Putnam to Pay MTA $1 Million

Putnam County will continue to pay the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for railroad station maintenance next year, but under duress.

The MTA charges the county $1 million annually to maintain six railroad stations found on both the Harlem and Hudson Divisions— Brewster, Southeast, and Patterson on the eastern side of the county and Garrison, Cold Spring, and Manitou on the west.

During budget deliberations last week, members of the Putnam Legislature took the railroad to task over the MTA maintenance bill. “What are we getting for our money?” asked Legislator Dini LoBue.

Legislator Sam Oliverio told his colleagues and a small audience: “I visited the Cold Spring train station the other day and observed potholes all over the parking lot. Vehicles bottom out at every turn. The passenger walkway is abysmal. It is covered with rust and is really scary. What kind of maintenance is the railroad doing for one million dollars?”

Legislator Vincent Tamagna called it “unconscionable” for Putnam County to pay the railroad “that kind of money. This is gross taxation on the part of the MTA. Once and for all we must take this agency to task.”

The railroad uses the funds collected from municipalities for cleaning stations, snow removal, painting facilities, and for its police protection provided by the MTA Police.

Commissioner of Finance William Carlin explained counties within the MTA region were assessed costs for station maintenance based on a formula agreed to by the State Legislature: “We can complain all we want, but at the end, the bills have to be paid.”

Tamagna promised contacting Putnam County’s representative on the MTA Board to further discuss the matter.