Two Westchester Parking Lots Open to Commuters Using Harlem Line

Working closely with Metro-North officials, County Executive Robert P. Astorino has authorized the opening of two temporary parking areas to give railroad commuters on the New Haven Line access to trains on the Harlem Line.

Free parking and free shuttle buses will be provided from the parking areas at Playland in Rye and Kensico Dam Park in Valhalla.

Commuters who park at Playland will be taken to the White Plains train station, about 10 miles away. Commuters who park at Kensico will be taken to the North White Plains station, just over a mile away.

Under a plan coordinated with Metro-North, both parking areas will be open at 4:30 a.m. daily and shuttle buses will start running at 5:00 a.m.  

Shuttle bus service will continue throughout the day. The focus will be on the morning and evening commute and the schedule will be assessed daily.

“The disruption of service on the New Haven line has caused tremendous inconvenience to thousands of commuters,” Astorino said in a release. “Westchester County government immediately reached out to Metro-North to offer our assistance in making additional parking, buses and other resources available to help get New Haven line commuters to work as quickly and easily as possible.”

Service on the New Haven Line has been substantially reduced due to power problems that arose Wednesday. Repairs are currently under way by Con Edison.

The parking lot at Playland, where the amusement park has closed for the season, has spaces for 1,500 cars.  At Kensico Dam Park, parking can be established for up to 600 cars by using the grass field.

Astorino said he was in regular communication with the MTA and Con Edison to monitor commuter problems and the repairs that are under way. The county will be reimbursed by Metro-North for its costs, Astorino said.

Astorino also thanked the White Plains Bus Company for stepping up to get commuters between Kensico and the North White Plains station.