Cuomo urges MTA to lower LIRR fares during work

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging the MTA to lower LIRR fares during the summer construction planned at Penn Station.

News 12 Staff

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Jun 19, 2017, 3:32 PM

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Updated 2,742 days ago

Cuomo urges MTA to lower LIRR fares during work

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to lower Long Island Rail Road fares during the summer construction planned at Penn Station.

As News 12 has reported, repair work between July 8 and Sept. 1 will force train cancellations and modified service.

During a news conference Monday morning, Cuomo said that some people will need to take diverted trains that will not go right into Penn Station, and that's why he called on the MTA to reduce fares. He also announced a $1.6 billion plan to build a new "Moynihan Train Hall," which will host the LIRR.

When the work is done in about two years, LIRR riders will be able to use the hall and not have to go through Penn Station.

MTA's interim executive director told News 12 in a statement that the governor is right about customers deserving a fare decrease, but they need to figure out how to compensate riders. The MTA expects to have more details in the coming days.