State Senate Confirms Rockland Representative to the MTA

This past June, the New York State Senate confirmed four new/returning members to the MTA board including a new representative from Rockland, Matthew Rand. Rand was confirmed alongside two of Mayor Mamdani’s nominees, Janette Sadik-Khan and Melanie Hartzog, as well as long time representative James O’Donnell from Orange County.

Matthew Rand has had an active role as a business owner and community leader in Rockland County. He has served on the Empire State Development Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council as well as Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, People to People, and the Rockland Business Association among many other organizations.

Rand was nominated to the board by County Executive Ed Day. During his confirmation he spoke on the inequity that exists west of the Hudson River in Rockland and Orange County. Senator Pete Harckham, who represents New York’s 40th Senate district, which includes parts of North Rockland such as Stony Point, spoke to Rockland County’s need for a one seat ride into New York City as a long term goal.

When questioned by the senators in attendance, Rand spoke on the need for short term improvements to Rockland Transit such as improvements to parking, access, and efficiency. He also spoke on the need for express services and improved frequency at existing Rockland stations.

Matthew Rand is the newest representative from Rockland after almost three years without a voice on the MTA board. The last representative from Rockland was Frank Borelli Jr who retired from the Board in 2023. As it currently stands, Rand will share his vote with representatives from Orange, Dutchess, and Putnam counties as the four representatives from those counties (including Rockland) collectively cast one vote on the MTA Board.

Time will tell what this will mean for Rockland Transit. Recent investments in Rockland’s transit on a local level, including the West Shore Feasibility Study and the $5 million for improvements to Nanuet Transit Oriented Development, show that there is leadership interest in improving Rockland’s transit access. With the Gateway Tunnel and Bergen loop projects aiming for completion, a one seat ride into New York City could be in Rockland’s near future. For now however, congratulations and good luck to Matthew Rand on his confirmation to the MTA Board.