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MTA Metro-North Railroad plans to streamline an environmental study to analyze options for providing direct train service from the New Haven and Hudson lines via the east Bronx and Manhattan's west side into New York City’s Penn Station.

The agency began an environmental review a decade ago with the intent of developing a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for a preferred alternative route. At the time, Metro-North narrowed an initial list of 22 service alternatives to four "build" alternatives — two each involving Hudson Line and Haven Line service to Penn Station.

After consulting with the Federal Transit Administration, Metro-North has decided to pursue the Hudson and New Haven line alternatives as one proposed build alternative. The proposal would include Hudson Line Service to Penn Station during all time periods via Amtrak's Empire Connection and the construction of two new stations on Manhattan's west side; and New Haven Line Service to Penn Station during all time periods via the Hell Gate Line and the construction of three new stations in east Bronx.

Metro-North now will prepare an environmental assessment — which is expected to be completed in 2011 — rather than an EIS. The agency will incorporate data now being gathered about optimal long-range uses of Penn Station by station owner Amtrak, MTA Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit.