By Mark Hallum
The Metropolitan Transit Authority is granting passengers on the Long Island Rail Road a discounted rate on fares after Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the state agency to assist in easing the challenges commuters are expected to face as Amtrak prepares to shut down 20 percent of Penn Station for six weeks over the summer.
MTA Interim Director Ronnie Hakim granted the request by giving a 25 percent discount on train tickets and free transfers to people switching to subways at Atlantic Terminal, Hunterspoint Avenue and Jamaica.
“Gov. Cuomo has asked us to provide greater value to our customers while Amtrak conducts repairs this summer. In response we’re adding to the mitigation measures we’ve already announced by providing a discount that will give customers who travel to key transportation hubs an average discount of 25 percent,” Hakim said. “We believe that this move will mitigate the inconvenience that our customers may experience, and have the added benefit of drawing customers away from Penn Station while Amtrak performs repair work.”
The discount applies to monthly, weekly and daily tickets and will be available through eTix July 1 and at all ticket windows and vending machines June 20.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
