Congressmen Lawler and Ryan’s Demand That MTA Extend Metro-North Discounts to Hudson Valley Riders Goes Unanswered

by M.C. Millman

Yesterday, ahead of a planned vote by the MTA board on discounts for Metro-North and LIRR riders within the five boroughs, Congressmen Pat Ryan and Mike Lawler wrote a letter demanding the MTA extend these discounts to all Metro-North and LIRR riders. 

Congressmen Lawler and Ryan, who led the letter to MTA CEO Janno Lieber, were joined in the call by Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). Despite the demand, the subsequent vote by the MTA left the congressmen’s demand unanswered. 

Last month, the MTA approved a congestion pricing plan despite Rockland County and other locals' vehement protests, as reported by Rockland Daily here. Congestion pricing will charge Rockland County families $15 per day to commute to Manhattan Central Business District without committing to service improvements or carve-outs for commuting city employees. A 10% discount on monthly tickets, which the MTA voted to approve yesterday officially will only apply to fare zones within New York City as part of a $4 million one-year pilot program once congestion pricing begins at the end of June, making riders who use the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North eligible for ten percent discounts while leaving Rockland County with no discount at all.

“Hudson Valley families are struggling under the weight of a crushing affordability crisis and cannot afford the thousands in new tolls a year that it would cost the average Rockland County resident just to commute to New York City for work,” said Congressman Lawler. “For the MTA to now discount the rate just for residents of the five boroughs is a slap in the face to Hudson Valley families. With no improvement in service for our communities and still no one-seat ride for Rockland County commuters, it is yet another example of how congestion pricing is nothing more than a massive cash grab to the MTA and NYC at their expense. That’s why I’m joining Congressman Ryan and colleagues from both parties to demand the MTA offer the same discounts to all MTA riders that they’re currently only carving out for New York City residents while also committing to infrastructure upgrades across our communities. Hudson Valley residents deserve nothing less.”

“First, the MTA forced through an unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable congestion pricing plan, ignoring the voices of countless Hudson Valley firefighters, police officers, union members, teachers, and other hard-working families. Now they’re adding insult to injury,” says Congressman Ryan. “This is yet another example of Hudson Valley residents paying their hard-earned tax dollars to the MTA, only to watch all the benefits go to New York City. That’s why we’re demanding they extend these discounts to all MTA riders, and commit to substantive infrastructure upgrades in the Hudson Valley.”

“The MTA is once again picking favorites and granting fare relief to New York City residents while leaving Long Islanders out to dry, which is why I join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in denouncing this unfair practice and calling on the MTA to extend the same fare reductions to LIRR and Metro-North transit riders,” says Congressman Anthony D’Esposito.