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MTA

Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies
Van Ritshie, Beloved MTA Announcer, ‘Voice Of Hudson Valley’ Radio Host, Dies If you’ve ever hopped a train or scanned a radio in these parts, chances are good you’ve heard the velvety smooth voice of Van Ritshie. The longtime Hudson Valley radio host and voiceover artist, whose voice guided MTA commuters for decades, died Sunday, Nov. 3, at a Dutchess County hospice center in Poughkeepsie. He was 80 years old. “The Family of Van Ritshie is sad to announce that ‘The Voice of the Hudson Valley’ has passed on to be with Jesus after a brief illness surrounded by family,” reads his obituary. After earning his communications degree at Queensborough Community College in Q…
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Train In Hudson Valley ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Train In Hudson Valley
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Train In Hudson Valley Editor's note: The MTA Police updated the age of the man killed to 48 on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The identity has been released of a man who was killed after being hit by an MTA train. The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 in Westchester County at the Metro-North station in Rye and involved a Grand Central-bound express train, according to MTA Deputy Communications Director Aaron Donovan. The New Haven Line train was taken out of service for a police investigation and its passengers were able to continue their travels within 20 minutes by transferring to a local train, D…
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Express Train In Westchester Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Express Train In Westchester
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Express Train In Westchester A person was killed after being hit by an MTA train. Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Westchester The incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 in Westchester County at the Metro-North station in Rye and involved a Grand Central-bound express train, according to MTA Deputy Communications Director Aaron Donovan. The New Haven Line train was taken out of service for a police investigation and its passengers were able to continue their travels within 20 minutes by transferring to a local train, Donovan said. The id…
Weekend Ferry Service Between Ossining, Rockland Off To Great Start With Increased Ridership Weekend Ferry Service Between Ossining, Rockland Off To Great Start With Increased Ridership
Weekend Ferry Service Between Ossining, Rockland Off To Great Start With Increased Ridership Months after the launch of a weekend ferry service between Westchester and Rockland counties, ridership is only going up, officials announced.  Since weekend service on the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry was started in May, ridership numbers have continued to climb each month, MTA officials announced on Wednesday, July 31.  According to the MTA, ridership in July reached an average of 455 trips a day on the weekend compared to 240 trips a day in May. Additionally, a record of 822 trips was set on Sunday, July 21, officials said. Weekend service on the route was launched in May to…
Metro-North Found Liable In 2015 Westchester Crash That Killed 6 Metro-North Found Liable In 2015 Westchester Crash That Killed 6
Metro-North Found Liable In 2015 Westchester Crash That Killed 6 A jury has decided to hold Metro-North Railroad liable for a 2015 crash in Northern Westchester that killed six people and injured more than a dozen others.  The decision in the liability trial regarding the crash, which happened in Valhalla in February 2015, was reached on Tuesday, July 17.  Earlier Report - Deadliest Metro-North Crash Claimed, Changed Lives, But Crossing Unchanged On the day of the crash, Feb. 3, 2015, 49-year-old Ellen Brody of Edgemont had left her job in Chappaqua before encountering a traffic jam along the Taconic State Parkway in Mount Pleasant that f…
Upgrades Completed At Croton-Harmon Yard After 23 Years Upgrades Completed At Croton-Harmon Yard After 23 Years
Upgrades Completed At Croton-Harmon Yard After 23 Years After more than two decades, upgrades at a Northern Westchester railroad yard that serves as an important hub of operations for Metro-North have finally been completed. The MTA announced the completion of modernization efforts at the Croton-Harmon Yard in Croton-On-Hudson meant to improve train reliability and performance on Friday, May 10. According to MTA officials, the project, which included state and federal funding, was started in 2001 after the site was determined to be inadequate at meeting the needs of crews who maintain the railroad's fleet of trains.  The project's final ph…
Filming For TV Show To Shut Down Busy Parking Lot In Westchester: Here's When Filming For TV Show To Shut Down Busy Parking Lot In Westchester: Here's When
Filming For TV Show To Shut Down Busy Parking Lot In Westchester: Here's When A busy parking lot in Westchester will be shut down for most of a day to make room for a film shoot, police announced. On Monday, April 29, the Highland parking lot in Rye in the area of Purchase Street and Purdy Avenue will close between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to allow crews to shoot scenes for an episode of a television show called "Swipe," according to the City of Rye Police Department. On the day of the shoot, all cars must be moved from the lot before 6 a.m. Permit holders will be able to move their vehicles to any MTA parking lot free of charge beginning on Sunday, April 28.  As for …
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley
ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley The identity has been released of a man who was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train in the Hudson Valley.  The incident happened on the railroad's Harlem Line in Dutchess County at around 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Appalachian Trail station in Pawling, according to the MTA. On Sunday morning, April 21, MTA Deputy Communications Director Aaron Donovan identified the man who was struck as being from Connecticut: Fairfield County resident James Hare, age 62, of Newtown. Original report - Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valle…
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Hudson Valley A person was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train overnight in the region. Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Man Struck, Killed By Train In Hudson Valley The incident happened on the railroad's Harlem Line in Dutchess County at around 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Appalachian Trail station in Pawling, according to the MTA. The identity of the person has not yet been released. Service was suspended between Wassaic and Southeast from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Father Jumps To Help Son After Fall At Croton-Harmon Station Father Jumps To Help Son After Fall At Croton-Harmon Station
Father Jumps To Help Son After Fall At Croton-Harmon Station Thanks to quick-thinking Metro-North officials and first responders, a person who fell on electrified tracks at a Northern Westchester train station and his father, who leaped in to help him, were rescued from the perilous situation.  The incident happened on Friday, April 12 around 10:30 a.m., when a person fell from the platform at Croton-Harmon Station onto electrified tracks, according to the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department.  After the fall, the person's father immediately jumped to help his son and put himself in harm's way in the process, according to the department.  …
Bridge Spanning Train Tracks To Be Removed In Westchester Bridge Spanning Train Tracks To Be Removed In Westchester
Bridge Spanning Train Tracks To Be Removed In Westchester The effort to replace a bridge spanning MTA tracks in Westchester will soon be kicking off with the removal of the current structure.  The removal of the South Street Bridge, which spans New Haven Line tracks in Mount Vernon began Thursday night, March 7, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard announced.  The removal will be done by ECCO and Sessler Wrecking and will take place during nights so that traffic on South Street or nearby Pearl Street is not interrupted during the day, Patterson-Howard said.  If weather does not delay the work, the bridge removal is …
Train Station In Northern Westchester Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Upgrades Train Station In Northern Westchester Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Upgrades
Train Station In Northern Westchester Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Upgrades A Metro-North station in Northern Westchester is the latest to receive accessibility improvements, including an all-new elevator.  The improvements, which were made to the Purdys Metro-North Station in North Salem, were announced by the MTA on Thursday, Feb. 22.  The upgrades include a new elevator that travels between the station's parking lot and the Purdys Road (Route 116) overpass, as well as a new sidewalk compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act that leads from the elevator to the existing station entrance.  The station is the third in Westchester to receive …
Bridge Replacement To Cause Over Month-Long Road Closure In Westchester: Here's Where Bridge Replacement To Cause Over Month-Long Road Closure In Westchester: Here's Where
Bridge Replacement To Cause Over Month-Long Road Closure In Westchester: Here's Where A bridge replacement project is causing a road closure at a busy intersection in Westchester that will last over a month.  The closure resulted from a project commenced by the MTA that will replace the South Fulton Avenue Bridge in Mount Vernon, according to Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.  Because of construction work, South Fulton Avenue is now closed at the intersection with East 1st Street. The closure began on Monday, Feb. 19, and will tentatively continue until Saturday, March 30, Patterson-Howard said. The bridge that will be replaced traverses the New Haven railr…
New 'Evocative' Mural To Adorn Waterfront In Westchester, Feature Augmented Reality Component New 'Evocative' Mural To Adorn Waterfront In Westchester, Feature Augmented Reality Component
New 'Evocative' Mural To Adorn Waterfront In Westchester, Feature Augmented Reality Component A busy waterfront in Westchester will soon be beautified by a new mural that will bring both vibrant color and an augmented reality component brought to life by smartphones.  A new mural titled "We The People" by artist CJ Priester will be installed at the Yonkers Waterfront on the MTA retaining wall directly in front of the Yonkers Riverfront Library, Yonkers Arts announced. The art installation will showcase Yonkers as a community that features a "diverse melting pot," according to the organization.  "This evocative piece reflects the unique spirit and diverse cultural tapestry…
Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line
Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line Officials in the Hudson Valley are calling on the MTA to undertake a study on the feasibility of providing direct access to Penn Station from the Hudson Line.  In a letter addressed to MTA Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber, Westchester County Executive George Latimer called on the transportation agency to conduct a study on having direct one-seat access to Manhattan's Penn Station from the Hudson Line, Latimer announced on Wednesday, Jan. 17.  "The advantages of such a connection are abundant," Latimer wrote in the latter, adding, "Improved transportation links would …
Another Westchester Train Station Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Improvements Another Westchester Train Station Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Improvements
Another Westchester Train Station Gets New Elevator, Accessibility Improvements A Metro-North station in Westchester has received a new elevator in addition to several other upgrades intended to improve access, parking, and amenities, officials announced.  In an announcement on Thursday, Jan. 11, MTA officials announced the opening of a second elevator at the Scarsdale Metro-North Train Station.  The new elevator is located in an enclosed tower that serves the Grand Central Station-bound platform.  Additionally, the overpass at the station was raised seven inches to give more vertical clearance for Metro-North trains. Other enhancements added to the sta…
Renovated Train Station Includes New Elevator, Heated Seating Area In Westchester Renovated Train Station Includes New Elevator, Heated Seating Area In Westchester
Renovated Train Station Includes New Elevator, Heated Seating Area In Westchester After decades of requests from commuters and town officials, an all-new elevator and other renovations have been made to a well-traveled train station in Westchester.  The renovations have been made by the MTA to the Hartsdale Train Station, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner announced on Monday, Dec. 25. According to Feiner, the main update to the station is a new elevator that residents have been requesting for years.  "I wrote numerous letters to Metro North over the years seeking the elevator and am thrilled that it is finally operating," Feiner said, adding, "The elevato…
Update: Man Killed By Train In Chappaqua Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels Update: Man Killed By Train In Chappaqua Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels
Update: Man Killed By Train In Chappaqua Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels A beloved author of two novels who was fatally struck by a Metro-North train in Northern Westchester is being remembered for his talent and passion for his craft.  Chappaqua resident David Burr Gerrard died on Friday, Dec. 8 at the age of 42 after being struck by a Harlem Line train at Chappaqua station at around 9 a.m., according to an MTA spokesperson.  Earlier Report - ID Released For Chappaqua Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train Gerrard had been a successful author who wrote two novels, "Short Century" and "The Epiphany Machine," according to his website.  Born in Queens in 1…
ID Released For Northern Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train ID Released For Northern Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train
ID Released For Northern Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train The identity has been released of a local resident who was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train near a station in Northern Westchester County. New, updated report: Update: Man Killed By Train In Northern Westchester Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels The incident happened on Friday, Dec. 8 around 9 a.m., when the person on the tracks at Chappaqua station was struck by a Harlem Line train, according to a MTA spokesperson. On Saturday, Dec. 9, the MTA identified the person as 42-year-old David B. Gerrard, a resident of Chappaqua. As a result of the incident, Harlem Line trains …
ID Released For Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train ID Released For Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train
ID Released For Westchester Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train The identity has been released of a person who was killed after being struck by a train at a station in New York. The incident happened around 2 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Westchester County when the man trespassing on tracks at the Port Chester station was struck by the Stamford-bound Metro-North  train on Track 3, according to an MTA spokesperson.  The man struck was later declared dead.  Early Thursday afternoon, Dec. 7, the MTA identified the man as 59-year-old Mamaroneck resident Gabriel Rocael Barrios. Original report: Person Fatally Struck By Train In West…
Person Fatally Struck By Train Near Station In Westchester Person Fatally Struck By Train Near Station In Westchester
Person Fatally Struck By Train Near Station In Westchester Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train A person was fatally struck by a Metro-North train in an early morning incident at a station in New York that caused service delays, officials announced. The incident happened in Westchester County on Wednesday, Dec. 6 just after 2 a.m., when a person trespassing on tracks at the Port Chester station was struck by a Stamford-bound Metro-North Railroad train on Track 3, according to an MTA spokesperson.  The person struck was later declared dead, officials said. The person has no…
New Update: Woman Killed After Being Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester New Update: Woman Killed After Being Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester
New Update: Woman Killed After Being Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester This story has been updated. A woman was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train near a station in Westchester, officials said. The incident happened on Friday, Nov. 3 just before 9 a.m., when a woman was hit by a southbound Hudson Line train near Yonkers station, according to an MTA spokesperson.  The woman's identity has not yet been released by authorities, and the investigation into her death is ongoing. The incident caused at least two trains traveling from Grand Central Station to Croton-Harmon to bypass the Riverdale station in the Bronx, as well as delays of up to 10 to …
Woman Hospitalized After Falling On Tracks At Northern Westchester Train Station Woman Hospitalized After Falling On Tracks At Northern Westchester Train Station
Woman Hospitalized After Falling On Tracks At Northern Westchester Train Station A woman was taken to a hospital after she fell on the tracks at a Northern Westchester train station, causing brief Metro-North service delays.  The incident happened on Tuesday, Oct. 24 around 8:30 p.m., when a woman accidentally fell on tracks at the Bedford Hills train station, according to an MTA spokesperson.  The woman was later assisted and treated by EMS personnel at the scene. She was later taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. The incident caused temporary delays of up to 25 minutes for Metro-North trains, officials added. 
Metro-North Service Restored After Mudslide In Scarborough Metro-North Service Restored After Mudslide In Scarborough
Metro-North Service Restored After Mudslide In Scarborough MTA Metro-North Railroad will operate on a near-normal weekday schedule on Monday, Oct. 23 following a mudslide in Scarborough on Saturday morning, Oct. 21 that prevented trains from operating between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon. To reduce the potential for congestion-related delays, the railroad is adjusting Hudson Line schedules and canceling four of the 158 trains the railroad operates on the line daily, and during peak hours, trains that operate in the reverse-peak direction will operate express between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon. “In the face of dangerous weather and a looming deadlin…
Person Fatally Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester Person Fatally Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester
Person Fatally Struck By Metro-North Train In Westchester A person was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train at a Westchester station, officials said. The incident happened on Wednesday, Oct. 18 around 5:40 p.m., when an unauthorized person on the tracks at Port Chester station was fatally struck by a westbound New Haven Line train, MTA officials said. The person's name has not yet been released. An investigation is ongoing. The incident caused delays of up to an hour on the New Haven Line on Wednesday evening, in addition to some cancellations. Normal service eventually resumed around 9:30 p.m. This is a developing story. Check back …
New Look: Rail-Cleaning 'Laser Train' To Clean NY Metro-North Routes Of Fallen Leaves New Look: Rail-Cleaning 'Laser Train' To Clean NY Metro-North Routes Of Fallen Leaves
New Look: Rail-Cleaning 'Laser Train' To Clean NY Metro-North Routes Of Fallen Leaves In order to clean its New York rail routes of slimy sludge left behind by fallen autumn leaves, Metro-North will be employing its "Laser Train," which has been given an all-new retro-inspired look.  This year will mark the first time that the "Laser Train" has been marked any differently than regular maintenance trains, Metro-North announced on Tuesday, Oct. 17.  The futuristic trains were developed in order to clear rails of wet, slimy leaf sludge caused by a chemical in fallen leaves called pectin. This substance can cause trains to slip along the rails as they brake, resulting …
Hungry? Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Kicks Off At Westchester Eatery Hungry? Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Kicks Off At Westchester Eatery
Hungry? Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Kicks Off At Westchester Eatery It's official: Fall 2023's Hudson Valley Restaurant Week has officially started with a kickoff event held at a Westchester eatery.  The fall kickoff was held at Red Horse by David Burke located in White Plains inside the Opus Westchester in White Plains at 221 Main St. (Route 119), Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Earlier Report - Fall Lineup: Dates, Participating Eateries Revealed For Hudson Valley Restaurant Week The modern American steakhouse, which features prime beef dry-aged to celebrity chef David Burke's patented Himalay…
'Leaf Peeper' Metro-North Trains Available For Autumn Lovers In Hudson Valley: Here's When 'Leaf Peeper' Metro-North Trains Available For Autumn Lovers In Hudson Valley: Here's When
'Leaf Peeper' Metro-North Trains Available For Autumn Lovers In Hudson Valley: Here's When Metro-North has good news for those who have waited all year for the leaves to change colors in the Hudson Valley.  Beginning on Saturday, Oct. 7, Metro-North will be adding extra "leaf peeper" trains to the Hudson Line that will take autumn-loving riders to the "incomparably scenic" Hudson River Valley for views of fall foliage, MTA officials announced.  Five of these extra trains will be added on Saturdays, while four extra trains will be added on Sundays, officials added.  "Fall is the best season to experience all that the Hudson Valley has to offer," said Metro-Nor…
Hurricane Lee: NY National Guard Making Preparations As Storm Strengthens Hurricane Lee: NY National Guard Making Preparations As Storm Strengthens
Hurricane Lee: NY National Guard Making Preparations As Storm Strengthens State leaders are preparing for possible impacts from Hurricane Lee as the storm continues to strengthen on its trek northward. Related story - Hurricane Lee Track Shifts: Threat To Northeast Grows, Chance Of New England Landfall Increases On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 50 soldiers from the New York National Guard have begun preparations on Long Island ahead of possible dangerous high surf, rip currents, coastal flooding, and beach erosion along parts of the East Coast later in the week. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents will affect portions of …
New Update: Metro-North Service Nearly Restored After Storm Damage In Northern Westchester New Update: Metro-North Service Nearly Restored After Storm Damage In Northern Westchester
New Update: Metro-North Service Nearly Restored After Storm Damage In Northern Westchester Metro-North train service in the Hudson Valley is almost fully back to normal following a severe storm that caused extensive damage to tracks, rendering them impassable for days.  Service has been nearly fully restored on both the Metro-North Hudson Line and Upper Harlem Line following severe storm damage that caused trains to be suspended on Sunday afternoon, July 9, MTA officials announced on Tuesday, July 11.  Earlier Report - New Update: Buses To Replace Suspended Metro-North Trains After Storms In Northern Westchester According to officials, on Wednesday, July 12, the Hudson Line will…
New Update: Buses To Replace Suspended Metro-North Trains After Storms In Northern Westchester New Update: Buses To Replace Suspended Metro-North Trains After Storms In Northern Westchester
New Update: Buses To Replace Suspended Metro-North Trains After Storms In Northern Westchester In the aftermath of severe storms that left Hudson Line tracks covered in water and debris, Metro-North officials have announced that a limited bus service will replace suspended trains in the Hudson Valley.  The limited bus service will begin serving the Hudson Line at around 1 p.m. on Monday, July 10, and will make stops between the Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie stations, MTA officials announced.  Earlier Report - Metro-North Railroad Announces Service Changes Due To Storm Damage These stops will include the Cortlandt and Beacon stations as well.  The buses wil…