Beacon Dispatch

Construction begins on new train station parking facility

Budgeted at $5-10 million, the project is expected to be completed in Fall 2006 and includes the following:

• Approximately 350 new landscaped surface parking spaces; rehabilitation of 600 existing spaces by resurfacing and restriping; relocate and improve the employee parking area
• Construction of a bus stop and waiting area; installation of bike racks/lockers; improvements for pedestrian circulation in parking facilities; restoring the small, waterfront parking area to provide access to the proposed ferry dock
• Construction of a new vehicular entrance to the station from Beekman Street and a relocated station access road
• Improvements to the pedestrian entrance (canopy) on the west side

How tired would you have to be...

...to sleep on the floor of an MTA train?

New Gallery: On the Commute

Over the past few months I've been taking some pictures on the commute to/from work on the MTA. See more here.

Spotting the Bald Eagle

On this morning's train into Manhattan I saw two bald eagles, one standing on the ice on the Hudson River, the other flying low over the icy water, searching for prey just south of Bear Mountain bridge. These birds are unmistakable -- much larger than any of their peers, with the white heads and tails and black body. Apparently these sorts of sightings are not uncommon. According to Half Moon Press,

"Wintering eagles can find fish in the sections of the river that are opened up by discharges from power plants. Also, eagles are scavengers and the railroad tracks that run along the river provide an ample supply of dead animals."

Their site also includes tips on how to spot a bald eagle and a list of viewing areas along the Hudson:

* Norrie Point State Park, Hyde Park
* Constitution Island from North Dock, West Point
* Route 6/202 overlook above Iona Island
* Riverfront Park, Peekskill
* Charles Point/China Pier, Peekskill
* Verplanck waterfront
* Georges' Island Park, Montrose
* Metro-North and Amtrak passengers from the river side of the train between Croton-on-Hudson and Albany