Major Investment in Hudson Valley Rail Service Part of Gov. Hochul’s 2025 State of the State
ALBANY—Funding for a major transportation program designed to increase rail service capacity, reduce delays, improve safety and cut potential travel times in the Hudson Valley will be part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 State of the State next week. On Sun., Jan. 5, the governor called for a major investment that will create a “Super-Express” Metro-North service that would shorten reliable commuter transport between New York City and Poughkeepsie to less than 90 minutes.
The proposal includes planning, evaluation and design for a set of rail infrastructure capital improvements between New York City and Poughkeepsie, including projects such as a second track at Spuyten Duyvil, interlocking, signaling and trackwork at Croton Harmon, and capacity improvements at Poughkeepsie Yard. In addition, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will execute a signaling redesign near Yonkers and climate resilience investments in the most vulnerable and highest ridership segments of the Hudson Line.
“Over the coming years, these much-needed infrastructure improvements will allow us to modernize our rail system, increase connectivity, reduce travel time and strengthen economic connections across the region,” the governor said. “With these proposals, we are laying the groundwork to deliver faster and more reliable rail service for suburban and rural commuters across the Hudson Valley and beyond.”
As part of an allocation anticipated to be available for regional investments in its 2025-29 capital plan, the MTA will evaluate and design other potential rail improvements, such as adding a third track to the Metro-North Harlem Line or connecting Hudson Line service to Penn Station for a one-seat commute to Manhattan’s West Side.
In partnership with NYSDOT, the MTA will also establish a regional rail working group with New Jersey, Connecticut and rail partners to promote better coordination on interoperability, ticketing, schedules and customer interfaces. This group will also develop plans to make travel by Metro-North or Long Island Railroad to MetLife Stadium as seamless as possible for the 2026 World Cup as well as explore future opportunities to further integrate regional travel.
Building off a pilot program to enhance the reach of Metro-North west of the Hudson River with ticketing, ferry and parking incentives, New York will also conduct a transit analysis with expert advisors to propose and evaluate additional recommendations to expand and maximize the impact of rail service and look at opportunities for other types of commuter transit for New Yorkers living west of the river and working in New York City. That analysis will include a major employer and destination review in Orange County, exploring options like shuttle bus service timed with Port Jervis Line trains to attractions like Woodbury Commons, Legoland, Storm King, Renaissance Fair, and Stewart Airport.