Page 52 - Westchester - 2017 Relocation Guide

TRANSPORTATION
Travel Is Easy
he ability to move easily in and around a region is an important part of the quality of life a region affords. And when it comes to accessibility, Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley are hard to beat. Excellent highways and convenient rail service mean that New York City is just a quick trip away from almost anywhere in Westchester,
Orange, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. Roads throughout the area are frequently upgraded to meet the increasing traffic demands of the counties north of New York City.
There are a number of bridges connecting the counties on either side of the Hudson River, including the Tappan Zee Bridge, which has connected Rockland and Westchester for decades. It is in the process of being replaced by the The New NY Bridge, scheduled for completion in 2018. It will include eight traffic lanes, several highway-speed E-Z Pass lanes, four breakdown/emergency lanes, and the ability to handle express bus service. Taking the environment and scenic views into account, the new bridge will also feature a dedicated bicycle/pedestrian path with spectacular views.
BUS & SHUTTLE SERVICE
The buses and trains connect the coun- ties to each other and New York City. In Westchester, the Bee-Line bus system transports some 100,000 riders each weekday with a combination of local, ex- press, and railroad-feeder bus services. Leprechaun bus lines travel through Or- ange, Westchester, and Putnam Coun- ties. In Rockland, there are specific lines, such as the Transport of Rockland.
For those who cannot ride the regular buses, ParaTransit service is available. Rules for registration, reservations, and more are explained on each county’s transportation website. Generally pas- sengers receive door-to-door service but need to plan their trips in advance and already be a registered rider.
511: NY RIDESHARE
For those who need to drive, there are ways to match commuters with each other
for rideshares. For carpool service, call 511 and say “rideshare” or visit the website listed in the directory below. This service is even available for those traveling out of state. Call 888-GO511NY (888-465-1169), select a region, and say “rideshare.”
RAIL
Metro-North Railroad provides service into New York City with stops at 125th Street and Grand Central Station on the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines. Ferry service brings those west of the River to the Metro-North line by tying Haverstraw to Ossining. Amtrak also has a number of stops in the Hudson Valley connecting the region to the city and up- per Hudson Valley and beyond.
The second-largest commuter railroad in the nation, Metro-North upgraded its rolling stock through the acquisition of M-7 rail cars for Harlem Line and Hudson Line service and is introducing M-8 cars to re- place the aging New Haven Line fleet. These high-tech cars are more comfortable and reliable, especially in winter. The railroad is also completing a 21st-century fiber-optic system, to provide more reliable communi- cation with staff and customers.
In 2016, the MTA introduced their eTix app, which enables communters to purchase rail tickets right on their smartphones or mobile devices.
AIR
Three major airports — JFK Interna- tional, LaGuardia, and Newark — are within reasonable driving distance of the region. Westchester County Airport continues to grow and is now handling 32,000 commercial flights serving nearly 2 million passengers annually. Westches- ter County Airport is also known for its corporate and charter operations, averag- ing 70,000 flights each year.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates Stewart Internation- al Airport in the Newburgh/New Windsor area of Orange County. Flights up and down the East Coast and to the Midwest are the established routes. An expansion plan will broaden Stewart’s capabilities to match the growing demand in the area.
WEB ADDRESSES FOR TRANSPORTATION
511 Rideshare 511nyrideshare.org Amtrak www.amtrak.com
Metro Pool www.metropool.com
MTA Metro-North Railroad www.mta.info Metro-North’s Haverstraw-Ossining High- Speed Ferry to the Train www.nywaterway. com/HaverstrawToOssiningRoute.aspx Westchester County Airport airport.west- chestergov.com
Stewart International Airport www.panynj. gov/airports/stewart.html
Metro-North’s eTix app www.mta.info/ mta-eTix
42 | LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE