MTA Metro-North meets roadmap milestones

MTA Metro-North Railroad has met key benchmarks in its “Way Ahead” program, railroad President Catherine Rinaldi announced yesterday.

Six months ago, Metro-North launched Way Ahead to enhance safety, customer service, infrastructure and communications. 

Since then, the railroad has replaced Prospect Hill Road Bridge in Southeast, New York; completed track improvement from Mt. Vernon East to Pelham stations; added 96 weekday trains to the Fordham station; completed station improvements at White Plains, Riversale, Crestwood and Port Chesters; and improved accessibility at Grand Central Terminal. 

In addition, Metro-North reached the following safety goals: 

• expanded a community rail safety education program, which reached over 100,000 people in 2018;
• launched a poster contest for grade-school students to promote rail safety;
• identified all Metro-North grade crossings in the WAZE navigation app; 
• enhanced 78 grade crossings with LED lights; and
• expanded communication skills training for employees, with 1,100 operations employees trained thus far.

To improve communication with riders, the railroad also installed real-time monitors at 38 additional stations, installed digital real-time information screens at Grand Central Terminal and hosted 11 forums for riders to ask questions of Metro-North leadership.

Next, Metro-North officials expect to focus on the arrival of more M-8 cars on the New Haven Line, as well as complete a catenary replacement on the New Haven Line. Metro-North officials will also continue station and accessibility improvements, continue trackside clean-up efforts and complete track improvements in the Bronx, according to an MTA press release.