New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day has expressed disappointment over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) recent expansion of ferry service, noting the lack of increased weekday options for Rockland County commuters.
“We appreciate that MTA has responded to our pleas for the past 20 years to expand the ferry service but are disappointed that there is no increased weekday service for our commuters,” said Day. “Rockland County commuters have very few public transit options to the city, and the current ferry service’s extremely limited ‘peak only’ schedule simply doesn’t work for folks who need to travel later in the morning, midday, early afternoon, later at night, or on weekends.”
Day acknowledged that the expansion marks a positive initial step towards enhancing and expanding transit service from Rockland County, as mandated by the State’s congestion pricing authorizing legislation. However, he emphasized the need for further action.
“We look forward to MTA’s next step, which should be making a funding commitment in its Capital Plan for the Gateway and Bergen Loop projects and the corresponding Pascack Valley line investments that must be made in order to provide Rockland County’s one-seat-ride,” Day added.
While Day appreciated the news of discounts on Hudson Link and ferry Uniticket, as well as parking discounts for Rockland residents at White Plains, he pointed out the existing financial imbalance. “But with Rockland County’s existing $40 million annual value gap, fares and parking should really be free.”
Day concluded with a call to action for the MTA: “I sincerely hope that MTA gets to work soon to expand weekday ferry service and improve the quality of existing rail service from Rockland County so that our residents start to receive some level of equity for what they pay to the MTA.”
Rockland County residents continue to seek equitable and effective transit solutions to meet their daily commuting needs.