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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Many local commuters, including, Emilio Santiago, were relieved by the restored-service on MTA Metro-North's upper Harlem Line Tuesday.
"I worked from home yesterday. I didn't mind though, it wasn't that catastrophic," said Santiago, 42, who commutes from the Harlem stop to his job at the White Plains Morgan Stanley branch. "They were really good at communicating the status of everything."
Although the Harlem Line only ran from Grand Central to Southeast, with bus service to Wassaic, many regulars at the White Plains station said they were pleased with how quickly MTA got trains running and didn't mind taking Monday off when most service was suspended due to damage from tropical storm Irene.
Michael Brown, a Manhattan resident who takes the train to his Tarrytown job, said the Metro-North stall Monday allowed him to enjoy a picnic with his girlfriend.
"I don't have many days off and I don't know if they'll compensate me, but it's like a three hour commute if the Metro-North's not running," said Brown, 27. "I expected it to be down longer."
The MTA's turnaround also impressed, Nancy Falkson, 56, a Kent resident who takes the train from Brewster to her job at a White Plains attorney's office.
"I think they've done the best they can. (The storm) was a nightmare. I'd rather be inconvenienced for a day than electrocuted," said Falkson, who had Monday off due to suspended train service.
However, the abbreviated Metro-North service has been a disaster for cab drivers, according to Edward Seneque, 50.
"Today was better than yesterday because the trains were working. But Saturday there was no train. Sunday, there was no train. And Monday it started at 3:30. That was two days of nothing," said Seneque, a White Plains resident who has been driving a taxi locally for 15 years. "The summer was bad too. It was the worst it's been."
Has Metro-North's abbreviated service affected you? If you live north of Southeast, has it been difficult to get to work? Were you able to get to work on Monday. If not, was a day off a nice break or financially-straining? Email thoughts to strangle@mainstreetconnect.us and we'll include your response in future coverage.
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