Letter to Mr. Corbett and Ms. Rinaldi - Rockland County Commuters Deserve Immediate Alternative to Cancelled Express Trains

Letter

Dear Mr. Corbett and Ms. Rinaldi:

I write to urge New Jersey Transit and Metro-North Railroad to work together with all due speed to mitigate the impacts of the recent Pascack Valley Line service disruptions by developing better alternative commute options for Rockland County residents.

I understand that New Jersey Transit has temporarily cancelled rush hour express trains 1618 and 1639 in addition to the regular operation of Friday-only outbound train 9653 in order to work on the installation of critical Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure. While installation and implementation by of PTC by the 2018 congressionally mandated deadline is of utmost concern and importance for the safety of commuters, given the paucity of speedy mass transit rail options for Rockland residents, I urge New Jersey Transit and Metro-North to find a solution that provides an alternative option for Rockland County commuters during the installation of PTC.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Without these critical rush hour express trains, already beleaguered Rockland County commuters -- who already have some of the most challenging commutes in the region -- are left with few convenient alternatives to travel to work. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

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