Middletown-Wallkill Metro-North Station

SUGAR LOAF – As the Port Jervis rail line of Metro-North continues to grow passenger numbers, the railroad is continuing to upgrade the infrastructure, railroad President Howard Permut said Wednesday.

Speaking to the Orange County Citizens Foundation in Sugar Loaf, Permut said new rail and ties are being installed on a regular basis and infrastructure like the Moodna Viaduct bridge in Salisbury Mills continues to be upgraded. That should be completed by the end of the year.

“I think we’re making strides. I think there is an opportunity to do a lot more. I think that within the funding available that we have, we have made significant strides and we will continue to make those improvements," he said.

Ridership on all of Metro-North’s lines grew by four percent in 2008, up to 83.6 million passengers with the Port Jervis line seeing the largest growth, five percent, with 1.5 million passengers carried. However, because of the recession, ridership is down 2.4 percent through April of this year.

For the long term, though, Metro-North has plans to expand Port Jervis station overnight train parking and repair of bridges and tunnels along the route.

The Rapid Transit Access Study at Stewart Airport is progressing with options under review development of rail, rapid bus or bus service. And the Tappan Zee/I-287 study continues with the decision to build a new bridge with future rapid transit capabilities.