Senators Mayer and Harckham in Support
Senators Michelle Hinchey, Leroy Comrie, Shelley Mayer, Pete Harckham, Patricia Fahy, and Over a Dozen State Lawmakers Push to Restore Metro-North Rail Expansion Plan
Metro-North Expansion Backed by Region’s Largest Transit Union – the Association of Community Rail Employees – and Empire State Passengers Association
State Senator Michelle Hinchey released a letter co-signed by 17 of her Senate colleagues, urging Governor Kathy Hochul to revive a plan to expand Metro-North service beyond Poughkeepsie, which was slated to begin in Spring 2026. The lawmakers were joined by the Association of Commuter Rail Employees (ACRE) — the largest union on MTA/Metro-North Railroad and the Empire State Passengers Association, who warned that shelving the expansion deprives upstate New Yorkers of the most affordable rail service into and out of New York City.
Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “We need more access to public transportation, especially in the Hudson Valley, and expanding train options through Metro-North is a great place to start. Metro-North is the most affordable, reliable, and flexible rail option around, and this expansion plan deserves to be back on the table because it’s good for everyone. It will make it easier for visitors to explore our towns and villages, driving economic value to upstate businesses, while our residents get better connections from the Capitol City, up and down the Hudson, and into New York City. We want to strengthen our upstate-downstate partnership, and this is a critical way to do it. Instead of starting implementation and connection this spring, as originally planned, we’re here asking that conversations resume. The delay only further inhibits progress and limits affordable options for New Yorkers. The need is there, the demand exists, and it’s the right thing to do. Let’s make it happen.”
Senator Leroy Comrie, Chair of the Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions, said, “New Yorkers depend on reliable and affordable transit every day to get to work, school, and essential services. Metro-North expansion would connect more communities to major job centers, reduce commute times, and create real economic opportunity. This expansion will strengthen regional connectivity and increase economic development by saving time for upstate commuters.”
“Thousands of Capital Region residents rely on rail transportation to and from New York City for work, leisure, and more,” said Senator Patricia Fahy. “Expanding Metro North service to Albany would provide commuters with a new, more affordable option and accessible. I hear from constituents all the time about how excited they were for Metro North’s expansion and how important cheap, reliable rail transportation is to them. It’s time we offered Capital Region residents more than just one rail option and ultimately seize this opportunity to expand Metro North to our area.”
State Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I join my colleagues in urging Governor Kathy Hochul to revisit and advance plans to expand Metro-North service beyond Poughkeepsie. For so many New Yorkers, our trains are not a luxury – but a necessity. It helps New Yorkers get to work, visit family, and experience the beauty, culture, and rich diversity of communities across New York. Access to safe, reliable, sustainable transportation will ensure New Yorkers from New York City to Yonkers and beyond have quality rail service that is easily accessible. The Metro-North expansion must be revived and prioritized.”
Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, “Expanding Metro-North’s train service beyond Poughkeepsie would benefit Hudson Valley residents in so many ways in terms of convenience and more transportation options, along with more jobs, increased tourism, boosting local economies. Additionally, it would mean less automobiles on the roadways, leading to cleaner air and decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation.”
Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, “Across our region, riders are asking for a system that better connects their communities to the rail network. Expanding Metro-North would bring rail access closer to my constituents and make it easier to get to work, visit family, or enjoy destinations across the state. I’m proud to stand with Senator Hinchey in support of this effort.”
State Senator Erik Bottcher said, “Restoring Amtrak service between New York City and Albany is a positive step, but it cannot come at the expense of expanding Metro-North service to Albany. Extending Metro-North beyond Poughkeepsie would provide a direct, affordable, and reliable connection between upstate communities and major hubs like Grand Central Station and Harlem/125th Street, something riders have been asking for and deserve. The demand from the public is growing and now we need the commitment from all our partners to take the next step and further connect the Capital of the World with the ninth busiest train station in the country.”
Edward Valente, General Chairman ACRE Local 1, Executive Board Director of the Association of Commuter Rail Employees, said, “Our members take enormous pride in delivering for New Yorkers every day, and it shows in our performance, as Metro-North ranks among the most reliable commuter railroads in the country. Expanding service to Albany is about meeting growing demand, strengthening regional connections, and creating real opportunity for workers and riders alike. This is how you build a rail system that works: more options, more reliability, and more investment in the people who keep it running.”
Gary Prophet, President of the Empire State Passengers Association, said, “ESPA is supportive of passenger rail solutions that provide more affordable travel between Manhattan and Albany, including the station stops of Rhinecliff and Hudson. Currently, frequently sold-out trains and high fares are not consistent with serving the rail passengers of the upper Hudson Valley and Albany areas.”
The full text of the lawmakers’ letter to Governor Hochul is included below.
Dear Governor Hochul:
Returning Amtrak service between Albany and New York City is welcome news, but we are disappointed that this decision came at the expense of expanding Metro-North beyond Poughkeepsie, which has now been put on hold. Extending Metro-North would have created a direct line between upstate communities and major hubs like Grand Central Station and Harlem 125th Street, and provided access to the East Side of Manhattan, something Amtrak service does not do. Metro-North is also the most affordable rail service into and out of New York City, making it easier and more economical for residents and visitors alike. The expansion of the Metro-North train would have opened opportunities for more people to travel to New York City, as well as drive economic opportunity to our upstate communities and small businesses.
In short, the Metro-North expansion would give both more choice and more reliable service while making travel up and down the Hudson River more affordable. Keeping Metro-North expansion on the table must remain a top priority if we’re serious about addressing the longstanding inequities in public transit across our region.
We appreciate your acknowledgment that a future Metro-North expansion could move forward if demand exists, and we note that Metro-North leadership has made clear they are ready and able to launch service if directed. We, the undersigned, can confidently say that demand exists well beyond Poughkeepsie. More public transportation serving and connecting the region is something people have asked for for years. Direct Metro-North service would also create car-free connections between downstate communities and upstate destinations, including access to parks and trails, which we know is a priority of your administration.
Safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation is foundational to economic growth, social inclusion, environmental stewardship, and overall quality of life. Here in New York, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to chart a more equitable transportation future. We ask you to prioritize this conversation of expanding Metro-North service in a real way and commit to finding a solution that benefits all New Yorkers.
Sincerely,
Senator Michelle Hinchey
Senator Jamaal Bailey
Senator Erik Bottcher
Senator Leroy Comrie
Senator Patricia Fahy
Senator Kristen Gonzalez
Senator Andrew Gounardes
Senator Brian Kavanagh
Senator John Liu
Senator Zellnor Myrie
Senator Julia Salazar
Senator Luis Sepúlveda
Senator Scarcella-Spanton
Senator Nathalia Fernandez
Senator Pete Harckham
Senator Shelley Mayer
Senator James Sanders
Senator Lea Webb
CC: Mr. Anthony Coscia, Chair, Amtrak Board of Directors
Justin R. Vonashek, President, MTA Metro-North Railroad
Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO
