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COVID-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts COVID-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts
Covid-19: Here's When Latest Metro-North Schedule Change Starts As ridership continues to plummet to historic lows amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the MTA announced it will once again be altering the schedule for Metro-North trains. Beginning on Monday, April 13, Metro-North will operate on an hourly schedule on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines during both the weekdays and weekends. The Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will remain on Saturday schedules, with hourly service at some points of the day. Changes also include Harlem Line trains to operate every two hours on weekdays between Southeast and Wassaic. There is no service …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Ridership Down 98 Percent, More Schedule Changes Likely, Metro-North President Says COVID-19: Ridership Down 98 Percent, More Schedule Changes Likely, Metro-North President Says
Covid-19: Ridership Down 98 Percent, More Schedule Changes Likely, Metro-North President Says In a letter to Metro-North riders, the company's president, Catherine Rinaldi, says ridership is down 98 percent due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and that more schedule changes are likely. As April starts, our region is entering the fourth month of the new reality of COVID-19. And it has been three weeks since Gov. Andrew Cuomo placed New York on “pause” to slow the spread of the virus and flatten the curve, Rinaldi wrote. "What was before an unimaginable reality has changed how we work, how we play and how we look at one another," she said. "Most of us never pictured the day…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
COVID-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low COVID-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low
Covid-19: Metro-North To Cut Service With Ridership Falling To All-Time Low With commuters staying home due to the novel coronavirus outbreak that’s gripping the nation, the MTA announced it will be cutting down its service amid historically low ridership numbers. Beginning on Friday, March 27, with the MTA reportedly losing weekly losses of more than $100 million with ridership down more than 90 percent, the organization has laid out a new “Essential Service Plan.” The plan calls for extra trains during peak commuting hours for first responders and health care workers, though the MTA will be cutting services throughout the rest of the day, MTA Chair Patrick Foye …

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by Zak Failla
News
Hundreds Of New Positive COVID-19 Cases Bring State Total To 1,374 Hundreds Of New Positive COVID-19 Cases Bring State Total To 1,374
Hundreds Of New Positive Covid-19 Cases Bring State Total To 1,374 A total of 432 confirmed positive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) tests in New York has brought the statewide total to 1,374, though the worst is yet to come, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. With testing for COVID-19 ramping up as the state begins installing “drive-through” facilities to expedite efforts, the positive tests keep rolling in, despite the state taking drastic measures this week to help stop the spread of the virus. Cuomo said drive-through testing facilities will open in Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties. As of Tuesday, March 17, these are the 10 hardest hit counties in New York Sta…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: MTA Cleaning Trains, Turnstiles Amid Outbreak, Deep Ridership Decline COVID-19: MTA Cleaning Trains, Turnstiles Amid Outbreak, Deep Ridership Decline
Covid-19: MTA Cleaning Trains, Turnstiles Amid Outbreak, Deep Ridership Decline The MTA is doubling down on cleaning efforts as ridership continues to decline due to the outbreak of COVID-19. With thousands of people in mandatory or precautionary quarantine, and thousands more ordered to work from home to help stop the spread of the virus, MTA has seen a sharp decline in ridership. The MTA is reporting that LIRR ridership was down 31 percent, while Metro-North was down nearly 50 percent since the outbreak began. Subways and buses are also being used approximately 20 percent less. In response to the spread of coronavirus, trains, ticket machines, vending machines, turn…

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by Zak Failla
News
Coronavirus Could Disrupt US Schools, Transportation, Says Acting White House Chief Of Staff Coronavirus Could Disrupt US Schools, Transportation, Says Acting White House Chief Of Staff
Coronavirus Could Disrupt US Schools, Transportation, Says Acting White House Chief Of Staff As the outbreak of coronavirus continues to spread throughout the globe, the acting White House Chief of Staff is cautioning that the virus may have an impact on schools and transportation stateside. “Are you going to see some schools shut down? Probably,” acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney reported said at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, D.C. “Maybe see impacts on public transportation? Sure, but we do this. We know how to handle this.” Mulvaney’s statement comes as the stock market continues to plummet amid fears of the spread of the virus. As of Frida…

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by Zak Failla
News
MTA Issues Update On Precautions Against Coronavirus MTA Issues Update On Precautions Against Coronavirus
MTA Issues Update On Precautions Against Coronavirus The MTA is taking precautions to prevent the spread of the increasing threat of coronavirus. “While there is no confirmed case in New York, the MTA has already taken a number of steps to provide information about the novel coronavirus to our employees and our eight million daily customers across NYC Transit, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road,” the organization stated. A total of 81,109 cases have been confirmed globally. Of those cases, 78,191 cases have been confirmed in China, with 2,918 outside China, the World Health Organization announced. The risk assessment remains “very high” i…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Cuomo Seeks $40M Emergency Funding For Potential Coronavirus Pandemic Cuomo Seeks $40M Emergency Funding For Potential Coronavirus Pandemic
Cuomo Seeks $40M Emergency Funding For Potential Coronavirus Pandemic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has requested $40 million in emergency funding be approved by the state legislature for the state’s Department of Health for dealing with a potential coronavirus pandemic. With federal health officials declaring it’s become a matter of “when, not if,” the virus will spread to the United States, Cuomo is taking steps to ensure that New York is ready to go to battle. The $40 million appropriation will allow the Department of Health to hire additional staff, procure equipment and any other resources necessary to respond to the potential novel coronavirus pandemic. …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Video: Train Slams Into Tractor-Trailer Stuck On Tracks In Area Video: Train Slams Into Tractor-Trailer Stuck On Tracks In Area
Video: Train Slams Into Tractor-Trailer Stuck On Tracks In Area A tractor-trailer was struck by a train after becoming stuck on the tracks in Sloatsburg. The incident took place around 6:15 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21, when the Port Jervis Line Train #55, out of Hoboken, New Jersey hit the tractor-trailer that was stuck at the Washington Avenue railroad crossing in Sloatsburg, said the MTA. MTA officials said there no reported injuries.  The tractor-trailer was carrying HP laser printers which were spread all over the area following the crash. Metro-North personnel and the MTA Police are investigating the cause of the accident and train service is tem…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Person Struck, Killed By Train In Rockland Person Struck, Killed By Train In Rockland
Person Struck, Killed By Train In Rockland A person was killed by an MTA train after being struck while standing on the tracks. The incident took place Thursday, Dec. 5, when a train departing Hoboken at 9:57 a.m. and arriving at Spring Valley Station at 11:07 a.m., fatally struck the unauthorized person on the tracks at the Spring Valley Station on the Pascack Valley Line, said the MTA. There were no passengers on the train at the time, and there are no reported injuries to the crew members.  Service on the Pascack Valley Line is suspended in both directions between Pearl River and Spring Valley stations Spring Valley Police…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Area HS Basketball Coach Placed On Leave After Admitting To Collecting $17K For False Injuries Area HS Basketball Coach Placed On Leave After Admitting To Collecting $17K For False Injuries
Area HS Basketball Coach Placed On Leave After Admitting To Collecting $17K For False Injuries An MTA bus driver who lives in Northern Westchester and who worked as a high school basketball coach in Putnam County admitted to collecting workers comp benefits while still maintaining his job on the court, despite being uninjured. Tyrone Searight, 49, of Peekskill, who coaches in the Haldane Central School District, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after he claimed to be injured in 2016, forcing him out of his job as a bus driver. Despite being allegedly injured, Searight was caught by investigators continuing to coach at Haldane, all while collecting nearly $17,000 in workers' compe…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Dies After Being Hit By Metro-North Train In Westchester Teen Dies After Being Hit By Metro-North Train In Westchester
Teen Dies After Being Hit By Metro-North Train In Westchester The 16-year-old boy who was struck by a Metro-North train in Westchester has died, according to MTA officials. The incident took place at the Pelham station around 5:45 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18, when the teen was struck, said Aaron Donovan, spokesman for Metro-North.  The teen was rushed alive by emergency personnel to an area hospital where he later died, Donovan said. Following the event, New Haven Line rush-hour trains were delayed by up to 50 minutes as a result. Normal service resumed at 8:53 p.m. Information was not available Tuesday morning, Nov. 19 regarding how the teen ended …

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by Kathy Reakes