Damage assessment of Metro-North's Port Jervis Line is underway

Port Jervis — A team of engineers hired by MTA Metro-North Railroad is inspecting and assessing the catastrophic flood damage to the Port Jervis Line. Meanwhile, buses are providing alternative service for the 2,300 people who normally use the line each weekday. Following through on MTA Chairman Jay Walder’s emergency powers invoked to expedite rebuilding the devastated line, work began last week on an on-the-ground assessment of damage from the storm and a final condition assessment report is expected by the end of the month. AECOM of New York City began a conditions analysis of track and structures along 14 of the hardest hit miles of the right-of-way as well as a hydrology study of the area. Its sub-consultant, Systra of New York City, is assessing all railroad communications and signal systems, and M.G. McLaren of West Nyack, another sub-consultant, will assess damage to the rail bridges in the affected area. AECOM was issued a Notice to Proceed for emergency work, not-to exceed $500,000. Alternative service Bus service was scheduled to further expand this Thursday (Sept. 8) when buses provided by MTA Bus Company will begin service from Salisbury Mills/Cornwall Station, which had been inaccessible because of area road closures, to the Ramsey/Route 17 Station. After the Aug. 28 storm passed and flood waters receded, Metro-North established the first bus service for Port Jervis Line customers on Tuesday, August 30, from Harriman to NJTRANSIT’s Ramsey/Route 17 Station for trains to Hoboken. Fifteen buses from Leprechaun Lines continue to provide the service under contract to Metro-North. Bus service from Port Jervis and Middletown stations began Sept. 1, to Metro-North’s Beacon Station on the Hudson Line for trains to Grand Central Terminal. Bus service from Tuxedo and Sloatsburg to the Ramsey/Route 17 Station began Sept. 7. In addition, customers can use Port Jervis Line commutation tickets on the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry; about 15 people have taken advantage of this route each day. The Newburgh-Beacon Shuttle Bus also is available. Port Jervis Line commutation tickets are being honored for travel on the Hudson Line. Extent of damage Significant damage to the line identified last week by an aerial inspection includes up to 40 washout locations including three washouts each at least a 1,000 feet long near Sloatsburg, a 400-foot section of track washed out just south of Sloatsburg, significant damage to several railroad bridges and exposure of what had been a subterranean signal cable. Metro-North is studying its options to improve service during the long repair work ahead. Online All the latest bus information is available on the web site at www.mta.info. Every station has a special published bus schedule, which differ from train times.