Larchmont Train Station Project Back on Track?

by Judy Silberstein

(June 5, 2003) It’s starting to look like Larchmont’s stalled train station renovation may be back on track, the Gazette learned this week.

“We are looking at rebidding the project this summer, or maybe this fall,” said Metro-North Railroad spokesperson Dan Brucker. “We expect to award the contract later this year, after reviewing the bids, and to start construction in early 2004.”

The on-again/off-again project is meant to construct a new overpass and station house and to otherwise spruce up the station and make it more accessible. (See: Metro-North Unveils Latest Station Design.) It had been included in Metro-North's 2002-2004 Capital Program and was slated to begin in 2002. But after gaining some speed last summer, the project ground to a halt in the winter when construction bids came in at unacceptable levels. (See: Larchmont Station Renovation On-Hold)

"To the extent that we're making progress, I'm thrilled," said Larchmont Deputy Mayor Liz Feld. "We're all looking forward to getting this underway as soon as possible."

The first time around, the bids came in too high, partly because of insurance and logistical difficulties that may now be solved. Metro-North expects to have better luck reining in insurance charges because they plan to extend protection under existing policies and avoid the high costs of having contractors buy their own.

The previous bid was also hamstrung because a major portion of the work needed to be scheduled during relatively short stretches in the middle of the night. That was the only time available for stopping train traffic so large machinery could be brought onto the tracks. Late-night work and short shifts translated into very high labor costs over a long period.

It had not been possible to schedule track access during the day because a Larchmont closure would add to disruptions already taking place up the line in Connecticut. By 2004, the Connecticut project will be finished and Larchmont can have a daytime work slot for eight months – long enough to get the job done at a lower cost.

Deputy Mayor Feld was glad to learn that more daytime work would be possible. "The original schedule was designed to minimize disruption and inconvenience to the commuters and area residents," she explained. "But there was some concern about night time construction noise and lights."

"If the work can be done during the day, we'll all be better off," she said.