HARLEM LINE OVERVIEW

Metro-North is a public agency based in New York City that operates an extensive public transit network in New York and Connecticut. Two passenger rail lines operated by Metro North and utilized by residents of Greater Danbury are the Harlem Line in adjacent New York State and the Danbury Branch Line in Connecticut. Metro North provides a map showing the two lines together. 

It is a well known fact that the rail passenger service markets for the parallel Danbury and Harlem Lines to some extent overlap. But while the Harlem Line has faster and more frequent service to NYC than does the Danbury Branch Line, residents of Housatonic Valley communities must in many cases travel longer by car or bus to reach Harlem Line stations. Importantly for planning, the Harlem Line simply does not serve the destinations that many Danbury Area commuters want to reach; Norwalk, Stamford and coastal Connecticut.

A 1996 report by HVCEO stated that "even with aggressive Danbury Branch enhancements, the Danbury Branch does not provide better travel times (to NYC) than the existing Harlem Line service .... The Danbury Branch, however, does not compete with the Harlem Line for trips that remain within Connecticut. For these trips, the improved service may induce a mode shift to commuter rail. This is especially true as roadway congestion along Route 7 and other area roads continues to increase." 

The goal of public policy should be coordinated interstate rail planning to avoid the expense of duplication while attempting to define the greatest potential service role for each line.

Because of its importance to Connecticut, use of the Harlem Line by area residents was estimated in a 1996 HVCEO report. Estimated inbound boardings by municipality of residence were highest from Danbury with 120 patrons, New Fairfield with 78, from north of the Housatonic Valley Region with 51, Brookfield 36, New Milford 24, Newtown 19, from east of the Housatonic Valley Region 16, Bridgewater 9 and Bethel 6. 

As for some specifics of this service, the Harlem Line runs for 83 miles along eastern New York State between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Wassaic, New York. Station stops likely to be accessed by residents of the Housatonic Region include Katonah, Golden's Bridge, Purdy's, Croton Falls, Brewster, Brewster North., Patterson and Pawling. 

As noted above service on the Harlem Line is more frequent than the Danbury Branch Line, and provides shorter trip times to New York City. Weekday peak period frequency of trains departing to Grand Central varies between six and twenty minutes, and hourly off-peak. Full service is provided between Brewster North and Grand Central Terminal, with 12 round trips per weekday from Brewster North to Wassaic. 

Frequency of arrivals at Brewster North off-peak from points south vary between approximately 30 and 60 minutes. Peak period arrivals at Grand Central from Brewster North occur with a frequency of ten to 20 minutes on weekdays. The weekday service span for the Harlem Line is roughly 22 hours, between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.

Trains departing Brewster North to New York run hourly on weekends. Arrivals in Brewster North depart Grand Central with headways of approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Nine round trips are scheduled between Brewster North and Wassaic on weekends, with two additional southbound trips on Saturday. Weekend service span is comparable to weekday service span.

The Harlem Line is double tracked to the yards at Brewster, New York and single tracked from there northerly. Track from Grand Central Terminal to Brewster North is electrified by third rail. Diesel/electric powered trains provide the service from Brewster North to Wassaic, New York. There are four daily peak period through trains to Wassaic augmented by a shuttle between Brewster North and Wassaic.

HART BUS SHUTTLES
TO HARLEM STATIONS

Recognizing the importance to this Region of access to this important nearby rail line, the Connecticut  Department of Transportation and the New York Department of Transportation jointly provide funding for bus to rail shuttle services for the Upper Harlem Line from our Region. This is an excellent example of interstate cooperation.

The Ridgefield-Katonah Shuttle is operated by the Housatonic Area Regional Transit District between the Ridgefield, CT central business district westerly to the Katonah, NY Metro-North train station. Service began in April 2002. Buses begin at The Jesse Lee Memorial Methodist Church on Main Street in Ridgefield and follow Route 35 through Lewisboro, NY and Bedford, NY to Route Katonah, NY. 

The South Salem Municipal Lot just north of 35 on Spring Street is an additional stop. HART meets five southbound morning peak Harlem Line trains between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM and seven northbound trains between 5:45 PM and 8:30 PM. Current ridership averages 59 trips per day.

Ridgefield-Katonah service builds on the success of HART's Danbury-Brewster Shuttle, initiated in 1998. The Brewster Shuttle is operated by HART between the Brewster Village Railroad Station and Danbury commuter lots. Vehicles stop at park and ride lots off I-84 Exits 1, 2, and 7 and travel locally down Route 6 across the state line to the Village of Brewster.

HART meets six southbound morning trains between 6 AM. and 8:40 Am and 13 evening northbound arrivals between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Additional service is provided midday by an extension of the HART Route 3/Mill Plain Bus. Daily ridership often exceeds 140 trips.

UPPER HARLEM STATIONS
USED BY CT RESIDENTS

These descriptions are excerpts from the HVCEO Feasibility Report For Extending Rail Passenger Service Beyond Downtown Danbury (1995). Note that these data predate the service extension to Wassaic.

Vanasse Hangin Brustlin, the consultant that prepared the 1995 study for HVCEO, also conducted license plate surveys at these stations that were cross referenced to place of registration. This gives an indication of which towns these cars are registered in.

BEDFORD HILLS, NY STATION:
Bedford Hills Station was the southernmost station surveyed on the Harlem Branch. It is located near Route 684 in a commercial district. The station's location offers easy access to Connecticut. Metro North makes available Bedford Hills Station Information to assist users. The parking lot serving the station is relatively large with spaces for 273 vehicles.

KATONAH, NY STATION:
Katonah Station is located with easy access to Connecticut off of Route 684 near Route 35 in the center of Katonah's commercial district. Metro North provides Katonah Station Information to assist with access.

The station is surrounded by a quaint village atmosphere. A parking lot offering long-term parking is located on one side of the station. Like Golden's Bridge Station, the Katonah Station attracts many riders from Ridgefield, CT. HART provides a Ridgefield-Katonah Shuttle service for this trip.

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY STATION:
Like Purdy's, Golden's Bridge is located off of Route 684. It is between Route 138 and Route 35 in a relatively open area. Metro North maintains Golden's Bridge Station Information to assist in accessing this location. Nearby is a bus stop, which offers service to Brewster.

Access to Connecticut is easy by both Routes 138 and 35. Vehicles registered in Ridgefield, CT were by far the most prevalent Connecticut registered vehicles observed at this station.

PURDY'S, NY STATION: 
Purdy's Station is located off of Route 684 near the exit for Route 116. The station provides easy access to Ridgefield, CT via Route 116. As with its other stations, Metro North offers Purdy's Station Information to assist users.

With spaces for 348 vehicles, this parking lot is the third largest surveyed, following Brewster and Brewster North. The Purdy's Station attracts riders primarily from Ridgefield, Danbury, Brookfield, and New Fairfield, CT.

CROTON FALLS, NY STATION:
Croton Falls is located southwest of Brewster off of Route 22 in the middle of a commercial district. To get to Connecticut, one must go south to Route 116 (which is closer to Purdy's Station) or north to Route I-84 (which is closer to Brewster Station). Croton Falls Station Information is provided by Metro North. Based on the license plate survey, the Croton Falls Station draws riders primarily from Danbury, CT.

BREWSTER, NY STATION:
The Brewster Station is located in the middle of the commercial district of Brewster, NY. It is located due south of the Brewster North Station on Route 6 which is off of Route 1-84. 

Like Brewster North, the Brewster Station is easily accessible from Connecticut via Route 1-84. Metro North provides Brewster Station Area Information to assist users.

There are five parking lots and on-street parking which serve the station which combined can hold over 500 vehicles. Some of these lots require a significant walk to the station. The Brewster Station has a similar ridership draw as the Brewster North Station with most riders from Danbury, New Fairfield, Brookfield, and Bridgewater, CT. HART provides direct commuter service from Danbury via the Danbury-Brewster Shuttle.

SOUTHEAST, NY STATION:
Southeast is due south of Patterson, NY on Route 1-84. The Southeast Station is located off the highway with no other buildings nearby. It is a terminal for Metro-North and some trains are stored there. Metro North provides Southeast Station Information to facilitate commuter usage.

The parking lot at the Southeast Station is extremely large with spaces for 400 vehicles. The station offers excellent accessibility to a highly populated area of Connecticut. Based on the license plate survey, the Southeast Station draws riders from a variety of Connecticut communities, with the  primary draw from Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Brookfield, CT.

PATTERSON, NY STATION:
This station is located on Route 311, west of Route 22. Route 311 travels diagonally, southwest to northeast. To access Connecticut from this station, one would have to go north almost to Pawling and then go east into Connecticut. Metro North provides Patterson Station Information to assist users.

The area immediately around the station is about one block of commercial buildings surrounded by single-family homes. The parking lot, which has 53 spaces, is along the railroad tracks. Based on the license plate survey, the Patterson Station primarily draws riders from the Connecticut community of Sherman, CT.

PAWLING, NY STATION:
Further south off of Route 22 near the junction of Routes 55 and 67 is the Pawling Station. The station is located in a high density commercial area. As with its other stations, there is Pawling Station Information to assist users.

Day long parking is available along one side of the railroad tracks. The parking lot has capacity for 98 vehicles. The surrounding area is almost entirely single-family homes. Route 67 offers easy access to Sherman, CT. 

Based on the license plate survey, this station attracts riders primarily from the Connecticut communities of Sherman, CT and the West Cornwall/Cornwall Bridge area.

APPALACHIAN TRAIL STATION:
Proceed to the information for the Appalachian Trail Station.

HARLEM VALLEY/WINGDALE, NY STATION:
Harlem Valley/ Wingdale, like Dover Plains in located on Route 22. It is located near the junction of Route 22 and Route 55 which offers access into Connecticut. Metro North provides Harlem Valley -  Wingdale Station Information.

Across Route 22 from the station are several large brick buildings which are part of the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Hospital. Sharing the parking lot with the station are several brick buildings which look similar to the hospital and seem to be warehouses. There are no other buildings within easy walking distance to the station.

Based on the 1995 license plate survey conducted here, the Harlem Valley/Wingdale Station attracts riders primarily from the communities of Kent, South Kent, Lakeville, and Sherman, CT.

DOVER PLAINS, NY STATION:
Dover Plains is just over two hours from Grand Central Terminal. While the surrounding area is rural, the area immediately adjacent to the station is commercial with many small business establishments.

Dover Plains is located on Route 22, a two-lane north-south rural highway which runs in New York along the Connecticut and Massachusetts borders. Dover Plains Station Information assists users.

Based on the license plate survey conducted at the Dover Plains station, the station appears to draw Connecticut riders from communities as far north as Canaan, CT, with its primary Connecticut draw from the communities of Kent, Sharon, and Salisbury, CT.

Parking is available in two long and narrow parking lots along both sides of the railroad tracks. The row of spaces on each side closest to the tracks is reserved for commuters with parking permits. The other side is reserved for one-and two-hour parking, presumably serving the nearby stores.