ALBANY –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.”
