Here is my list for MNR projects that I want to see happen within NY State.
1. New Haven Line East Bronx Service-this is a must and I am glad that it's going to happen. The sections of the Bronx that the Hellgate Line passes through like Co-op City, Morris Park, and Hunts Point require people to either take a long subway, bus ride, or even both to access Midtown Manhattan. For people who live in the East Bronx that are heading to employment centers in New Rochelle, Greenwich, and Stamford have to take a bus to get to a Metro North Station. Depending on where you live in the East Bronx, it's not easy getting over to the New Haven Line. Some of the sections, you can get on over to Fordham Station easily but if you live in Co-op City, you have to get on over to Boston Road and catch a bus to New Rochelle. I hope that the MTA is considering not just having Metro North run this East Bronx service during the week and rush hours. I hope that these trains will be running off peak hours and on weekends. There are many people who work outside of the traditional 9 to 5 job Mondays through Fridays. Plus there are people who would like to make daytrips to Midtown Manhattan to shop, catch a play, or visit a museum.
2. The third track extension of the Harlem from Crestwood to North White Plains. This should have all happened at the same time the third track was extended as far as Crestwood. As mentioned in a different thread, it would be tough to build the third track at White Plains Station since there isn't room there. However, the track could end just south of WP Station and probably start up again just north of the WP Station. Many trains stop at White Plains anyway. The Harlem Line from GCT to North White Plains sees almost a "subway style" frequency of trains during the rush hour-heading into the city during the am rush and them coming back out during the pm rush. During all other times of the day, you aren't waiting longer than 30 minutes for a train between GCT-WP. Having this third track wouldn't only help the trains going as far as North White Plains. It would help everything, even the trains that start out at Wassaic Station. The express trains that originate in Wassaic and Southeast could probably save some additional time between NWP and GCT.
3. Replacement of the Shoreliners and dual modes-the non-center door Shoreliners are probably between 33 and 35 years old and are definately showing their aging signs. Many of the center door Shoreliners are probably somewhere in their 20s agewise. I don't know if the center door Shoreliners need to be retired just yet, but the non-center door ones probably do in the next few years. As for the dual mode Genesis units, I hear mixed feelings about them. I think many of them are around 22-23 years old and there are multiple ones that are 25 years old. They have been fine for the most part but acceleration has been an issue. If the MTA wants to retire the P32AC-DM units in a few years, than that's what will happen. The 228 and 231 units-probably CDOT will decide what to do since they own those four units, even though they belong to the MNR pool.
3. Hudson Line projects-install third rail on all of the four tracks of the electrified stretch of the Hudson Line between CP 13 and Croton-Harmon Station. During the rush hour, there are Croton-Harmon express trains that make few stops that use electric mu equipment. Another project that I would like to see happen is have a second platform at Marble Hill Station-on the Harlem River side. There may be room to build the platform on the river side of the station.
