Commuter train stops in Harriman, one of Orange County's busiest stations

GOSHEN – The Rockland and Orange County legislatures last week voted to ask the state for permission to pull out of the MTA. The decision came following the imposition of a payroll tax to help bail out the transportation company.

Back in 1986, the state legislature passed a measure allowing Orange, Rockland and Dutchess counties to withdraw from the MTA under a number of conditions.

Then Orange County Executive Louis Heimbach had formed a task force to look into it, as recalls current County Legislator Noel Spencer.

“Lou Heimbach and his team did the study and at the end of the two year study they decided that it made sense to stay with the MTA because they were getting some benefits that they would have lost.”

Spencer, a Democrat, was quick to point out that it was under Republican leadership back then that Orange had explored withdrawal, but then backed out.

Spencer wasn’t at last week’s legislative meeting, but he said Tuesday he probably would have voted to withdraw based on information he had then. He unearthed this information only this week.