Ed Day, Rockland County Executive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2020
Rockland and Orange County Executives join forces with bipartisan coalition of Senate and Assembly members against MTA's Potential Elimination of West-of-Hudson Rail Service
Joint Statement from Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, NYS Assembly members Ken Zebrowski, Aileen Gunther, Ellen Jaffee, Karl Brabenec, Jonathan Jacobson, Colin Schmitt, and Assemblyman-elect Michael Lawler, NYS Senate members James Skoufis, David Carlucci, and Senator-elect Elijah Reichlin-Melnick:
"The MTA Board plans to pass a budget this week that may or may not include massive service and staff cuts, depending on what federal aid may be provided. The MTA's potential cuts to Metro-North's East-of-Hudson rail service and to Long Island Railroad's service include reductions of up to 50%. Stunningly, however, the MTA has proposed the total elimination of Metro-North's West-of-Hudson rail service in New York. While all other counties in the MTA region are faced with losing just some service, Rockland and Orange Counties are faced with the potential loss of ALL service. Rockland and Orange Counties stand together with our residents and all passengers who utilize the rails and pay taxes for the service against this unacceptable proposal.
“We understand no final decisions have been made - and we will continue to express our deep concern to MTA regarding this potentially devastating scenario. In the event that the MTA makes disproportionate cuts to West-of-Hudson rail service on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines, we have mutually agreed to support legislation that would withdraw our counties - and tax dollars - from the MTA. Rockland and Orange Counties, together with a bipartisan coalition of Assembly and Senate colleagues from Orange and Rockland counties, will continue to fight for our residents and commuters to help bring equity to a decades-long gap between what we contribute to the MTA and what we receive in return.
"It is our mutual hope that the MTA receives the federal funding it needs to be able to avoid the doomsday cuts they have proposed. It is our further hope that once the transit services are protected, that the MTA be willing to take sincere steps to improve the West-of-Hudson service for which they are responsible."
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