Port Chester Officials Fight for Accessibility at Train Station

People in wheelchairs and mothers with strollers do not have it easy at the Port Chester train station. There is no accessibility for northbound disabled passengers there and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s response has been to tell customers to ride to Rye or Greenwich and then come back southbound to use the ramp on that side.

After a posting on Port Chester Patch raised questions on the legality of the missing ramp, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution that instructs the village attorney to ask the United States Department of Justice if the train station complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Village Trustee member Gene Ceccarelli spearheaded the board’s actions, according to Mayor Neil Pagano during the Oct. 21 board meeting.

“We should not be inconvenience to have to send people to Greenwich or Rye to get back to Port Chester, which is ridiculous,” Ceccarelli said. “I don’t think it is right.”

Trustee Brakewood pointed out that the resolution that was unanimously approved notes that the MTA has itself acknowledged the importance of the Port Chester station by its construction of the Heartland Brewery in the station there. He also noted how important the entire station area has become over the last 10 to 15 years as new restaurants, shopping and the Capitol Theatre have been constructed within walking distance.

The Metro-North notes that only its full access stations comply with all the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and have accessibility features for persons with mobility, visual and hearing impairments. Accessibility at other stations, like Port Chester and many others, is limited.