Assemblywomann Annie Rabbitt one of several lawmakers to address the lightly-attended hearing

TOWN OF NEWBURGH – It didn’t matter what political party you belong to or where you live in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Everyone who spoke at Monday night’s public hearing in the Town of Newburgh on proposed fare and toll hikes on MTA facilities was against them.

The MTA says it needs to implement those increases in order to help reduce its multi-million deficit.  A final vote on the fare and toll hikes, averaging 7.5 percent, is expected in October.  If approved, they would take effect January 1.

Members of the State Senate, Assembly, and residents from throughout the region delivered their messages of opposition to a panel of MTA officials and board members.   Their message was clear: the Hudson Valley cannot support any more taxes or rate increases.

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbit said that constituents feel like they are paying for a service that they do not necessarily have whenever they need it.

Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun ssid Mid-Hudson residents have been treated as "the ATM for the MTA for too long."

State Senator John Bonacic also addressed the level of service in the Hudson Valley stating that areas west of the Hudson River are still experiencing “taxation without transportation.” He said that ridership is down because of the economy and additional rate increases are not the solution.

“In order to increase ridership you have to cut the red tape on businesses, you have to lower tolls, and you have to cut taxes.”

According to Assemblyman Frank Skartados, at this point the Hudson Valley is receiving diminishing returns from Metro-North because it is paying for services that it doesn’t receive. He said that new increases are “bad news” and urged the MTA to look towards internal solutions for raising extra capital.

Senator Stephen Saland renewed his call for the MTA to tax Connecticut taxpayers as well since Metro-North operates the New Haven Rail line. The Mid-Hudson counties comprise 10 percent of Metro-North ridership, while the New Haven Line ridership makes up 26 percent. “So, in effect, the taxpayers of these four counties [in the Mid-Hudson] are subsidizing Connecticut.”

Nadine Lemmon spoke on behalf of the New York State Transportation Equity Alliance.

“We cannot support the proposed fare hikes,” she said. “Hudson Valley transit riders have suffered five rate hikes since 2003 and enough is enough.”

The New York State Transportation Equity Alliance says it represents over 70 commuter organizations state wide.