NEW YORK – State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) is calling on the powers that be who are developing congestion pricing in Manhattan to consider a dollar-for-dollar credit for drivers from Orange and Rockland counties.
The purpose of the plan is to have commuters use trains and mass transit instead of driving into New York City.
Skoufis said his constituents are at a disadvantage.
“You have to put forth some sort of accommodation in dollar-for-dollar credits for anyone from Orange and Rockland counties that have to drive into the city for work and crosses the George Washington Bridge, crosses the Lincoln Tunnel, a credit against the new congestion pricing toll they are setting up,” he said. “First of all, we have no one-seat ride; we literally have no trains into Manhattan technically. We have trains into New Jersey. We have to transfer at Secaucus, we have to transfer at Hoboken. There is no convenient way to get into New York City.”
One long-term solution, Skoufis said, could be to revive passenger service on the former West Shore rail line, which is now used exclusively for freight trains.
