4 New Metro-North stations coming to the Bronx, promising commute time cuts of up to 45 minutes
The initiative, known as the Penn Station Access project, aims to transform travel for residents in the East Bronx, where commuters have long depended on lengthy subway and bus trips to reach Manhattan.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to add four new Metro-North stations in the Bronx as part of a project expected to significantly reduce commute times for thousands of riders.
The initiative, known as the Penn Station Access project, aims to transform travel for residents in the East Bronx, where commuters have long depended on lengthy subway and bus trips to reach Manhattan.
MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said the project is expected to cut commute times by 45 minutes to an hour for many riders. We got an exclusive look at one of the sites being constructed.
"It'll be less than half an hour, and it's going to save 30,000 daily riders, most of whom are going to come from the East Bronx," Torres-Springer said. "It's going to save them about 45 minutes to an hour each from the way that they would have to commute into the city today."
The project will bring new Metro-North service to four locations in the Bronx: Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest and Hunts Point. Each station is being built from the ground up.
According to Torres-Springer, all four stations will feature modern designs and full accessibility.
"Each of those stations is getting built brand new, fully modern technology, and that means that each of them is going to be ADA accessible," he said. "Think of it like the most modern subway or train station that you've ever seen. That's what we're going to be building here for Penn Station access."
Construction on the project began in 2021. MTA officials say the timeline is long in part because crews are working on an active railroad, which limits when construction can take place.
"We got to be working on an active railroad, and that can be really challenging," Torres-Springer said.
"It means most of the work gets done at night and on the weekends. Sometimes we're having to take service out on one track for a long period of time to get the work done, but in the end, we're getting the work done."
The MTA expects construction to be completed by 2029.
Officials say the project will provide faster, more direct access to Manhattan and is expected to improve transit options for tens of thousands of Bronx residents.
