Rockland County Executive Ed Day has sent a strongly worded letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, expressing concerns about the MTA’s Traffic Mobility Review Board’s congestion pricing recommendations and the lack of equitable transit investments for Rockland County residents. The letter highlights the ongoing challenges faced by West-of-Hudson commuters and calls for meaningful transit improvements to address long-standing disparities.
In the letter, Day acknowledges the Governor’s commitment to improving transit options in the Hudson Valley and expresses a willingness to collaborate on initiatives like the proposed West-of-Hudson Task Force. However, he underscores the frustration of Rockland residents, who see significant investments benefiting East-of-Hudson commuters while their own transit options remain inadequate.
Day points out several key issues, including:
- One-Seat Ride Disparities: East-of-Hudson commuters may soon benefit from direct connections to Manhattan’s West Side, while West-of-Hudson commuters still lack a one-seat ride to Manhattan.
- Limited Service Options: Rockland’s Pascack Valley Line has just one morning express train to Manhattan, with semi-express and local options taking significantly longer. Commutes to Lower Manhattan via train and ferry exceed 100 minutes for many residents.
- Fare Inequities: Rockland commuters pay $25 more per month than their East-of-Hudson counterparts and received no fare incentives when the MTA lowered fares elsewhere to attract riders. Recent fare increases were implemented without public hearings in New York State.
- Inadequate Infrastructure Investments: Despite Rockland contributing over $40 million annually to the MTA, the county has seen little to no significant investment in its transit infrastructure. Day advocates for upgrades like passing sidings on the Pascack Valley Line, improvements to the Woodbine Yard, and the acquisition of bi-level rail cars to increase service capacity.
- Missed Opportunities: The new Tappan Zee Bridge lacks a rail line, and the Lower Hudson Transit Link project failed to deliver on promises of rapid bus transit and dedicated lanes for commuters.
Day also criticizes the MTA for failing to implement the Ravitch Commission’s recommendation to toll East River and Harlem River bridges, which could have generated substantial revenue to support transit improvements.
“Rockland County expects much more from the MTA,” Day wrote. “If you truly want to help with congestion in New York City and encourage more commuters to take transit, the MTA must step up and invest to make that a feasible option. As it stands, you are punishing hardworking families — who have no choice — for simply making a living.”
The letter concludes with a call for specific actions, including expanded ferry service, dedicated bus lanes on the New York State Thruway, and increased investment in rail infrastructure to support West-of-Hudson commuters.
The full text of the letter can be viewed here.
