OP-ED: New York MTA elimination of Metro-North Port Jervis and Pascack Valley Lines would come with significant financial consequences

The anticipated savings of $25 million by eliminating commuter service on the Metro-North Railroad West of Hudson Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines if the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority doesn't obtain $4.5 billion emergency relief bailout from Washington, has other adverse consequences that Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Pat Foye continues to ignore. This savings would not offset the risk of having to pay back the Federal Transit Administration for the remaining value of federal interest worth several hundred million in capital investments over the past decades on both Metro-North West of Hudson branches.   

Why would Rockland and Orange County, N.Y., keep contributing money to the MTA, without continued active West of Hudson passenger service in return?  

Over past decades, the MTA has invested several hundred million in Federal Transit Administration grant funding on the Metro North Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines. These grants financed rolling stock, stations, platforms, track and structures, bridges, communications and signals, power, shops and yards. With the exception of rail cars and locomotives, all the other federally funded assets can't easily be transferred to the other East of Hudson Metro North Hudson, Harlem, or New Haven lines or another transit agency such as New Jersey Transit.  

A permanent shut down would require a straight line depreciation analysis for the remaining value of any federal asset worth $5,000 or more. MTA Metro North, based upon language within the FTA/MTA master grant agreements, would have to pay back Washington for the remaining value of each asset that did not reach its full useful life in transit service. MTA Metro North would be on the hook for far more than the promised $25 million in savings.

It is penny wise and pound foolish for the MTA to threaten the West of Hudson commuters with the total elimination of service. Riders, taxpayers, residents, transit advocacy groups, local business and elected officials will never stand for this take it or leave it threat. 

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Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bus, NYC DOT, NJ Transit, along with 30 other transit agencies in New York and New Jersey.