Hudson Valley Congressmen Take Issue with New MTA Pricing Plans

Anyone who's anyone in New York has heard of the new congestion pricing plan that has been planned which would affect all travelers that make their way to the big city, specifically into the "Congestion Zone" which lies in Manhattan below 60th street. Like most things in New York City, the new plan means citizens will be getting hit where it hurts the most, in their wallets.

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On paper, the new pricing rules are expected to go into effect on Sunday June 30, though numerous opponents are waging fights against its implementation. Some of those opponents would be local Congressmen hear in the Hudson Valley.

Congressmen Fighting for Hudson Valley

Here in the Hudson Valley, thousands of people make their way into the city everyday for work and travel and these same people would be subject to the new pricing rules if or when they are put into effect. With these new pricing rules the MTA will also be making certain discounts available to commuters.

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One of these discounts would be a 10% discount on monthly transit passes for LIRR and Metro-North, but there's one problem. That problem is that these discounts would only apply to trips inside the city. This is what has made some NY Congressmen band together in voicing their displeasure of the pricing plan and these "discounts". Those Congressmen are Reps. Pat Ryan of Ulster County and Mike Lawler of Rockland County.

On his official Facebook page, Rep. Ryan made his feelings on the matter crystal clear, stating...

First the MTA forced through an unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable congestion pricing plan, ignoring the voices of countless Hudson Valley firefighters, police officers, union members, teachers and other hard-working families...Now they’re adding insult to injury, offering discounts only to riders in the five boroughs....

In addition to his statements in the Facebook post, Rep. Ryan also shared an accompanying story from the New York Post regarding the congestion pricing and discounts. In addition to Reps. Ryan and Lawler, they are also being joined by Reps. Anthony D'Esposito of Nassau County and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey's Bergen County.

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Together the representatives make it clear that they are not simply asking but "demanding" that these discounts apply to ALL LIRR and Metro-North travelers. Part of the demands here are also for "significant infrastructure upgrades" in the Hudson Valley.

Current MTA Pricing in the Hudson Valley

Now I myself am not a frequent traveler on the trains here in the Hudson Valley, but for some Hudson Valley residents, taking the train is daily experience. Without even looking, I inherently knew the prices for boarding the train had to be exorbitant, but seeing the actually numbers will, not would, WILL make anyone sick to their stomach.

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According to CBS News, current LIRR riders who purchase a monthly pass from Jamaica Station to Penn Station currently pay $220, but with the 10% discount they're looking at $198. On Metro-North, riders taking the train from Fordham Road to Grand Central Terminal now pay close to $200, but with the fare reduction they would be dishing out $180.

Hudson Valley riders in comparison are paying substantially more. Here are just some of the prices that local riders are paying for the monthly to board the train to Grand Central...

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Tarrytown Philipse Manor Scarborough Ossining Croton-Harmon: $299.75
Cortland Peekskill: $359.00
Manitou Garrison Cold Spring Breakneck Ridge: $407.75
Beacon New Hamburg: $446.50
Poughkeepsie: $489.50

These prices come straight from documents found on the MTA website, which you can read all of the pricing info for all trips by clicking here. For more information on the new congestion pricing plan, please read our coverage of it below.

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When people use the expression 'it cost me an arm and a leg', this is what they're talking about. Hell at these prices it may just be an arm, a leg and a kidney. What discounts are being offered, you're damn right Hudson Valley travelers deserve them just as much because as Rep. Ryan stated Hudson Valley residents "...pay their hard-earned tax dollars to the MTA, only to watch all the benefits go to New York City".