Eighteen state senators have gotten together to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to follow-through on a plan for Metro-North to expand service beyond Poughkeepsie that was supposed to gave already begun but has been on hold. With Amtrak restoring service between New York City and Albany that has a few stops in the Hudson Valley, Metro-North’s planned expansion beyond Poughkeepsie was shelved.
The lawmakers were joined by the Association of Commuter Rail Employees (ACRE), which currently represents 1,500 Metro-North employees including conductors, engineers, rail traffic controllers, and others, and the Empire State Passengers Association.
State Sen. Shelley Mayer said, “For so many New Yorkers, our trains are not a luxury but a necessity. It helps New Yorkers get to work, visit family, and experience the beauty, culture, and rich diversity of communities across New York. Access to safe, reliable, sustainable transportation will ensure New Yorkers from New York City to Yonkers and beyond have quality rail service that is easily accessible. The Metro-North expansion must be revived and prioritized.”
Sen. Pete Harckham said, “Expanding Metro-North’s train service beyond Poughkeepsie would benefit Hudson Valley residents in so many ways in terms of convenience and more transportation options, along with more jobs, increased tourism, boosting local economies. Additionally, it would mean less automobiles on the roadways, leading to cleaner air and decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation.”
In their letter to Hochul, the lawmakers said, “Extending Metro-North would have created a direct line between upstate communities and major hubs like Grand Central Station and Harlem 125th Street, and provided access to the East Side of Manhattan, something Amtrak service does not do. Metro-North is also the most affordable rail service into and out of New York City, making it easier and more economical for residents and visitors alike. The expansion of the Metro-North train would have opened opportunities for more people to travel to New York City, as well as drive economic opportunity to our upstate communities and small businesses.”
The state senators expressed confidence that there is a solid demand for Metro-North service beyond Poughkeepsie.
“More public transportation serving and connecting the region is something people have asked for for years,” the senators said in their letter to Hochul. “Direct Metro-North service would also create car-free connections between downstate communities and upstate destinations, including access to parks and trails, which we know is a priority of your administration.”
