ALBANY – State Assemblyman James Skoufis (D, Woodbury) has voiced
his opposition to the MTA’s proposal to raise fares on West-of-Hudson
railroad lines. “With limited services available, riders in Orange
and Rockland counties continue to pay a disproportionate amount into the
MTA system,” Skoufis wrote to MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast. “I
do appreciate and support the recommendation of the proposed differential
– two percent in Orange and Rockland – acknowledging the underserved
West-of-Hudson market.
Skoufis said riders in his two counties get about 60 cents of service
for every dollar they pay into the MTA. “Extremely inadequate service
has created this value gap,” he wrote. “The MTA offers no
one-seat ride to and from Manhattan and trains are sporadic at best, particularly
during non-rush hour times. The West-of-Hudson lines lack the needed infrastructure
to make significant improvements.”
The assemblyman did acknowledge the inclusion of a midway yard and passing
sidings between the new yard and Suffern along the Port Jervis line in
the MTA’s next five-year capital program. “The midway yard
will allow Metro-North to provide more frequent rides to passengers. And
the establishment of passing sidings will allow trains to travel to and
from Orange County simultaneously.”
