State senator knocks governor's congestion price discounts for Hudson Valley commuters

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced discounts for Hudson Valley commuters to New York City, but one elected official from the area said Wednesday it’s not enough to offset commuter pricing.

With congestion pricing set to begin for Manhattan's Central Business District on June 30, Hochul last week announced a pilot program that would include ticket discounts for the Newburgh Ferry, several bus services and parking at the White Plains train station.

Under the pilot, Metro-North will begin weekend service May 25 on the Haverstraw-Ossining ferries, monthly UniTicket rates on ferries and buses that cross the Hudson River will be discounted 78 to 90% and parking costs for Orange and Rockland county residents using Metro-North’s garage in North White Plains would be reduced 25%.

“Many residents from Orange and Rockland Counties commute to New York City for their jobs and leisure, and we are finding alternative ways for commuters to get to the city without the added costs and traffic,” Hochul said in a statement. “This pilot program will give individuals from commuter areas easier and more accessible access to the central business district and beyond.”

But state Senator James Skoufis said on Wednesday that commuters traveling from the Hudson Valley to New York City are rarely using the modes of transit. The Woodbury Democrat said commuters don’t have enough options to get down to the city in a timely, cost-efficient manner.

“No one should believe for a second that this is beneficial and helps in any way offset the $15 congestion pricing that is looming,” Skoufis said.

He added that he’d like to see congestion pricing, which was put in place by New York City, done away with. He has signed on as a plaintiff to a lawsuit trying to stop the program.