Letter to the Editor: No to NJTransit-MTA Fare Hike, Service Cut

Dear Editor:

I sent a similar letter of fare proposal comments to the Chair and Members of the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors this week.

For decades, Rockland County has been burdened by its orphan status as a New York community on the west side of the Hudson River. Rockland County’s bi-state political circumstance has resulted in decades of sub-par train service. Realistically, we know that bolstering the outdated Operating Agreement between the MTA, Metro-North Railroad (MNR), and NJ Transit (NJT) to provide more and better service to Rockland County has not been a priority for either agency.

This circumstance, however, is on the verge of change, and I call upon both NJT and MNR to step forward on this issue – starting with eliminating the proposed fare increases for Rockland County’s rail commuters, and keeping the 12:45 am Pascack Valley Line (PVL) departure (Train #1601) on the schedule.

For years, Rockland County fought hard just to get additional service on the Pascack Valley Line, only to see some of it eliminated in the last round of service cuts. Now, as we still await restoration of some of that service, to suggest eliminating the last train of the night simply adds insult to injury. As it is, PVL riders from Rockland only have 18 Eastbound and 20 Westbound weekday trains. We cannot afford to lose any service.

I realize that NJT is not responsible for the multi-million dollar value gap that Rockland County has endured from the MTA for nearly 30 years. The inequity that exists between what we pay to the MTA and what we receive in return is deplorable. Unfortunately, we cannot talk about NJT rail service without addressing the fact that the MTA pays NJT to operate that service in Rockland, and NJT is obligated to do so. The MTA and NJT must prioritize discussions now to ensure that any funding shortfall for Rockland service is addressed.

We cannot allow any Rockland County fare increases or service reductions to be part of this proposal. I am asking NJT to work with MNR and come to an agreement on how to keep down fares for Rockland rail commuters, and preserve the last PVL train of the night (Train #1601).

I would be remiss to not acknowledge NJT’s bigger issue of transportation funding in this discussion, which must certainly be related to these proposed fare increases and service cuts. With New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund near depletion, and no increase in the state’s gas tax since 1998, it’s no wonder there is no funding left to cover rising operating costs.

Sincerely,

ALEXANDER J. GROMACK

Supervisor