The fare reduction comes as part of the 2019-2020 state budget. (MTA)
April 3, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
Two Albany legislators announced today that Northeast Queens Long Island Rail Road commuters will soon be receiving a 20 percent deduction on their monthly fare passes.
Assembly Members Edward Braunstein of Bayside and Nily Rozic of Fresh Meadows fought for the agreement to be added into the 2019-2020 state budget as a means to offset the impact of congestion pricing on residents of the car-heavy outer borough who have more limited public transit options.
“Relief in the outer boroughs is long overdue for Northeast Queens transit riders who are far too familiar with increasing fares and travel times,” Rozic said. “As part of this year’s state budget, it was critical for us to ensure that the needs of our communities were not neglected and that our transit system is fully funded. I am grateful for Assemblyman Braunstein’s partnership and look forward to seeing these improvements through their implementation.”
With a monthly commuter pass running upwards of $200, riders could save nearly $50 a month. The reduction is set to affect monthly passes for commuters traveling to and from the following stations: Auburndale, Bayside, Broadway, Douglaston, Flushing-Main Street, Little Neck, and Murray Hill.
Funding for the fare discount comes from the Outer Borough Transit Fund, set up by the State Legislature last year to help commuters who live in areas with limited transit options.
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5 Comments
why not all Queens far from the subway to get the same benefit?
It’s unfair and half done, not only the distance is shorter but also if they want to make people to use more the public transportation, that would be the right way to do it.
This is a small, but important step in the right direction. HOWEVER, during rush hour crowding on the Port Washington Branch is starting to approach that of the incredably over crowded #7 train. Any alleged solution that does not substantially increase mass transit capacity is not really a solution. Since the major LIRR bottleneck is the East River tunnels, that is where improvement must start.
How many people are actually using a zone 3 to 3 monthly on the Port Washington branch? It can’t be that many.
The city zone fares in general (1 to 3) are absurd, and should be lowered across the board. This half-hearted measure will barely help anyone.
I thought it is for 1 from/to 3, not just 3 to 3?
As I was reading the original article I caught it also that it stated to and from the following stations but didn’t see woodside nor penn station and thought it may be a typo. Nevertheless, if this is the case it would be a half-hearted measure and it would definitely be intentional as they are trying to push all those from penn onto the 7 train until Main Street to get on at the LIRR.