01/07/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/07/2025 16:56
Following Horrific 2015 Valhalla Crash That Killed Six People, Schumer Vowed To Boost Rail Crossing Safety In The Hudson Valley; Senator Says Fed $$ Means Major Step Towards Making Notorious New Castle Crossing & Port Jervis Safer For Commuters, Drivers, Pedestrians, First Responders, Railroad Employees & More
Schumer Says Funds - From "Rail Crossing Elimination Grant Program" Created By The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law - Will Help Put Rail Safety On The Right Track For Millions Of Metro North Passengers Annually
Schumer: It Is Time To Fast-Track Metro North Safety Improvements Across Hudson Valley!
U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer announced $2,767,600 in federal funding to advance rail-safety projects in the Hudson Valley. Schumer has long fought to make the Hudson Valley rail crossings safer, particularly following the horrific Valhalla train crash in 2015 that killed six people; In 2022 Schumer stood at one of the Metro-North's area crossings to highlight the need for federal investment in making high-risk intersections like the Roaring Brook Road crossing safer.
Schumer said funding will finally move forward the preliminary engineering and design for New Castle's Roaring Brook Grade Crossing Elimination Project and the City of Port Jervis Railroad Crossing Elimination project are major steps towards making the Hudson Valley safer for commuters, drivers, pedestrians, first responders, and railroad employees. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rail Crossing Elimination Grant Program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law he led to passage as Democratic Leader in the Senate.
"It is time to get much needed safety upgrades for dangerous rail crossing across the Hudson Valley back on the right track. I'm proud to deliver nearly $3 million from my Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to finally move forward the safety upgrades needed for the notorious New Castle Harlem Line crossing and in Port Jervis. Three years ago, I stood in Garrison alongside local leaders, first responders, railroad officials, and families who were affected by these tragic rail crossing collisions and promised to deliver federal investment in making crossings across the Hudson Valley safer," said Senator Schumer. "The horrific Valhalla train crash in 2015 that took the lives of six people highlighted the need for critical rail safety improvements for residents and commuters alike. When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law to passage, it was desperately needed community investments like these that I had in mind. This federal investment in the safety of our Hudson Valley commuters, rail workers, pedestrians, and drivers is a major step forward toward putting into place effective measures that will reduce life-threatening collisions in high-risk areas."
Schumer said that Metro-North crossings throughout the Hudson Valley have become notorious sites for hundreds of car accidents - with local officials saying many near-accidents constantly go unreported. According to MTA officials, there are nine crossings in Westchester and Putnam deemed to be dangerous, with some having unusually high likelihoods of accidents. To help address this, $2,608,000 in federal funding has been allocated for the Roaring Brook Grade Crossing Elimination and $159,600 in federal funding has been allocated for the City of Port Jervis's Railroad Crossing Elimination projects. This funding will go towards critical planning and development stages at both crossings.
Schumer stood one of the Metro-North's highway-grade crossings in Garrison in 2022 to highlight the importance of identifying and funding solutions at high-risk crossings across the commuter rail system. At the time, the Roaring Brook Road crossing in Westchester, located less than half a mile from Horace Greeley High School, had seen over 180 car accidents and 27 signal malfunctions in just the past five years alone - only a small example of the hundreds of accidents and near accidents that occur at rail crossings across the Hudson Valley. Schumer said today's funding will help complete preliminary work that is essential towards the construction of a highway-rail grade separation on Roaring Brook Road in New Castle which sees over 100 passenger train movements per day. The project would also make travel faster by eliminating delays stemming from vehicles waiting to traverse the crossing, which take one minute per train on average. The project is expected to eliminate the possibility of collisions while reducing emissions from waiting vehicles. Today's funding supports the preliminary engineering and design phases of the project.
"The Roaring Brook Grade Crossing Elimination Project is a game-changer for Westchester County, particularly for the residents and commuters of New Castle. For years, the crossing near the Saw Mill River Parkway has posed significant safety hazards, created frustrating delays, and limited access for emergency responders. With this funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, we can move forward with critical engineering and environmental planning to make this project a reality. I want to thank Senator Schumer for his leadership in securing the needed $2.6 million in federal funding for this crucial project, and for his dedication to infrastructure improvements across the County," said Westchester County Executive Kenneth Jenkins
"I am thrilled that Senator Schumer secured this critical $2,608,000 in federal funding so that the NYS Department of Transportation can move forward with the highway-rail grade separation. Traffic at the intersection of Roaring Brook Road and the Saw Mill River Parkway has increased substantially over the last several years and with it, the risk of a serious tragedy. Indeed, since the horrible accident in Valhalla in 2015, the focus has rightly been on the phased elimination of grade crossings and the significant risks they pose. The funding of this project is great news for commuters, the Town of New Castle, and anyone who frequents the intersection," said New York State Assemblymember Chris Burdick.
"I am thankful to Senator Schumer for his staunch advocacy in ensuring that railway crossings throughout our region are safer for all. I know firsthand the devastation that crashes can have on families, which is why I have championed this cause as a private citizen and as an elected official. One of our top priorities must be to ensure the safety of New Yorkers, especially on mass transit. I'm enthusiastic to see how these projects help minimize collisions to ensure that everyone can return home safely," said Putnam County Legislator Nancy Montgomery, whose husband was one of the commuters tragically killed in the December 2013 Spuyten Duyvel crash.
The City of Port Jervis Railroad Crossing Elimination project will improve pedestrian accessibility for an existing at-grade crossing in Port Jervis. The City will develop plans for improvements such as an active pedestrian gate, ADA accessible ramps, and signage.
"The City of Port Jervis is pleased to be awarded this grant funding. This grant funding will allow us to continue to study ways to develop a safe means of travel across the railway which is located in our downtown corridor. We also believe that this is a way for the city to further unlock it's downtown business potential while keeping our residents and visitors safe," said Port Jervis Mayor Cicalese
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Rail Crossing Elimination Grant Program funds highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. The program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law that Schumer led to passage in the Senate.
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