board Member Susan G. Metzger, who represents Orange County on the MTA Board and is chairwoman of the Board’s Metro-North Railroad Committee, said: “I appreciate the commitment from Senator Bonacic and from Metro-North to invest needed resources in the Port Jervis Station. The Port Jervis Line is the backbone of public transportation for Orange County and I continue to push alongside our elected delegation for increased investment in the line.”

“Older folks, veterans, families, and people with disabilities shouldn’t have to travel across the county just to safely get on a train – getting this problem fixed is long overdue,” said U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). “’I’ve been working with Metro-North and the Governor on this for a while, and I’m glad Senator Bonacic and I stand together on the need to resolve these accessibility issues. I’ll continue to work alongside our local partners to ensure our transportation systems are accessible to all New Yorkers.”

New York State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, said, “Over the past few months, I have been working with Senator Bonacic’s office, and community activists to find critical resources necessary to get this project moving forward. Accessibility for the disabled was crucially needed at this particular station. I commend Senator Bonacic for helping to provide funding for this most important project and I’m happy to be his partner in government.”

As a short-term measure to improve accessibility at the station, Metro-North will install a temporary mini high-level platform made of aluminum and ADA-compliant ramp by June 2018.