Amtrak, Metro-North Reach Deal on Bronx Expansion Plans

A year-long stalemate between Amtrak and the MTA over expanding Metro-North service in the East Bronx has ended. Amtrak agreed to drop its demands after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped in to broker a deal, according to sources at the MTA.

"It's been a long time coming," Janno Lieber, chief development officer at the MTA, said at Tuesday's board meeting, announcing the agreement.

“Amtrak's willingness to negotiate with the MTA will put the East Bronx Metro-North expansion back on schedule and bring us one step closer to expanded commuter rail options in the communities that need them the most," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. wrote in a statement.

The stalemate hinged on two demands from Amtrak. One was that the MTA pay to replace the century-old Pelham Bay Bridge, which would get more traffic with the expansion.  As far back as 2010 Amtrak had labeled the bridge "beyond a state-of-good-repair" and in need of more than $500 million to build a replacement. Under the agreement brokered by Cuomo, the Pelham Bay Bridge replacement would be postponed for 10-20 years. 

The other sticking point was that Amtrak wanted to charge the MTA access fees for using its tracks. Now, Amtrak has agreed to give up that demand in exchange for a joint MTA and Amtrak study to look into whether Amtrak service might be expanded to Long Island.

The MTA already agreed to shoulder the costs for building the four new Metro-North stations, as well as making track and signal upgrades on Amtrak's Hell's Gate line, which runs from Grand Central to New Rochelle. 

The Metro-North committee approved a $35 million contract for preliminary engineering and designing of the four new stations on Tuesday. The full board must approve that at Thursday's MTA board meeting.

Amtrak's board must approve the arrangement as well. It meets at the end of January.

The ability to run trains to the Bronx is contingent on the completion of East-Side Access, the project that will connect Long Island commuters to Grand Central station, which is expected in 2021.