The Future of Rockland Transit is Happening in Orange

On the evening of January 20th the town of Cornwall in Orange County, New York voted and unanimously passed resolutions to request a feasibility study be conducted on the West Shore rail line. Rockland residents, especially those who live in the eastern most part of the county, are most likely familiar with this train line. The iconic CSX trains that come barreling down carrying anything and everything are hard to miss. What people may not know, however, is that it used to be a passenger rail service. 

Rockland County is one of the most underserved regions in New York where residents pay into the MTA. Urban renewal and suburbanization saw the majority of train lines in Rockland shut down their passenger services in the 1960s to make way for car travel, especially on the then recently opened Tappan Zee Bridge. Before this, the county hosted an interconnected passenger rail service with over forty train stops connecting commuters not just to New York City, but to other parts of Rockland. In the 60+ years since, those forty train stations have become just five. 

Local transit activists and advocacy groups like All Aboard Hudson Valley have been pushing for passenger service to be reopened on the line for years. Many point to the estimated 40% value gap between what Rocklanders pay the MTA and what they receive as unjust and proof of the MTA’s abandonment of their responsibility to the county and its residents. 

New taxes and programs, like the congestion tax below 60th street, have been implemented as ways to push people toward using public transit rather than taking their cars, but in a county where almost 13% of the population commutes into NYC daily with only five train stops to choose from, Rocklanders are being hurt the most by our lack of transit accessibility. 

As Governor, Kathy Hochul has repeatedly signaled her support for public transit in the NYC metro area and beyond. Recently, the MTA announced a metro north ride from NYC to Albany to be opened in spring 2026. The State Government has also collaborated to introduce improvements to public transport in New York City including the Inter Borough Express light rail service which has been in the works since 2022. 

Reopening the west shore line through Rockland and into New Jersey would serve to ease congestion at the existing Rockland stations as well as the several Westchester stations Rocklanders also rely on. In recent years a myriad of promises were made and broken in this regard, most notably during the construction of the New Tappan Zee Bridge that was completed in 2017, which was meant to feature infrastructure to support rail to take passengers across the Hudson River and down into the city.

With no representation for Rockland County on the MTA board since 2023, it’s time for local politicians in the towns the west shore line once served to make noise about this issue and follow in Cornwall’s footsteps. Rockland residents pay almost $40 million more into the MTA annually than what they receive. The few trains that do run here are often delayed and slow. Tickets and parking are almost as expensive as the plethora of tolls and taxes one accumulates while driving. If the goal of Gov. Hochul’s administration is to decrease reliance on cars for metro area residents, then it’s time they give us our train back.

There will be a vote on the same resolution for a feasibility study held by Cornwall in Haverstraw on February 2nd.