(The following appeared on the Poughkeepsie Journal website on January 4, 2010.)
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — In 2009, Metro-North Railroad had a record-breaking 97.8 percent on-time performance record for the year.
That performance was one of several successes, according to the railroad. Among the new developments:
The Yankees-East 153rd Street Station opened with as much as 15 percent of Yankee game attendees arriving via Metro-North.
Metro-North is introducing real-time train information that can be viewed on flat-screen monitors installed at select key stations— White Plains, Larchmont, Fordham, Harlem-125th Street, or Yankees-E. 153rd Street. Station monitors give information on the next nine arrivals and departures. Early next year, this real-time information will be available via smart phones and computer.
Another customer service initiative was the creation of a second ticket vending machine center in Grand Central Terminal and the addition of 40 TVMs at outlying stations. A new, system-wide vending machine contract will soon see snack and beverage machines on most station platforms. And a new company, LAZ, was selected to manage the 34 station parking lots owned by Metro-North in an effort to improve the customer experience and provide a more cost-effective operation.
The Poughkeepsie Station received a new tile roof, restored terra cotta cornice, brick repointing, new windows and doors throughout the four-story building.