Purdy's Metro-North Station Is Now Accessible To All

NORTH SALEM, NY — It's easy to take the morning commute for granted, but obstacles to getting around remain in place for many — this morning, there are fewer of those obstacles to using public transportation in place.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced this week that the Purdy’s Metro-North Station, already accessible with two elevators, has been made fully accessible with the opening of a new elevator and connecting sidewalk. The elevator travels between the parking lot and the Purdys Road/Route 116 overpass as well as a sidewalk that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act from the elevator to the existing station entrance, according to the transit agency.

But, the work in the Hudson Valley isn't over.

"The MTA continues its lightning pace of making stations accessible across the entire network," MTA CEO Janno Lieber said. "This is the fourth elevator that we’ve put into service along the Harlem Line in only the first two months of this year. With today’s announcement, 85 percent of Metro-North’s Harlem Line in Westchester County is now fully accessible — just 2 full-service stations left to go."

The station joins two others on the Harlem Line, Hartsdale and Scarsdale, to have accessibility upgrades completed in 2024. In the current capital plan, the MTA is moving forward with accessibility upgrades at three Metro-North stations located in the Bronx. Completely new station platforms, amenities, and two new elevators will be installed at Woodlawn and Williams Bridge. Botanical Garden will be rehabilitated, and the station elevators will be upgraded, officials said.

"New elevators in Hartsdale, Scarsdale and now Purdy’s means that the Harlem Line is more than 80% accessible improving regional mobility," Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said. "Providing the best customer experience to everyone is always the goal and increased accessibility creates opportunities for more people to travel throughout the region."

Initial improvements at the Purdy’s station began approximately five years ago when Metro-North Railroad, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Town of North Salem agreed to work together to complete upgrades. The Town used grant money to install sidewalks and traffic light controls and the NYS DOT built an overpass to carry customers across Route 116 to the stairs that lead to Purdy’s station.

"We appreciate MNR's efforts installing the elevator at the Purdy's train station. This makes pedestrian access much safer for the residents of Purdy's and for the employees of the nursing homes who walk to work every day," said Town of North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas. "It also significantly shortens the morning commute. I also want to thank the NYS DOT Region 8 for the improvements they made on the bridge sidewalks to facilitate this work."

Purdy’s takes its name from the family of Daniel Pardieus who purchased large tracts of land in the area for farming in the late 18th century. His grandson Isaac Hart Purdy made an agreement with the New York & Harlem Railroad to establish a station and cattle yard, with the railroad arriving in the summer of 1847. The railroad paid a dollar for use of the land, in exchange for the guarantee of trains making "regular stops" at Purdy’s.

The agreement saved train service in the mid-1950s when the New York Central Railroad, a Metro-North predecessor, sought to abandon or reduce service to the stop.

Today, 69 trains stop there on weekdays and 50 on weekends.

A second station replacing the original was built between 1890-1910 and a second track was added through Purdy’s to Croton Falls by 1907. The station building was demolished in 1974 as Interstate 684 was built between Goldens Bridge and Brewster., according to the MTA.

SEE ALSO: Metro-North Upgrading Accessibility At 3 Westchester Stations