Train station safety around midnight?

Submitted by AdNormal7071 t3_10gxsxg in newhaven

Hello all, I will be arriving late at night on the metro north getting in around 12am. Is this a safe time to arrive in New Haven? Do many people arrive on these trains in the evening?

I am from out of town and have never been before and will need to catch an Uber or Lyft. Is that doable?

Many thanks for everyone’s advice and help and apologies if this is repetitive! I’ve seen a few similar questions but they vary a bit in time frame and area… any advice is very appreciated!!!

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EmperorLlamaLegs t1_j558mwj wrote

You are good. The area isnt the nicest, but its right next to a police station and well lit with taxis waiting right at the door.

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dragonflytype t1_j557ajv wrote

You should be fine. There are taxis lined up outside, so you can do that instead of Uber.

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dt0r t1_j55a9wb wrote

If you're taking a cab/uber, you should have no issue. I often come back to the station late and my car is in the parking garage. I try and be extra vigilant but have never had an issue.

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bbvvccxxzz t1_j55v3ar wrote

I would not go walking out of the station to wherever you need to go but within the station and just outside area is fine and usually a lot of folks get out of the train even at that late night. So you will be okay.

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EmuBoth t1_j55dw2g wrote

yes. inside is safe and outside is safe. outside it has improved since the housing project across the street came down. there were good people living there of course but people would "feel unsafe" by the buildings and crime associated with the development. if you are used to big city life then outside the station it will feel desolate but youll be fine

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Dunkinjay1 t1_j55e2k4 wrote

There always seems to be either MTA or Amtrak police inside the station at night

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Somar2230 t1_j55k54b wrote

The parking authority also has security and maintenance personnel there too.

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Odd_Total_5549 t1_j5665uk wrote

My 69 year old mother just took a train that arrived at Union station around midnight a couple of weeks ago, she was fine. The police station is right there and you can get a cab/Uber/Lyft right outside.

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johnsonutah t1_j55yat7 wrote

It’s safe - just order an Uber/Lyft though…the taxis ripped my friend off not long ago on his trip from Union Station ($40 ride or so to $100).

Side note - this post is yet another example of why union station needs to be redeveloped and become a center of economic activity for the state of CT

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suburban_mom_jeans t1_j57dje0 wrote

Why is that? I think it's fine. It serves its purpose well.

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johnsonutah t1_j5af9cv wrote

To be clear I’m not just talking about the station itself but the area around it. Union Station is among the top ten busiest train stations in the country, and CT’s most important crossroad between bus transit, Amtrak, Metro North, the Hartford Line, the Shoreline East, and local university shuttles.

Despite being so important to the state:

  • there is essentially no housing around the station whatsoever except for what appears to be a low income complex. They finally tore down the dilapidated church st projects across the street…and now that huge lot just sits empty. There should be a significant number of market rate apartments surrounding the train station so that people can live nearby and use public transit, creating a walkable neighborhood

  • There is zero mixed use development around the train station - no offices, no shops, no coffee bars, no restaurants…literally nothing. This could be a vibrant neighborhood. It makes logical sense to have offices - employers would locate there because their employees could commute to the station for work or commute from the station to FFD County / NYC for meetings. It’s insane that the only food options people using the train station have are Sbarros and Dunkin Donuts…

  • The actual layout for traffic around the station is terrible. I commute from Union Station at least three times a week - the local shuttles park out front blocking one full lane of traffic and leaving any oncoming traffic completely blind to card exiting the drop off out front

Those are just some ways this important price if CT infrastructure is being wasted

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suburban_mom_jeans t1_j5aj8qp wrote

I dont think all of that is needed. Use station for what it's for and go home, work or whatever your intended destination is. Building market rate housing will further displace long time residents. Build affordable housing to house the folks that have lived here for generations.

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johnsonutah t1_j5aop3p wrote

What long time residents? As I already said there’s no housing in the east or west lot, and now there’s none across the street.

All of what I described is needed if you want New Haven to be a more prosperous, safer, nicer, and modern place to live

Here’s some detail on preliminary plans none of which is moving fast enough:

https://unionstationnewhaven.com/

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suburban_mom_jeans t1_j5b9wfx wrote

I've lived many places and New Haven by far is one of the safest. It's not hard to figure out what a long time resident of New Haven would be. Someone who didn't move here for because of a job offer. Someone whose family has lived here for generations. Those people are being consistently priced out by ppl who insist on building market rate housing. More affordable housing is necessary. Market rate≠affordable.

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johnsonutah t1_j5fdqw8 wrote

Statistically New Haven used to be one of the most dangerous cities in the country. It’s better today but safety could be improved.

My recommendations are primarily about increasing economic opportunity and prosperity in the city and for the state.

Also market rate housing is what the market (majority) can afford

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jphazed t1_j55dpv2 wrote

They leveled the dangerous housing project that was across the street. I'm sure that has cut down on crime in that area.

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suburban_mom_jeans t1_j57dm0v wrote

Dangerous is a stretch

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Significant_Chest401 t1_j57yk83 wrote

Dangerous for the many folks subjected to years of black mold and dilapidated living conditions in those old apartments.

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johnsonutah t1_j5agd11 wrote

And for anyone interacting with the jungle boys in the 90s

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johnsonutah t1_j5ag9t3 wrote

Lol it was the center of a federal investigation into crack distribution. Place should’ve been leveled years ago. CT completely squanders the area around Union Station

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-05-04-9605040490-story.html

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suburban_mom_jeans t1_j5ahhhm wrote

I have never felt a sense of immediate danger when they were there. Nothing has ever happened to me while standing in front or walking past. I would often go to store that was there to grab a drink or something to eat prior to getting on the train.

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johnsonutah t1_j5aof19 wrote

They’re on the docket for dealing crack, homicide, shooting and hitting a school bus, and were known as one of CT’s worst gangs. Definitely weren’t making the neighborhood any nicer

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Extreme-Cupcake5929 t1_j55nw29 wrote

Just ignore any street people that out and beg Stay by the front door you’ll be fine

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tonofunnumba1 t1_j564v2s wrote

Police station across the street. U good.

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HartfordResident t1_j573s8e wrote

Tons of people arrive on every train. The station and area around it are safe, and there are usually a few people walking from the station to the Yale campus and downtown area after each train.

If the weather sucks, or if you are carrying valuables and are walking around the city at like 2am, then you might want to do the cab to get to where you're going. There is also a free public bus that runs from the train station through the downtown and back though I'm not sure the schedule. Overall though, I wouldn't worry too much, just stick to the main, well-lit streets where there are other people around if it's very late at night.

Because the area has improved so much over the past decade or so, people are building giant luxury apartment blocks and high-end laboratory towers in this area, so there are some construction sites that you may want to use caution around due to sidewalk closures and such.

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