This weekend dozens of Bronx residents, including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., partnered with community activists from Speak Up For a Better Bronx to collect thousands of signatures in support of the forthcoming East Bronx Metro North expansion at The Mall at Bay Plaza in Co-op City.
The petitions specifically urge Amtrak to cease their delay tactics and stop holding up this critical, universally popular transit plan for their own selfish financial reasons. Volunteers have now collected more than 2,000 signatures chastising Amtrak, including 1,000 signatures this weekend.
“The long-awaited, much-anticipated East Bronx Metro North access plan is universally popular across the region,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Amtrak needs to get out of the way of this critical transportation improvement and stop holding our communities hostage.”
The East Bronx Metro North expansion plan will bring new transit options to Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest and Hunts Point by creating new commuter rail options along existing track.
“For too long, Amtrak has held up the MTA Penn Station Access project – a critical metro rail connection tying four new East Bronx stations to both Penn Station in Manhattan and to job centers to the north in Westchester and Stamford, CT. Please sign below to tell Amtrak that we NEED better transportation in the Bronx and cannot afford any more delays,” states the petition.
CAPTION: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. collects signatures in support of the East Bronx Metro North expansion at The Mall at Bay Plaza on Friday, December 7, 2018. Download the photo at https://flic.kr/p/2dpoBcy.