Dedicated in Memory of Orrin Getz, Former Vice Chair of the Metro-North
Railroad Commuter Council
Capital Project Completed as Part of Small Business Mentoring Program
View Photos of Event
View Video from Today’s News Conference
MTA Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi today announced the opening of the rebuilt platform shelter at the Nanuet Station with modernized station amenities that will enhance customer communication and the customer experience, and dedicated in memory of Orrin Getz, Vice Chair of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council. The Nanuet Station is the Pascack Valley Line’s busiest station in New York, with approximately 600 daily customers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shelter welcomes riders with new benches with USB connections, LED lights, a fully glass enclosed waiting area, heating, a wooden ceiling, and directional signs on the exterior of the new shelter. The platform shelter has been redesigned in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Communication and security enhancements include the installation of a new speaker and camera inside the shelter and Help Points – sleek metal enclosures that contain an emergency call box with a direct line to MTA Police Department (MTAPD) and are topped with a high intensity LED beacon that provides high visibility and helps deter potential crime.
Additionally, as part of the Customer Service Initiative, crews have installed a kiosk that displays real-time train departure information. The Customer Service Initiative, known as CSI, is a part of the Way Ahead plan, Metro-North’s strategic plan that includes initiatives designed to set the standard for safety, reliability, and innovation in the delivery of excellent customer service.
“A modern, attractive and clean station is an important part of the Metro-North customer experience,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “Part of that improved customer experience is largely owed to the efforts of Orrin Getz, a leading voice for all Metro-North riders, but especially for West of Hudson riders, being a Pascack Valley rider himself. The shelter has been deservingly dedicated to Orrin, in recognition of his accomplishments and years advocating for improved service on behalf of his community.”
“Rockland residents are looking for transportation parity,” said State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick. “Orrin Getz was a champion for improving passenger train service west of the Hudson. As we honor his legacy with this latest investment in the Pascack Valley Line, we celebrate a first step in the right direction.”
“Orrin Getz dedicated decades of his life to advocacy on behalf of Rockland County commuters and is exactly why I asked for this shelter to be named in his honor,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “Rockland County looks forward to continued collaboration with Metro-North and New Jersey Transit to further improve service on the Pascack Valley line and revitalize other stations in our County, because as we know much, much more needs to be done for our beleaguered Rockland commuters.”
"As many commuters begin heading back to their offices in the coming months, this new platform shelter in Nanuet will be a welcome sight,” said State Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski. “These capital improvements are a testament to Orrin Getz, a tireless advocate for commuters and longtime member of the Metro North Commuter Council. His efforts and advocacy on behalf of Rockland commuters was well known throughout the community and it is a fitting honor to dedicate these station improvements in his name. I'm thankful to MTA Metro North for swiftly completing this project and look forward to working with them in the future to continue to improve our transportation network.”
"On behalf of the Town of Clarkstown, we thank Metro-North for this much needed upgrade to the Nanuet Train Station,” said Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann. “The residents of Clarkstown and Rockland County appreciate the new communication, technology and security enhancements. I am so delighted that the new shelter is dedicated to longtime resident and transportation advocate, Orrin Getz. Over the years, Orrin committed countless hours to advocacy and his efforts directly resulted in improved service to the Pascack Valley line. This dedication is a true honor to his commitment to our community and his fellow commuters."
“Dedicating this shelter to the memory of Orrin Getz is an extremely fitting gesture for a man who made improving commuting from Rockland County a very important mission in his life,” said MTA Board Member and Chair of the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council Randolph Glucksman. “Orrin was a strong advocate for Metro-North riders whose efforts improved West of Hudson passenger train service and was directly responsible for obtaining express service, off-peak service, and weekend service on the Pascack Valley Line. He was there to advocate for more trains and had good relationships with senior officials at Metro-North and NJ Transit to make it happen. His honorable commitment to West of Hudson riders and his local community was unwavering. In a time when there was no timetable rack at the Nanuet shelter, Orrin used an ordinary plastic holder, the kind used for advertising brochures, and took it upon himself to keep it stocked with current timetables, even delivering timetables to local libraries. We could not have had a better, more dedicated advocate than Orrin Getz.”
“The beautiful shelter being unveiled today is a wonderful testament to Orrin Getz," said Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC). “He was a staunch advocate for meeting the needs of all riders and wanted to be sure that everyone could access Metro-North, including riders with disabilities. The amenities included here will make waiting for the train less of a burden. A West of Hudson rider, Orrin constantly beat the drum for better and more service and improving communication between the Railroad and commuters. It is a very bittersweet moment that Orrin can’t be here to see this dedication – this shelter in many ways epitomizes his commitment to supporting his fellow riders.”
Both the station shelter work and the real time information upgrades and are funded through the MTA’s capital program. The shelter work was performed by Pleasant Contracting Corp., a Staten Island-based contracting company that participates in the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program.