ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884

DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914
EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us

THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY

JAMES SKOUFIS
Member of Assembly
99
th
District



August 8, 2014

Hon. Thomas F. Prendergast
Chairman
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
333 W. 34th Street, Floor 9
New York, NY 10001


Dear Hon. Thomas F. Prendergast:

Thank you for your service as Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as well as
Chairman of the Capital Program Oversight Committee. We the undersigned represent State
Assembly, Senate, and Congressional Districts in Orange and Rockland Counties and we write in
strong support of the inclusion of a rail loop at Secaucus Junction in the MTAs 2015-2019 capital
plan.

As you know, Orange and Rockland are serviced by an agreement between New Jersey Transit and
Metro-North. This partnership has worked well in the past, particularly since Secaucus Junction made
trips into New York Penn Station possible. Now, however, is the time to make a concerted effort to
finally give us on the under-serviced and over-taxed West of Hudson lines a one-seat ride into New
York City by including a Secaucus Junction loop in the MTAs upcoming capital plan.

The Access to the Regions Core (ARC) project, soon-to-be-completed by now if construction had
continued, would have created a loop at Secaucus Junction and given Orange and Rocklands and
New Jerseys New Jersey Transit ridership a one-seat trip into and out of New York City.
Unfortunately, however, the project was discontinued in 2010. Now, Amtraks Gateway Project offers
the possibility of the same loop at Secaucus Junction.

Under no circumstance can Orange and Rocklands ridership wait until 2025, the estimated
completion date of the Gateway Project, for a one-seat ride into New York City. We urge the MTA to
take whatever steps necessary, in conjunction with other stakeholders, to accelerate the completion of
a loop at Secaucus Junction either as part of the Gateway Project or as a separate project unto itself.

There is unquestionably tremendous room for MTAs growth in Orange and Rockland. As two of the
fastest growing counties in New York State, there is the potential to draw in significantly higher
ridership if a one-seat ride was offered. Already, over 1.5 million rides were taken to and from Orange
and Rockland in 2013; a peak of 2.1 million rides was achieved in 2008. Unfortunately, during that
time, the MTAs West of Hudson lines have remained under-serviced, prompting many commuters to
leave the train and find alternative ways to work in New York City.

A one-seat ride into New York City would significantly increase the quality of life of Orange and
Rockland residents. The average rider presently waits about ten minutes for a transfer at Secaucus
COMMITTEES
Agriculture
Consumer Affairs and Protection
Insurance
Labor
Transportation
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884
DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914
EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us

Junction (during peak hours this wait is slightly less; during off-peak, slightly more). Given 1.5 million
rides last year, this equates to 250,000 cumulative hours or over 10,000 full days people were doing
nothing but wait for a connecting train. This is productivity that could have been spent at work,
making a significant, positive impact on the states economy, and this could have been time spent at
home with family. Instead, more than 10,000 days were spent last year waiting at Secaucus Junction
because the construction of a loop has been, to this point, postponed into the unforeseeable future.

A one-seat ride for West of Hudson riders would encourage greater use of mass transit, significantly
increase the quality of life and productivity in the Lower Hudson Valley and New York State, and be a
substantial tool for economic development in Orange and Rockland. A loop at Secaucus Junction is
long overdue and, given the MTA value gap that our two counties face, well-deserved (a 2012
Rockland County study showed they receive 62 cents in value for every $1 it pays to the MTA;
Orange is estimated at about 80 cents in value for every $1 it pays).

We implore you to include the Secaucus Junction loop as part of your MTA 2015-2019 capital plan,
make a significant commitment to the proposal, and work with all of the stakeholders to accelerate the
project to the near-term. Once again, thank you for your service with the MTA and we appreciate your
serious consideration of our request.

Sincerely,





James Skoufis Ken Zebrowski
Member of Assembly, 99th District Member of Assembly, 96th District





Ellen Jaffee Aileen Gunther
Member of Assembly, 97th District Member of Assembly, 100th District





Claudia Tenney Frank Skartados
Member of Assembly, 101st District Member of Assembly, 104th District




ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884
DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914
EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us


David Carlucci William Larkin
State Senator, 38th District State Senator, 39th District







Sean Patrick Maloney
Member of Congress, 18th District







Cc: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo;
New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver;
New York Senate Leader Dean Skelos
New York Senate Leader Jeffrey Klein
New York Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
US Senator Chuck Schumer
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie;
New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver;
New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney;
US Senator Robert Menendez
US Senator Cory Booker
Congresswoman Nita Lowey;
Rockland County Executive Ed Day;
Orange County Executive Stephen Neuhaus;
MTA Transportation Reinvention Commission Co-Chair Ray LaHood
MTA Transportation Reinvention Commission Co-Chair Jane Garvey
Amtrak President Joseph Boardman;
NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique Hakim;
Tri-State Transportation Campaign Executive Director Eric Alexander
Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye
MTA Director of State Legislative Affairs Timothy Ellis;
MTA Counselor to the Chairman Steven Morello