There's good news for people in Orange County who use the Port Jervis Line to commute to the city. As Time Warner Cable News' Jackson Wang reports, the MTA.'s new five-year capital plan targets that line for some improvements.

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- With 66 miles of track running through Orange and Rockland counties, the Port Jervis Line is a vital link between the Hudson Valley and the city for thousands of commuters.

That's why part of the MTA's $29 billion capital program is going to improvements along the line.

"It's not just about the services the MTA provides down here," said MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast. "It's about the goods and services that are provided and paid for that support employment in other parts of the state."

Right now, the line, which is part of the Metro North commuter rail system, only has one track. But the capital plan sets aside money to add some extra track that would allow trains to pass each other at certain points.

“They’re going to probably be around two miles in length each and it’ll allow a train to go on to this passing siding, while another train in the opposite direction travels the main line,” said James Skoufis, an assemblyman from Woodbury. 

Skoufis has been pushing to make sure the MTA, which also runs the New York City subways, buses, and Long Island Rail Road, doesn't forget about the Port Jervis line to the northwest.

"But to be able to get this amount of money specifically for upgrades in Orange County was a significant accomplishment,” Skoufis said. 

The MTA.'s Capital Program also includes funds to start design work on a new rail yard. Officials are aiming to build one between Suffern and Port Jervis.

"Either in Campbell Hall or Salisbury Mills to more frequently shoot trains into and out of New York City from that yard,” Skoufis said.

Many of the commuters Time Warner Cable News spoke with are hoping these proposed projects will not only improve service, but also the travel time down to the city.

“I think it will help the commute be much more faster and moving," said Middletown resident Karl Nievesson. "It gets everybody done. It gets everybody to work right away and to their other activities."

"It’ll make it easier, more convenient, and probably even add more trains,” said Bloomingburg resident Thomas Loughlin. 

The plan will now be sent to the state's Capital Program Review Board.