NYC's MTA prefers to merge the Metro-North and Long Island RR lines

In keeping with the idea to merge MARC and VRE to create a regional railroad passenger system, rather than having two commuter railroads focused on DC (and MARC also focuses on Baltimore), we see this article, "Riding dream to the end: Kalikow hopes to see East Side access begun and merger of LIRR and Metro-North in plans before his exit," from Newsday.

Unlike the DC area railroads, the MTA lines already provide (1) service throughout the day; (2) into the late evening (but not 24 hours); and (3) on weekends.
All the more reason to think beyond serving the city-oriented commuter.

From the article:

The proposal to merge the LIRR and Metro-North has been kicking around since at least October 2002, when MTA officials announced plans to seek legislature approval for the idea. At the time, MTA officials announced plans for a dramatic consolidation of the sister railroads, to be known as "MTA Rail Road." Kalikow said then that the merger would "create a more efficient railroad; one with a broader regional focus."

For a repeat of the arguments about a DC-MD-VA regional railroad service with some service to WV, PA, and DE, see "What regional transit advocates can learn from Chicago..."

Index Keywords: transit