BILL NUMBER: S4435
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to certain tick-
ets on the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad
Company
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is for the Metropolitan Transportation Authori-
ty to maintain a same-price discounted ticket to seniors and the disa-
bled during on and off-peak hours
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new section 1266-n to the public authorities law
requiring Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North maintain use of senior
and disabled ticket rates during peak and off-peak hours
Section 2 is the effective date 30 days after the bill becomes law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The A.M. peak period is the only time of day when seniors, riders with
disabilities, and Medicare-eligible riders cannot use their half fare
discount2l . This policy is a legacy of pre-pandemic days when commuters
consistently packed morning peak trains. That is no longer the case.
This window of ineligibility therefore no longer makes sense, partic-
ularly given that these riders can use their discount in the P.M. peak.
In practice, many conductors already honor these groups' discount in the
A.M. peak, but the failure to make it official policy needlessly puts
commuter rail riders in limbo and creates hurdles for transit-dependent
groups to access the MTA. This recommendation is estimated to cost
$5-$10 million.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
5-10 Million to the MTA.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law.