A bipartisan group of state lawmakers from the Hudson Valley are backing legislation to withdraw Orange County from the MTA commuter district, because of a lack of investment in rail service west of the Hudson River.

Through legislative means they want to cancel Orange County's tax agreement with the MTA, they said, because the MTA has not done enough to improve rail service between the county and New York City.

Because of a long wait between trains in Seaucus, it took David Bryan about four hours to get from Brooklyn to Middletown Tuesday morning.

He said he did not mind having to take the train once while his truck is being worked on, but taking public transit every day "would drive me crazy."

If passed, state Sen. James Skoufis's legislation could lead to the cancellation of local MTA taxes on payroll, gas, car rentals and real estate transfers.

The legislation would also free the MTA of any obligation to improve rail service west of the Hudson River.

NJ Transit leases the tracks for the Port Jervis line and is in charge of the service.

Skoufis said the MTA is already cheating Orange County residents and has no specific plans to improve the Port Jervis line, prompting him to lead a campaign to separate the county from the MTA.

"The list is as long as my arm that the MTA pickpockets from my constituents despite not providing any adequate service," Skoufis said.

He is introducing just before the MTA is to present a five-year capital plan to the state.

Skoufis said the MTA should take less in taxes from the county and reduce congestion pricing tolls for county residents until the MTA can provide direct train service into Manhattan from west of the Hudson River.

"If they were to fix all these things — which I’m not holding my breath [for] given the history involved here — then sure, we could have a conversation about what the future of the MTA in Orange County looks like," Skoufis said.

If the measure were to pass, a special referee would be chosen to oversee negotiations for the withdrawal agreement.

The MTA has not yet responded to News 12's requests for comment for this story.