Commuter Lines Offer Concessions For Cutting Rockland Trains

NEW CITY, NY — Metro-North and New Jersey Transit officials have made concessions to make up for loss of service for Rockland commuters due to train cancellations on the Pascack Valley Line.

NJT announced system-wide temporary train cancellations in May to facilitate Positive Train Control improvements, causing an outcry in Rockland County. Transit officials have had a decade to do the work, and the deadline is the end of this year.

"This is an utter outrage," County Executive Ed Day said at the time. "Rockland is already the most underserved county in the region and canceling two of the four express trains our commuters have is just adding insult to injury. It’s extremely unfair to our commuters that NJT’s lack of planning on their PTC (Positive Train Control) Project now constitutes an emergency for our riders. I ask that NJT prioritize our service to get these trains back in action as quickly as possible."

Officials from the two commuter lines sent a letter July 13 to County Executive Ed Day outlining plans they discussed at a June meeting.

“It is critical that we have these executive level meetings to identify any and all ways to mitigate the challenges faced by commuters on the Pascack Valley Line,” Day said. “The goal now is to move forward to minimize the duration and impact of these three temporary train cancellations and long-term, to increase service for our commuters.”

Metro-North agreed to reinvest their cost savings from the canceled trains into improvements at the Nanuet Station — including repair of the ADA access ramp, replacement of the passenger shelter, repair of the entrance road tp and surface cracks in the MNR parking facility, repainting of the station canopy, and installation of new bird netting.

Before the meeting Metro-North had already agreed to implement Rockland County’s request to cross-honor PVL tickets on the Port Jervis Line, the Haverstraw/Ossining ferries, East of Hudson Lines and in coordination with Rockland for the TAPPAN ZEExpress bus service.

To alleviate overcrowding, NJT has added two cars to train 1616 (the one remaining morning express train).

NJT agreed to continue monitoring ridership on adjacent trains to those that were suspended and adjusting the number of cars as possible and appropriate.

MNR has also agreed to direct NJT to dedicate an additional MNR-owned train set to the PVL’s “Metro-North Express” trains

Metro-North asked NJT to accelerate restoring the three canceled trains.

Rockland County also requested a three-year fare freeze for Rockland County’s West of Hudson commuters (to include exemption from MNR’s planned increases in 2019 and 2021) from both NJT and MNR/MTA.

Metro-North also agreed to consider replacement of the most problematic locomotives in its next capital plan to enhance reliability and to direct NJT to dedicate the new Metro-North equipment to the PVL’s “Metro-North Express” trains.

Long term NJT and Metro-North agreed to consider the feasibility of constructing the previously-discussed passing sidings in the NJ portion of the PVL. Should NJT proceed with plans for constructing the additional passing sidings, Metro-North would then consider providing funding for NJT to study and build passing sidings for the Pascack Valley Line.

Also, NJT and Metro-North agreed to work with Suffern village officials about improvements to the Suffern train station.

Image: Nanuet train station via Google Maps