FreedomTicket Phase II: Now, More than Ever! - October 2021 - PCAC
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FreedomTicket
Phase II: Now, More than Ever!
October 2021
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC)
PERMANENT CITIZENS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE MTA
Acknowledgments
Report Author:
Bradley Brashears, AICP - PCAC Planning Manager
Contributors:
Kara Gurl, Research & Communications Associate
Shaul Picker, Research Intern
Gav Mazurek, Research Intern
Editor:
Lisa Daglian, PCAC Executive Director
Special thanks to
Andrew Albert, NYCTRC Chair
Gerard Bringmann, PCAC/LIRRCC Chair
Randolph Glucksman, MNRCC Chair
Ellyn Shannon, PCAC Associate Director Emeritus
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) staff; Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) staff;
Metro-North Railroad (MNR) staff; New York City Transit (NYCT) staff
Contents
Executive Summary..................................................................................................................................................i
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................1
Atlantic Ticket Field Study (Phase I)........................................................................................................................3
Freedom Ticket Expansion (Phase I).......................................................................................................................5
LIRR City Ridership Analysis: 2019, 2020, and Beyond.........................................................................................8
Suburban Discounts: Off-Peak & Reverse Peak Pilot Programs (Phase II)...........................................................16
LIRR Suburban Ridership Analysis: 2020 vs. 2019..............................................................................................18
MNR Suburban Ridership Analysis.......................................................................................................................25
Outer Borough Transportation Account (OBTA)..................................................................................................28
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................................29
Appendix A: LIRR City Ridership Analysis...........................................................................................................30
Appendix B: Pre-Pandemic Metro-North City Ridership Analysis.......................................................................30
Appendix C: LIRR Suburban Pre-Pandemic & 2020 Ridership Analysis;
MNR Suburban Pre-Pandemic Ridership Analysis..........................................................................37
Appendix D: Fare Restructuring Lessons Learned................................................................................................38
Appendix E: Outer Borough and Suburban Bus Connections...............................................................................39
Appendix F: Platform Lengths................................................................................................................................41
References...............................................................................................................................................................42
Executive Summary
After two years of steadily increasing ridership on large deficits through 2025.4 Given the MTA’s dire
the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North financial situation it may seem counterintuitive
Railroad (MNR), the COVID-19 pandemic essentially to offer fare reductions, but there is evidence that
brought the region – and its regular stream of daily discounts produce ridership and revenue increases.
commutes – to a halt. Both railroads saw initial The LIRR’s Atlantic Ticket Field Study (Pilot
decreases in ridership of more than 90 percent. The Program), based on the Freedom Ticket proposal put
good news is that the ensuing months have seen more forth by the New York City Transit Riders Council
people returning to the rails: as of July 2021, the (NYCTRC) of the Permanent Citizens Advisory
year-to-date ridership levels have rebounded to 41 Committee to the MTA (PCAC), bears that out: from
percent for LIRR and 39 percent for MNR, compared implementation in June 2018 through June 2021,
to pre-pandemic levels for July 2019.1 These figures more than 2 million Atlantic Tickets have been sold,
show signs of surpassing McKinsey & Company filling empty seats and resulting in nearly $16 million
estimates from the Metropolitan Transportation in revenue for the LIRR.5 The pilot program’s fare
Authority (MTA)-funded analysis that anticipated a reductions of 53 percent and 44 percent for one-way
return of 80-to-90 percent of pre-pandemic ridership and weekly tickets, respectively, led to an overall
by 2024.2 At the same time, however, it is anticipated 45 percent increase in revenue at eligible stations
that a significant number of commuters will continue in 2019 over 2016, according to the LIRR Today –
to work from home, and that travel patterns and showing that lowering fares does not necessarily
times have changed for years to come, if not forever. mean lower revenues.6 Most importantly, riders who
were taking buses to connect to the subway were able
The decline in ridership and ensuing farebox losses, to reduce their travel times: many traveled up to two
coupled with added cleaning and disinfecting hours each way and are now able to afford the LIRR
expenses, have wreaked havoc on the MTA’s budget with a much shorter commute that is often only 40-
and wrought what former chairman Pat Foye called, 45 minutes each way.
“a once in-100-years fiscal tsunami.”3 The challenge
over the coming years is multifold, including bringing The MTA is no stranger to transformation, as it has
riders back into the system and addressing the been pursuing a restructuring effort to improve
MTA’s huge budget hole, while acknowledging that coordination among its operating agencies to provide
ridership may not fully return to pre-pandemic levels better service for riders.7 In the same vein, the MTA
or patterns. will have to reinvent the way it provides service, while
also ensuring that all riders – including those on the
Thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer, his colleagues Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North
in government, the work of MTA agency heads, and Railroad (MNR) – have affordable access to transit.
the advocacy community, the MTA benefitted from
federal stimulus funding to the tune of $14 billion,
which saved riders from the most severe service cuts
4 The MTA is facing a “potential $605 million deficit in 2025
and fare hikes – but the agency is still facing even with use of $2.9 billion in deficit proceeds.” [NYS
News, Federal Funding Provides MTA with Financial
Stability Through First Half of 2024; No Fare Increase
1 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joint Long in 2021, (July 21, 2021), Date accessed: August 5, 2021,
Island & Metro-North Committees Meeting, (September https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/mediacontact/public/view.
2021), Date accessed: September 20, 2021, https://new.mta. cfm?parm=E35B7F42-0B84-0B72-8DAA2C5E83FA4BAE_
info/document/52716. EBC9704F-B388-9A4D-977E19D29433091E].
2 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), MTA Press 5 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Atlantic Ticket sales data.
Release, Facing Worst Financial Crisis in its History, MTA These ticket and sales data only reflect actual Atlantic Ticket
Outlines Proposed 2021 Budget and Four-Year Financial figures and do not incorporate riders who have switched from
Plan, (November 18, 2020), Date accessed: December LIRR regular fares or from those who have switched from
16, 2020, https://www.mta.info/press-release/mta- NYC Transit fares to the Atlantic Ticket options.
headquarters/facing-worst-financial-crisis-its-history-mta- 6 The LIRR Today, Atlantic Ticket continues impressive
outlines-proposed-2021. ridership and revenue growth, (September 20, 2020), Date
3 Robbins, Christopher, MTA Losing $200 Million Every accessed: September 27, 2020, https://www.thelirrtoday.
Week Thanks To “Fiscal Tsunami” Caused By Pandemic, The com/2020/09/atlantic-ticket-continues-impressive.html.
Gothamist, (July 22, 2020), Date accessed: September 15, 7 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Transforming
2020, https://gothamist.com/news/mta-losing-200-million- the MTA, (January 21, 2020), Date accessed: August 5, 2021,
every-week-thanks-fiscal-tsunami-caused-pandemic. https://new.mta.info/transformation.
i
Both railroads are only collecting off-peak fares at all Putnam and Westchester counties are employed in
times until December 31, 2021 due to lower ridership healthcare and service industry jobs.9
and to encourage more people to take the train;
however, more permanent and far-reaching solutions The MTA must find ways to attract commuters
are needed. Therefore, this report addresses both back, attract new riders, and better accommodate
city and suburban fare restructuring and calls for the regional essential workers in the changing paradigm.
following three phased in actions: Reducing long travel times and providing a more
equitable regional fare structure will allow the
• Phase I: Atlantic Ticket Pilot Program – improve following to happen:
purchasing options and marketing strategies to
reach more riders. • Help regional riders and essential workers travel
more affordably and efficiently.
• Phase I: Expand the Freedom Ticket concept to
all LIRR and MNR city stations, with transfers to • Fill empty commuter rail seats with fare-paying
NYC Transit subways and buses. riders.
• Phase II: Implement Off-Peak & Reverse Peak • Support regional economic recovery efforts.
Suburban Discount Pilot Programs on both the • Attract drivers out of their cars in time for
LIRR and MNR for riders traveling to and from congestion pricing implementation, reducing
New York City and within suburban zones; and roadway congestion and CO2 emissions.
make Phase I pilot programs permanent and
establish benchmarks for Phase II permanence.
The economic hardships for many riders caused by
the pandemic and the available capacity created
by the decrease in ridership on both the LIRR and
MNR, combined with the MTA Board’s interest
in restructuring fares and the agency’s need for
revenue, makes this exactly the right time to
expand the Atlantic Ticket Pilot Program within the
Freedom Ticket framework.8 Such expansion would
be particularly beneficial to the essential workers
who are not able to work from home and would not
benefit from a hybrid work schedule. In Northeast
and Central Queens, Far Rockaway, and the Bronx
along the Hudson and Harlem Lines, 35 percent
of the more than 834,000 workers in the proposed
Freedom Ticket expansion areas are employed either
in healthcare or the service industry; and 25 percent
of the over 2.1 million workers in the proposed
suburban discount areas of Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess,
9 Essential workers: Healthcare workers include practitioners;
8 MTA Board members discuss upcoming fare hike hearings technical occupations; healthcare support occupations;
calling for no increases at this time, and that the agency Service occupations include firefighters; law enforcement;
should consider fare discounts to incentive the ridership to food preparation/serving occupations to include maintenance
return [Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA Board occupations and personal care and service occupations
& Committee Meeting, (November 18, 2020), https://new. [American Community Survey 2019 1 Year Estimates, Public
mta.info/transparency/board-and-committee-meetings/ Use Microdata Area, Date accessed: January 15, 2021. http://
november-2020]. data.census.gov/].
ii
Introduction
In 2015, the New York City Transit Riders Council losses have resulted in severe farebox revenue
(NYCTRC), one of three rider advisory Councils of reductions, exacerbated by ongoing pandemic
the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the response expenses. Furthermore, based on McKinsey
MTA (PCAC), first proposed the Freedom Ticket: mid-point projections, the MTA has determined that
Southeast Queens Proof of Concept.10 The focus was LIRR's 2025 annual ridership will be 78 million – 13
to substantially reduce 2+ hour intra-city commutes million less than 2019 levels; MNR's 2025 annual
by creating an affordable city rail fare with a free ridership is projected to be 66 million – 20 million
transfer to the subway and bus networks. The less than 2019 levels. As a result, based on mid-point
concept would increase access to the Long Island projections, by 2025 combined commuter railroad
Rail Road (LIRR) for those living near rail stations in farebox losses could total over $3.3 billion.14 The
Southeast Queens who might not otherwise be able MTA faces the challenges of developing more creative
to afford it, and add revenue by filling empty seats. In and far-reaching solutions to support the region’s
response, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority riders and encourage more people to return to
(MTA) implemented the Atlantic Ticket Field Study transit.
(Pilot Program) for Southeast Queens and Brooklyn
residents as a starting point due to relatively low Atlantic Ticket-type pilot programs can be part of the
ridership on the Atlantic Branch.11 Riders have solutions needed for both the MTA and riders alike.
embraced the program: from implementation in Patrick Foye, former MTA chairman, has expressed
June 2018 through June 2021, more than 2 million the need to take a closer look at the commuter rails
Atlantic Tickets have been sold, resulting in nearly – to have them do more – especially as commuting
$16 million in revenue for the LIRR.12 patterns have changed due to the pandemic.15 Atlantic
Ticket has shown that decreasing commuter rail fares
As the COVID-19 pandemic struck, PCAC was in the can entice riders with more affordable and efficient
midst of conducting a ridership analysis to determine options – getting more out of our region’s commuter
the feasibility of expanding the Freedom Ticket rails.
concept to serve even more riders, finding substantial
off-peak commuter rail capacity within and outside Transit agencies, both past and present, have
city limits on both the LIRR and Metro-North lowered fares to increase ridership and revenue with
Railroad (MNR). Even more capacity is now available promising results. In 1993, Metro-North reduced
throughout the day due to changes in ridership fares on its New Haven Line to support reverse and
patterns borne from the pandemic: in response, both intra-suburban commutes, resulting in ridership
commuter railroads are only collecting off-peak fares increases of up to 10 percent – revenue grew for
at all times to help riders and incentivize more to these stations, but not for stations where fares were
take the rails. As of July 2021, year-to-date ridership not lowered. The success of this initiative resulted in
levels rebounded to 41 percent for LIRR and 39 further fare reductions for reverse commuting from
percent for MNR, compared to pre-pandemic levels the Bronx to Greenwich and Stamford, Connecticut,
for July 2019.13 These commuter rail ridership with fares being lowered by as much as 20 percent.
During that time, ridership at those stations
increased by 34 percent, producing a net revenue
10 New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC), Freedom
gain of 17 percent. In 1997, after continued success,
Ticket: Southeast Queens Proof of Concept, (December
2015), Date accessed: April 16, 2020, https://www.pcac.org/
wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Freedom-Ticket-reduced.pdf.
11 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Atlantic
Ticket Field Study, Date accessed: April 29, 2020, https://
new.mta.info/fares/atlantic-ticket. 14 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), MTA 2022
12 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Atlantic Ticket sales data. Preliminary Budget, July Financial Plan 2022-2025, (July
These ticket and sales data only reflect actual Atlantic Ticket 2021), Date accessed: October 6, 2021, https://new.mta.info/
figures and do not incorporate riders who have switched from document/44476.
LIRR regular fares or from those who have switched from 15 Martinez, Jose, MTA Eyes Commuter Rails as Discount
NYC Transit fares to the Atlantic Ticket options. Subways Substitutes With Crowds Expected Back, The City,
13 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joint Long (March 25, 2021), Date accessed: August 5, 2021, https://
Island & Metro-North Committees Meeting, (September www.thecity.nyc/2021/3/25/22351465/mta-eyes-commuter-
2021), Date accessed: September 20, 2021, https://new.mta. rails-as-discount-subways-substitutes-with-crowds-expected-
info/document/52716. back.
1
fares were further discounted by 6 percent for reverse
commutes and 5 percent for intra-Connecticut
• Support regional economic recovery efforts.
commutes, resulting in 15 percent ridership growth.16
• Attract drivers out of their cars in time for
The Los Angeles region has also experimented with
congestion pricing implementation, reducing
lowering fares several times dating back to 1980
roadway congestion and CO2 emissions.18
on L.A. Metro to increase ridership and revenue;
and fare reductions have been made on multiple
lines on southern California’s Metrolink commuter
rail service as recently as 2018. The Massachusetts Therefore, the PCAC is urging the MTA and its
Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston is operating agencies to restructure fares for city and
currently embarking on a “Fare Transformation” suburban riders using the Freedom Ticket model
initiative, overhauling its fare structure to be more to benefit all stakeholders. Freedom Ticket concept
equitable. The agency’s Fairmount Line is the first expansion is timely and appropriate – riders and
test in this initiative; a pilot program has been the MTA need improved options. Plus, with the
implemented to reduce fares and provides transfers advancement of the OMNY fare payment system, the
to subway lines and local bus routes (See Appendix agency will have more flexibility to adjust fares and
D for more details about fare reduction efforts in Los truly become – as the name implies – One Metro New
Angeles and Boston, p.35). York. Originally scheduled for 2021 implementation,
the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in OMNY’s
Restructuring fares – like these agencies have done commuter rail roll-out, now anticipated for 2022
and are doing – will also greatly contribute to the for both LIRR and MNR. However, planning
goals of the Biden Administration’s “Build Back and implementation must come to fruition more
Better” agenda, increasing affordable access to help expeditiously, as Freedom Ticket is needed now,
reverse long-standing inequities, especially when more than ever.
coupled with the MTA’s expansion projects (i.e. East
Side Access) that will not only increase capacity,
but also improve service in transit underserved
communities.17 Implementing an expanded Freedom
Ticket concept will benefit more riders and provide
a more seamless and equitable fare structure,
supporting regional and national goals.
Freedom Ticket can:
• Help regional riders and essential workers travel
more affordably and efficiently.
• Fill empty commuter rail seats with fare-paying
riders.
16 Regional Plan Association (RPA), Four Transit Issues on 18 Not only can commuters save money by switching to public
Long Island, (April 2002), Date accessed: February 23, transportation, the environment benefits from less car
2021,https://rpa.org/work/reports/four-transit-issues-on- pollution – individuals can save over $9,000 annually and
long-island. can reduce their carbon footprint by at least 4,800 pounds for
17 The White House, FACT SHEET: The American Jobs 20 mile-round-trip commutes [Center for Climate and Energy
Plan, (March 31, 2021), Date accessed: April 9, 2021, Solutions, Reducing Your Transportation Footprint, Date
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements- accessed: February 9, 2021, https://www.c2es.org/content/
releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/. reducing-your-transportation-footprint/].
2Atlantic Ticket Field Study
In June 2018, the MTA-LIRR implemented the and buses.20 Pre-pandemic, approximately 140,000
Atlantic Ticket Field Study to determine the ridership monthly trips were taken using Atlantic Ticket,
effects of a reduced LIRR fare between ten Southeast affording those riders with reduced commuting
Queens and Brooklyn LIRR stations, including times and travel costs.21 In some instances, two-hour
Atlantic Terminal, with transfers to NYC Transit commutes dropped to just 45 minutes each way,
subways and buses; this was recommended as a first while producing needed revenue on the underutilized
step by the NYCTRC’s Freedom Ticket proposal.19 Atlantic Branch.
LIRR Atlantic Ticket Station Map
Hollis
Queens Village
Jamaica St. Albans
Nostrand Av
Atlantic
Terminal ust Rosedale
East New York Loc or
a n
M on
relt
Lau
N
LIRR Atlantic Ticket Stations
Selection of the Atlantic Branch for the Field Study While this is good progress, the PCAC and riders
was logical: many peak-hour trains were running have voiced concerns during the course of the Pilot
half empty, while many working-class riders from Program regarding both ticket availability and
Southeast Queens and Brooklyn were priced out of visibility and have called for several improvements
the LIRR – often the closest transit option available. in both regards.22 Ensuring the continued success of
Long and slow bus rides to Jamaica Center to access the program is crucial to providing more riders with
the subway led to two-hour one-way commutes for an affordable option and helping the MTA-LIRR gain
some, while Brooklyn riders barely used their LIRR much-needed revenue.
stations, hampering economic and community
growth and development.
20 One-way LIRR peak fares are currently $10.75 compared
As enacted, the Atlantic Ticket Field Study (Pilot to Atlantic Ticket’s $5 one-way fare; LIRR weekly fare is
Program) reduces the LIRR one-way fares by 53 $75.00 – MetroCard weekly fare is $33.00 – totally $108.00
percent and provides an unlimited $60 weekly fare (a compared to the Atlantic Ticket’s $60 weekly fare with
transfers. [Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA
44 percent decrease when factoring in both LIRR and Fares & Tolls, Date accessed: August 9, 2021, https://new.
MetroCard weekly fares) with a transfer to subways mta.info/fares].
21 The LIRR Today, Atlantic Ticket continues impressive
ridership and revenue growth, (September 20, 2020), Date
accessed: September 27, 2020, https://www.thelirrtoday.
com/2020/09/atlantic-ticket-continues-impressive.html.
22 The Atlantic Ticket is not available for purchase via eTix or
through onboard conductors. Ticket vending machines do
not direct riders to the Atlantic Ticket option at participating
stations [Ford, James, LIRR pilot program lowering cost to
travel between Queens, Brooklyn Manhattan is a success,
19 New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC), Freedom Pix11 News, (February 18, 2020), Date accessed: June
Ticket: Southeast Queens Proof of Concept, (December 2015), 10, 2020, https://pix11.com/news/local-news/lirr-pilot-
Date accessed: April 26, 2020, http://www.freedomticket. program-lowering-cost-to-travel-among-queens-brooklyn-
org/. manhattan-is-a-success].
3Phase I Improve the Atlantic Ticket Pilot Program
• Improve the Atlantic Ticket purchasing options for riders.
◦◦ Provide expanded ticket options such as ◦◦ Fix and reprogram LIRR ticket vending
monthlies and 20-trip tickets with included machines (TVMs) to not only function
transfers to NYC Transit subways and buses. properly, but to also make Atlantic Ticket the
default option for lower fares at all eligible
◦◦ Provide a transfer option with the current stations.23
one-way fare, and extend the expiration date
to 60 days, just as it is for regular one-way ◦◦ Include the Atlantic Ticket at JFK AirTrain
tickets. ticket vending machines, with advertisements
to inform incoming airline passengers of
◦◦ Include Atlantic Ticket on eTix, and ultimately its availability; and provide similar subway
on OMNY. station advertisements informing riders of a
faster way to get to the airport.
• Expand the Atlantic Ticket marketing campaign to attract more riders.
◦◦ Increase the amount of electronic and paper ◦◦ Distribute marketing information at targeted
advertisements in LIRR city stations and locations such as at nearby subway stations,
onboard trains; in subway stations and express bus stops, schools and houses of
onboard trains; and at bus stops and onboard worship in Southeast Queens and along the
buses. Atlantic Branch while collecting voluntary
rider contact information (emails) to conduct
◦◦ Better utilize social media platforms such follow-up.
as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the
MTA’s website and YouTube channel with ◦◦ Create marketing campaign benchmarks to
targeted Facebook and Instagram ads by ensure progress is being made and develop an
neighborhood. Atlantic Ticket-specific rider survey to better
understand how riders learned of the program
◦◦ Include commercial advertising blasts on and what improvements they would like to
radio and television and in newspaper and see.
newsletter ads, both print and online.
23 Currently, Atlantic Ticket is not one of the initial options on
the TVMs. Unless a rider knows about the Atlantic Ticket,
they could choose a station combination like Hollis to Atlantic
Terminal and pay the full peak fare. If a rider chooses any
station combination where Atlantic Ticket can be used, the
fare should automatically go to the lower value instead of the
full-price fare. In fact, many riders have been overcharged:
188,000 in 2018; 300,000 in 2019; and 231,817 in 2020 [The
Long Island Rail Road Today, LIRR overcharged 566,635
riders in 2020, (September 30, 2021), Date accessed: October
6, 2021, https://www.thelirrtoday.com/2021/09/lirr-
overcharged-566635-riders-in-2020.html ].
4Freedom Ticket Expansion
While the pandemic has resulted in many New employers plan to adopt a rotating or “hybrid” office
Yorkers working from home, which many will schedule; of those employers implementing a hybrid
continue to do, that is not the case for essential model, most (63 percent) will require employees to
workers, many of whom live in the outer boroughs. be in the office three days per week.26 Furthermore, a
Of the more than 834,000 workers in the combined more recent survey released in August 2021 from the
proposed Freedom Ticket expansion areas, 35 Association for a Better New York found nearly 35
percent (293,000) are employed either in healthcare percent of responding organizations are already back
or the service industry. Of these total workers who in the office, and 44 percent are targeting a return to
took transit pre-pandemic, only 4 percent took the office after Labor Day. A full one-third indicated
commuter rail to work on weekdays, while 95 percent that the predominant style of work will be a hybrid of
took subways and buses – illustrating the extreme in-person and remote.27
cost difference.24
Connectivity in the Bronx comes with its own set
There is also a reduced amount of teleworking of issues. On MNR’s Hudson Line, the University
ability in the outer boroughs overall: according to Heights, Morris Heights, Spuyten Duyvil, and
the New York City Department of City Planning. Riverdale stations are far from subway stations;
Only 33 percent of residents living near the Bayside, and near the Harlem Line, residents close the
Queens LIRR station have teleworking capabilities; Third Avenue corridor in the Bronx have suffered
and only 28 percent of residents living near the poor transit access since the demolition of the
Bronx’s Tremont MNR station – compared to 48 Third Avenue “el” in the 1970s. Better connecting
percent teleworking capabilities for many Manhattan this corridor has long been debated with differing
residents, like those in Midtown.25 According to the proposals, including those in the Regional Plan
Partnership for New York City survey results released Association’s (RPA) 2008 report, Tomorrow’s
in June 2021, the total share of office employees Transit.28 In the report, RPA acknowledges the
expected to return by the end of September 2021 is need to provide improved transit options for Bronx
62 percent. The vast majority (71 percent) of residents, which is still an issue today – thirteen
Table 1: Essential Workers
HEALTHCARE SERVICE INDUSTRY COMBINED HEALTHCARE TOTAL
DEMOGRAPHIC AREA
WORKERS WORKERS & SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE
Northeast & Central
Queens
23,520 76,784 100,304 27% 371,827
Far Rockaway 2,146 17,519 19,665 39% 50,058
Bronx: Metro-North
Hudson & Harlem Line 18,380 154,792 173,172 42% 412,239
TOTALS 44,046 249,095 293,141 35% 834,124
26 Partnership for New York City - Return to Office Survey
Results Released (June 2021), Date accessed: August 2, 2021,
https://pfnyc.org/news/return-to-office-survey-results-
released-june-2021/.
24 American Community Survey (ACS) 2019 1 Year Estimates, 27 Association for a Better New York (ABNY), Return to
Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA), Date accessed: January Office Survey, (August 2021), Date accessed: August 19,
15, 2021, http://data.census.gov/. 2021, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N7Rhxzlp8Z3_
25 New York City Department of City Planning, NYC Zktmi4KFWWLLj2TzJPNK/view.
Metropolitan Region Telework Capability, Date accessed: 28 Regional Plan Association (RPA), Tomorrow’s Transit,
February 3, 2021, https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/ (2008), Date accessed: March 23, 2021, https://rpa.org/
index.html?layers=9248f61177e441aeb9bf2952c7feb858. work/reports/tomorrows-transit.
5Table 2: Weekday Commuting to Work by Mode
DEMOGRAPHIC AREA SUBWAY & BUS RIDERS CAR DRIVERS COMMUTER RAIL RIDERS TOTAL COMMUTERS
(subway, bus, commuter rail, car)
Northeast & Central
Queens
167,945 52% 143,147 44% 8,362 3% 321,766
Far Rockaway 16,439 37% 27,742 62% 327 1% 44,414
Bronx: Metro-North
Hudson & Harlem Line 247,595 71% 87,394 25% 11,675 3% 347,840
TOTALS 431,979 60% 258,283 36% 20,364 3% 714,020
TOTAL
years later. Recommendations they put forth include As Atlantic Ticket has slashed Southeast Queens
the extension of the Second Avenue Subway (SAS), a commutes from nearly two hours to just 45 minutes,
Metrolink Connector, Bus Rapid Transit, and lower discounts provided to these Bronx residents and to
fares for the current MNR stations in the area. Given LIRR commuters in Far Rockaway and Northeast
the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic and and Central Queens will offer more affordable access
extremely limited funding and competing demands and improved travel times to many more New
for the MTA’s Capital Program, extending the SAS to Yorkers. Pairing discounted commuter rail fares with
the Bronx is unrealistic at this time. If it does come transfers to NYC Transit subways and buses will help
to fruition, it will be in the distant future, and riders attract riders to a faster service – supporting a more
need options now. equitable system and city.
Additionally, only a few blocks away from the
Melrose, Tremont, and Fordham MNR stations, the
Third Avenue corridor is a major commercial district
that includes several hospitals and educational
facilities. Along the corridor and in the surrounding
neighborhoods are St. Barnabas Hospital; Lebanon
Hospital Center; Fordham University; and the Bronx
Center for Science and Mathematics, among other
institutions and destinations. Providing affordable
access to these locations will help essential workers of
today and tomorrow get to school, work, and home.
6Figure 1: Northeast Queens Travel Times (minutes)
Q13 to 7 82
QM3 Express Bus 69
Car 55
LIRR 28
Figure 2: Bronx - Metro-North Hudson Line Travel Times (minutes)
BxM4 Express Bus 94
Bx40 to 4 61
Burnside Av. 4 41
Car 35
MNR 25
Notes:
• Figure 1: Bayside LIRR Station to Midtown Manhattan (LIRR to Penn Station; 7 train to
Times Square-42nd Street; QM3 to Midtown Manhattan)
• Figure 2: Morris Heights Station/Burnside Av. 4 Train Station to Grand Central Terminal;
BxM4 from E. Tremont Av. to Grand Central Terminal
◦◦ Depending on origin point, riders can board the Bx40 to the 4 train at the Burnside
Avenue station or simply walk to the station.
◦◦ The closest and easiest to access express bus is near E. Tremont Avenue - closer to the
MNR Tremont Station.
7LIRR City Ridership Analysis: 2019, 2020, and Beyond
LIRR Freedom Ticket Expansion Map
Little
Neck
ay dale
Flushing adw urn
Bro Aub
Main Street Douglaston
Penn Station e
Murray sid
Hunterspoint
Woodside Hill Bay
Ave
LIC
Forest
Hills
Kew
Gardens
Jamaica
Atlantic
Terminal N
Freedom Ticket Expansion Stations
Far Rockaway
Other LIRR Stations
When comparing LIRR’s 2020 ridership to
2019’s pre-pandemic ridership, it is clear to see
the devastation that has been wrought. Although
ridership has been returning in greater numbers, it is to open including East Side Access (ESA),30 Long
still merely a fraction of what it used to be, standing Island’s Third Track, and eventually Penn Station
at 41 percent of pre-pandemic levels as of July 2021 Access (PSA) in 2025. These expansion projects
– indicating thousands of unused seats. In its MTA- will provide even more capacity to accommodate an
funded analysis, McKinsey & Company estimated expanded Freedom Ticket concept: advancing the
that in a best-case scenario, 80-90 percent of vision of a more integrated MTA network. Therefore,
ridership will return by 2024. According to the MTA’s the purpose of the following analysis is to illustrate
July Financial Plan, consistent with current ridership where we were before the pandemic, during the
trends, the agency used the midpoint of best-case and height of the pandemic, and where we need to go
worst-case scenarios and has projected that LIRR from here to bring more riders back.
2025 annual ridership will be slightly over 78 million
– 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels.29 Furthermore,
by the time this anticipated ridership level is met,
major capacity-building expansion projects are slated
30 East Side Access (ESA) will reduce AM-peak LIRR commuter
activity at Penn Station by 45 percent – 65,000 daily riders
will be diverted to Grand Central Terminal during the
morning rush (Metropolitan Transportation Authority, East
29 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), July Side Access MTA Long Island Rail Road Grand Central
Financial Plan 2022-2025 Volume 2, (July 2021), Connection – Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS),
Date accessed: August 9, 2021, https://new.mta.info/ March 2001, Date accessed: September 10, 2020, http://web.
document/44476#page=236 . mta.info/capital/esa_docs/feisfiles/09_transportation.pdf).
8West-bound Trips Jamaica & Little Neck to Penn Station
The following data analyzed includes all 2019 and In 2020, trains traveling from Jamaica to Penn
2020 trains traveling between Penn Station and Station and trains traveling from the Port
Jamaica, and on the Port Washington Branch as far Washington Branch to Penn Station had an overall
as Little Neck.31 86 percent of seats empty, totaling over 212,000
available seats on any given weekday.
JAMAICA/ 86% PENN
PORT WASH.
WESTBOUND-TRIPS
Empty Full
The percentage indicates a steep escalation in empty Station from Little Neck on the Port Washington
seats compared to 2019, as seen in Charts 1 and Branch to Penn Station, only 19 percent of overall
2. While pre-pandemic there were ample off-peak seats were empty; in 2020, 85 percent of overall seats
empty seats, this was not the case during peak hours. were empty.
In 2019, during the 8 AM hour, from Jamaica to Penn
Chart 1: 2020 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour Off-Peak Peak
100%
96% 96% 95% 95% 94%
93%
91% 91% 92% 92% 93%
90% 88% 89% 89% 89% 90% 91%
88%
85% 85%
82%
80%
80%
70%
63%
60% 57%
Empty Seats
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
31 Trains stopping at and/or terminating at Kew Gardens,
Forest Hills, Woodside, Hunterspoint Avenue, Long Island
City, and Far Rockaway were included in the ridership data
analysis. In addition, seat count data is released annually –
the LIRR 2021 data will be available early 2022. The complete
methodology can be found in Appendix A, p.30. All ridership
data was obtained from the LIRR 2019 & 2020 Ridership
Books.
9Chart 2: 2019 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour
100%
97% 98% 98% 98%
94%
91%
90% 89% 89%
86% 84%
80% 77% 77%
74% 74%
72% 71%
70%
70%
63%
60%
Empty Seats
53%
50%
40%
33%
30% 28%
26%
22%
20% 19%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
Peak hour empty seats increased by 233% from 2019 to 2020 between
Jamaica and Penn Station.
10East-bound Trips Penn Station to Jamaica & Little Neck
In 2020, trains traveling from Penn Station to
Jamaica and along the Port Washington Branch were
similar to those traveling in the opposite direction,
with an overall 86 percent of seats empty. The total
available seats between Penn Station, Jamaica, and
the Port Washington Branch in 2020 amounted to
over 202,000 on any given weekday.
86% JAMAICA/
PENN PORT WASH.
EASTBOUND-TRIPS
The percentage rise of empty seats during afternoon the 6 PM hour, only 14 percent of overall seats were
peak hours is similar to that of the morning peak – empty; in 2020, 85 percent of overall seats were
from Penn Station to Jamaica and Penn Station to empty.
Little Neck on the Port Washington Branch during
Chart 3: 2020 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour
100%
96% 96%
93% 93% 94% 92% 93% 93% 92% 93%
90% 91% 91%
90% 88% 89%
87% 86%
85% 84% 85%
80% 79%
70% 68% 68%
60%
Empty Seats
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
11Chart 4: 2019 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour
100%
95% 96%
94% 93%
90% 89% 89%
88% 88%
86%
85%
83%
80% 79% 78%
76%
75%
70%
60% 58%
57%
Empty Seats
50%
46%
41%
40%
34% 36%
30%
26% 25%
20%
14%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
Peak hour empty seats increased by 200% from 2019 to 2020 between
Penn Station and Jamaica.
12MNR City Ridership Analysis
In April, MNR released its 2020 ridership analysis, used the midpoint of McKinsey & Company’s best-
comparing it to pre-pandemic ridership levels of case and worst-case scenarios and has projected
2019. Overall, the Railroad saw nearly 60 million that MNR 2025 annual ridership will be slightly
fewer rides in 2020. Both the Hudson and Harlem over 66 million – 76 percent of pre-pandemic
Lines’ ridership was down nearly 68 percent, and the levels.33 By the time the projected 2025 ridership
New Haven Line’s ridership was down 69 percent has returned, MNR’s Penn Station Access (PSA) is
compared to 2019. Throughout 2020, total weekday anticipated to be in operation – expanding faster
ridership in and out of Grand Central Terminal was service to East Bronx underserved communities and
down nearly 84 percent, with a nearly 80 percent freeing up track space at Grand Central Terminal
decrease in weekday off-peak ridership32 – clearly to potentially accommodate increased service. This
illustrating the need to attract riders back at all hours freed up capacity could be used to increase service
of the day. to Bronx stations like Tremont and Melrose, which
experienced an 81 percent ridership increase34
At the time of this writing, while overall ridership following the doubling of midday and weekend
numbers were available, up-to-date empty seat count service and the extension of the service span in
data was not available for us to conduct a 2020 vs. mornings and evenings in 2016.35 Adding Freedom
2019 comparison; however, as indicated above, low Ticket discounts at MNR city stations, and for the
ridership levels have left many seats empty at all eventual four new Bronx stations, will help complete
times. According to the MTA’s July Financial Plan, the vision of a more integrated MTA network.
consistent with current ridership trends, the agency
Furthermore, before the pandemic hit, we found
MNR Freedom Ticket Expansion Map ample available capacity during
2019 off-peak hours with some
Riverdale trains as high as 90 percent
empty. To illustrate those
Woodlawn
findings, visuals for overall
weekday empty seats for the
Spuyten Duyvil Williams Bridge
Hudson and Harlem Lines are on
Marble Hill
page 14 (Methodology and full-
University Hts. Botanical Garden
ridership analysis can be found
Morris Hts. Fordham in Appendix B, p.30):
Tremont
Yankees -
33 Metropolitan Transportation
E.153rd Street Melrose Authority (MTA), July Financial Plan
2022-2025 Volume 2, (July 2021), Date
accessed: August 9, 2021, https://new.
Harlem - mta.info/document/44476#page=270.
34 Metropolitan Transportation
125th Street
Authority (MTA) Press Release, Metro-
North Increases Service at Melrose and
Tremont Stations, (October 17, 2017),
Date accessed: October 6, 2021, https://
Grand Central www.mta.info/press-release/metro-
N north/metro-north-increases-service-
Terminal
melrose-and-tremont-stations.
35 Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) Press Release,
Freedom Ticket Expansion Stations New Metro-North Schedules Take
Effect on Sunday, October 2, To
Improve Reliability and Convenience,
32 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joint Long (September 26, 2016), Date accessed: October 6, 2021,
Island & Metro-North Committees Meeting, (April 2021), https://www.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/new-
Date accessed: April 22, 2021, https://new.mta.info/ metro-north-schedules-take-effect-sunday-october-2-
document/37071. improve-0 .
13MNR 2019 Off-Peak Ridership Summary
The following visuals illustrate 2019 off-peak empty
seats between MNR Hudson and Harlem Line
stations and Grand Central Terminal.
Hudson Line Empty Full
BRONX 79% GCT
SOUTHBOUND-TRIPS
GCT 79% BRONX
NORTHBOUND-TRIPS
Harlem Line
BRONX 70% GCT
SOUTHBOUND-TRIPS
GCT 67% BRONX
NORTHBOUND-TRIPS
14Expand Freedom Ticket to All LIRR and MNR City Stations with Transfers to NYC Transit
Phase I Subways and Buses.
• Transparency: Create a Freedom Ticket Task Integrated and Flexible Fare Structures
Force to oversee a thorough fare restructuring Elsewhere
study to help provide timely recommendations;
make ridership and revenue data public; identify Boston: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation
funding opportunities; and provide quarterly Authority’s (MBTA) fare payment systems can be
reports to the MTA Board.36 37 loaded with subway, bus, commuter rail tickets,
but free transfers are not available between modes
• Service: Restore pre-pandemic service, expand unless riders get a monthly CharlieTicket pass.41
service frequency where needed, and make However, the CharlieCard pilot program for Zone 1A
necessary adjustments to midday and shoulder- at Fairmount Line stations provides free transfers
of-the-peak service to accommodate more riders between commuter rail and subways and buses. The
traveling during these times. system uses fare validators on station platforms.42
• Crews: Ensure appropriate staffing levels and London: London has contactless cards (available
necessary training for all railroad personnel to on mobile devices) and Oyster Cards, which can be
be equipped with the knowledge of the new fare used for buses, tubes (subway), trams, the London
program to better assist riders. Overground, the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), TfL
Rail, and most National Rail service within London.
• Transfers: Improve bus service to outer Both cards support daily fare capping, but contactless
borough commuter rail stations to enable more cards also support weekly fare capping. Riders
seamless connections between the two modes.38 can add travelcards to Oyster Cards, allowing for
• Fare Payment Flexibility: Expedite OMNY unlimited day, week, or monthly travels within valid
rollout on the commuter railroads to allow for zones.43
easier reduced fare implementation. Paris: Paris's Navigo Pass provides weekly, monthly,
• Expansion Projects: and annual fare packages that can be used on all
modes-metro within specified fare zones.44 Cardboard
◦◦ Include Freedom Ticket discounts while T+ tickets are available for single trips, and allow for
developing service plans for East Side Access, free transfers between buses and trams, or between
Third Track, and Penn Station Access.39 the RER and the Metro in 90 minutes. There is a
mobile app for fares, where riders can get daily,
◦◦ Build platform extensions at various stations weekly, and monthly fare packages.45
to accommodate more passengers.40
36 CH2M Hill (CH2M) and LTK Engineering Services
(LTK) studied California’s MetroLink fare system, 41 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Fares
evaluating ridership, fare elasticities, fare changes, Overview, Date accessed: August 9,2021, https://www.mbta.
and revunue impacts [Metrolink – Southern California com/fares.
Regional Rail Authority, Metrolink Board of Directors 42 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA),
Meeting, (July 24, 2015), Date accessed: February 5, Fairmount Line Weekday Service Pilot, Date accessed:
2021, http://metrolink.granicus.com/DocumentViewer. August 9, 2021, https://www.mbta.com/projects/fairmount-
php?file=metrolink_3a03b149d424633411da0df0a22d59a7. line-weekday-service-pilot.
pdf&view=1#page=45]. 43 Transport For London (TfL), Oyster pay as you go, Date
37 PCAC sees an expanded Freedom Ticket concept as accessed: August 9, 2021, https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-
revenue generating. However, there may be situations that pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/
may require additional funding (i.e. transfers). Funding oyster-pay-as-you-go?intcmp=55536.
opportunities should be evaluated to help support the 44 Ile-de-France, Navigo Week package, Date accessed: August
program (See Outer Borough Transportation Account, p.28). 9, 2021, https://www-iledefrance--mobilites-fr.translate.
38 See Appendix E: Outer Borough and Suburban Bus goog/titres-et-tarifs/detail/forfait-navigo-semaine?_x_tr_
Connections, p.39. sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=ajax,elem.
39 Penn Station Access includes four new Bronx stations: Hunts 45 Ile-de-France, Ticket t+, Date accessed: August 9, 2021,
Point; Parkchester/ Van Nest; Morris Park; Co-Op City. https://www-iledefrance--mobilites-fr.translate.goog/titres-
40 See Appendix F for a list of stations that need platform et-tarifs/detail/ticket-t?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_
extensions, p.41. hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=ajax,elem.
15Suburban Discounts: Off-Peak & Reverse Peak Pilot Programs
Providing fare relief for commuters outside the city These high costs are prohibitive for some riders and
will help ease the more immediate crises of low provide reason for a discounted commuter rail fare
ridership and revenue caused by the pandemic and program. Lowering these fares will also support
provide long-term travel options which can help reverse commuting and inter-and intra-county travel
support the workforce and economy for the region’s on Long Island and in the MNR region. An increase
suburban communities. Both railroads currently have in these types of commutation could promote job
intermediate fares for travel between some zones and creation, economic recovery, and growth in our
stations; however, more must be done to encourage suburban communities, and could attract new
more riders to get onboard. The PCAC recommends riders to reduce the number of car trips – reducing
providing more fare relief for riders traveling to congestion and CO2 emissions.
and from New York City and within suburban zones
by implementing steeper Off-Peak & Reverse Peak In LIRR territory there are over 120,000 Queens
Suburban Discount Pilot Programs when peak residents who work in either Nassau or Suffolk
fares are again instituted in 2022. Of the more counties, not far behind the 126,000 Queens
than 2.1 million workers in the proposed suburban residents who work in Brooklyn.48 These Queens
discount areas of Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess, Putnam residents will greatly benefit from Long Island’s Third
and Westchester counties, 25 percent overall are Track project that is planned to add eight additional
employed in healthcare and service industry jobs.46 reverse-peak trains in both the AM and PM peak
periods – totaling a 60 percent increase in reverse-
LIRR commuters who live the furthest out on Long peak service.49 To take full advantage of the $2.6
Island, and Metro-North riders who live in the most billion investment the MTA has made in the Third
northern suburban counties, pay up to $500 per Track project, fare discounts should be provided,
month – well over $600 per month when factoring in which would incentivize riders to use this service –
city subway/bus fares. 47 allowing more affordable access to Long Island job
locations.
Table 3: Essential Workers
HEALTHCARE SERVICE INDUSTRY COMBINED HEALTHCARE TOTAL
DEMOGRAPHIC AREA
WORKERS WORKERS & SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE
Nassau 59,209 117,415 176,624 25% 697,994
Suffolk 55,572 135,791 191,363 25% 774,500
Dutchess 10,680 27,942 38,622 26% 149,344
Putnam 3,927 10,479 14,406 27% 52,900
Westchester 34,075 82,193 116,268 24% 485,843
TOTALS 163,463 373,820 537,283 25% 2,160,581
48 United States Census Bureau, On The Map, (2018), Date
accessed: August 10, 2021, https://onthemap.ces.census.
46 American Community Survey (ACS) 2019 1 Year Estimates, gov/.
Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA), Date accessed: January 49 A Modern LI, Long Island Rail Road Expansion Project
15, 2021, http://data.census.gov/. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), (November
47 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), LIRR and 28, 2016), Date Accessed: August 10, 2021, https://
Metro-North fares, Date accessed: September 23, 2020, www.amodernli.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/10_
https://new.mta.info/fares/lirr-metro-north. Transportation.pdf#page=8.
16Increasing reverse-peak service in coordination with Providing 191,000 daily pre-pandemic commuter
fare decreases has been proven to work in the Metro- rail users53 with more affordable fares will help
North region. In the early 1980s, reverse-peak travel attract them back, while generating revenue for both
from Manhattan and the Bronx to jobs in Connecticut MNR and LIRR by filling empty seats with paying
and Westchester County was growing. MNR began customers. During the course of the pandemic, both
increasing service and lowering fares for these riders, railroads have been only collecting off-peak fares
which led to major ridership increases. The railroad to help riders and draw them to use the service;
continued making reverse-peak adjustments between however, at the end of 2021, peak fares will be
198250 and 2014, producing a 398 percent increase in reinstated and longer-term and more far-reaching
reverse-peak AM ridership to White Plains51 – service discounts will be needed. In addition, suburban
was increased in this market by 54.5 percent.52 drivers will need an attractive alternative to driving
Alongside the implementation of suburban discounts, with the implementation of congestion pricing - that
MNR and LIRR should consider adding service, when alternative must be the commuter rails.
warranted.
Table 4: Weekday Travel to Work Mode
TOTAL COMMUTERS
DEMOGRAPHIC AREA CAR DRIVERS COMMUTER RAIL RIDERS (Car & Commuter Rail)
Nassau 508,203 87% 74,676 13% 582,879
Suffolk 659,353 95% 36,270 5% 695,623
Dutchess 121,190 96% 4,403 4% 125,593
Putnam 45,846 93% 3,546 7% 49,392
Westchester 307,352 81% 72,815 19% 380,167
TOTAL 1,641,944 90% 191,710 10% 1,833,654
50 Hearth, Amy Hill, The Commuter's Destination Is the County,
The New York Times, (March 17, 1991), Date accessed:
October 11, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/17/
nyregion/the-commuter-s-destination-is-the-county.html.
51 Marchwinski, Thomas, Applications in Transit Planning,
(April 22, 2016) Date accessed: October 6, 2021, https://
associationdatabase.com/aws/APAOH/asset_manager/
get_file/125598?ver=6159#page=22.
52 Metro-North Railroad, Service Schedules (change in service
between 1984 & 2014 timetables), Date accessed: October 6,
2021, http://web.archive.org/web/20140114022434/http:/ 53 American Community Survey (ACS) 2019 1 Year Estimates,
www.mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/pdf/Har_MF_ Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA), Date accessed: January
JAN182014.pdf. 15, 2021, http://data.census.gov/.
17LIRR Suburban Ridership Analysis: 2020 vs. 2019
In concert with the city ridership analysis comparing leaving thousands of seats still empty. All 2020
LIRR’s 2020 ridership to 2019’s pre-pandemic and 2019 trains traveling between Long Island and
ridership, COVID-19’s impact is clear. The 2019 Jamaica and along the Port Washington Branch
ridership has started to return but is only at 41 between Penn Station and Port Washington were
percent of what it used to be as of July 2021 – included in the analysis.54
LIRR Suburban Discount Map
Greenport
Montauk
Oyster Bay
Port Washington
Penn Station
Jamaica
Atlantic Terminal N
Inwood
Long Beach
LIRR Suburban Discount Stations
54 Since the Port Washington Branch does not run through
Jamaica, all Port Washington Branch data is for the entire
Branch – between the Port Washington LIRR station and
Penn Station in both directions. This data also includes trains
servicing intermediate stations like LIC and Woodside.
18West-bound Trips Long Island to Jamaica & Port Washington to Penn Station
In 2020, 87 percent of seats were empty on trains
traveling from Long Island to Jamaica and on city-
bound Port Washington Branch trains, totaling over
244,000 available seats on any given weekday.
LONG ISLAND 87% JAMAICA
WESTBOUND-TRIPS Empty Full
Note: All Figures include Port Washington Branch empty seats between Port Washington and
Penn Station.
While there were ample off-peak empty seats pre- overall seats were empty from Long Island to Jamaica
pandemic, this was not the case during peak hours. and along the Port Washington Branch; however, in
During the 8 AM hour in 2019, only 24 percent of 2020, 85 percent of overall seats were empty.
Chart 5: 2020 % Empty Seats Branch Breakdown
100% 97%
89% 89% 90% 90% 89%
90% 87% 87%
84%
82%
80% 79%
70%
60%
Percentage Empty
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Babylon
Far Rockaway
Hempstead
Huntington
Long Beach
Montauk
Oyster Bay
Port Jefferson
Port Washington
Ronkonkoma
West Hempstead
19Chart 6: 2020 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour
100%
96% 96% 96%
94% 94% 94% 95%
92%
91% 91% 91% 91% 91% 91% 91% 90% 91% 92%
90% 89%
85% 85%
82%
80% 78%
70%
64%
60%
Empty Seats
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
Off-Peak Peak
20Chart 7: 2019 Weekday % Empty Seats by Hour
100%
97% 98% 98% 97%
94%
89% 90%
90% 88%
87%
84%
80% 78%
76% 77% 77%
75%
71%
70% 69%
64%
60% 58%
Empty Seats
52%
50%
42%
40%
30% 28%
26%
24%
20%
10%
0%
12 AM 1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM
Peak hour empty seats increased by 149% from 2019 to 2020 between
Long Island stations and Jamaica.
21East-bound Trips Jamaica to Long Island & Penn Station to Port Washington
In 2020, 86 percent of seats were empty on trains
traveling from Jamaica to Long Island and on Port
Washington-bound trains, totaling over 213,000
available seats on any given weekday.
JAMAICA 86% LONG ISLAND
EASTBOUND-TRIPS
While there were ample off-peak empty seats pre- Washington Branch, only 27 percent of overall seats
pandemic, this was not the case during peak hours. were empty during the 6 PM hour; however, in 2020,
From Jamaica to Long Island and on the Port 84 percent of overall seats were empty.
Chart 8: 2020 % Empty Seats Branch Breakdown
100% 97%
89% 89% 90% 90% 89%
90%
87% 87%
84%
82%
80% 79%
70%
60%
Empty Seats
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
West Hempstead
Port Washington
Babylon
Ronkonkoma
Far Rockaway
Hempstead
Huntington
Long Beach
Montauk
Oyster Bay
Port Jefferson
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