Wednesday Headlines: Chess Piece Commuters Edition

State lawmakers aren’t ready to throw in the towel on expanded Metro-North service.

It’s not clear how exactly they’ll get expanded service from Poughkeepsie to Albany out of the station, but they don’t plan on letting the conversation wither after Amtrak’s refusal to give track access scuttled plans for the Hudson Line.

Some acknowledge that the antagonistic relationship between Amtrak and the Metro-North is certainly not helping things.

“With everybody not wanting to cooperate, it’s difficult, but we just got to keep trying,” state Senate Corporations Chair Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) told Streetsblog. “You can’t give up just because folks are temporarily being vicious for no good reason.”

And upstate lawmakers also hope Amtrak sees the light.

“I’m not trying to hurt Amtrak. I am trying to expand options here,” said state Sen. Pat Fahy (D-Albany).

The federal rail service has been at odds with the MTA over a project to connect Bronx Metro-North riders with Penn Station. The project fell three years behind, drawing the ire of MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, who blames Amtrak’s lack of accommodation for the delay. And there were rumors that union angst against a Metro-North expansion to Albany was driven by Amtrak leadership rather than rank-and-file workers. Amtrak recently filed suit against the Metro-North for its own alleged denial of track access for non-passenger cars traveling on its New Haven and Hudson lines.

Comrie said that he never understood the argument that expanding the Metro-North would cost jobs. Going forward, he believes that New York has to keep trying to appeal to its federal counterpart’s better nature.

“Do we have the force of law? No, but we have the force of reasoning and persuasion, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said.

More news:

• With Gov. Hochul failing to convince lawmakers about her efforts to lower auto insurance premiums by depriving some crash victims of their ability to be compensated for their life-altering injuries, now she looks like she may want to lower auto insurance premiums by preventing the insurance companies from raising them whenever they want. (WXXI)
• Speaking of insurance, money really opens doors in Washington, doesn’t it?

• One state lawmaker wants the proposed New York City pied-à-terre tax to hit upstate New York as well. (WXXI)
• Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has blasted the proposal during his Republican campaign for governor. (The New York Post)
• Nassau County legislators are trying to find ways to protect e-bike and e-scooter riders now that Blakeman’s ban is in effect. (News 12 Long Island)
• G train riders are in for some pain as the MTA upgrades the line this summer. (Gothamist)
• The Gateway Development Commission awarded the drilling contract for the tunnel’s under-river section. (The Daily News)
• Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs is signing legislation today to strengthen penalties for illegal street racing. (WAMC)
• Colonie cut funding used to provide senior citizens with transportation. (The Times Union)
• State Sen. Jeremy Zellner (D-Erie County) is drawing criticism for his handling of sheriff elections in his dual role as the local Democratic Party boss. (BTPM)
• Hochul’s disinterest in public matching funds also keeps parts of her campaign a secret from the public. (New York Focus)
• New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin are teaming up to ask Albany for more cash. (City & State)
• Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie can’t seem to support basic technology to keep our roads safe from recidivist speeders, but President Trump seems to like the idea. (Road & Track)
• Speaking of Speaker Heastie, street safety advocates and their allies in government will rally to demand Heastie’s support for the Stop Super Speeders bill at 10 a.m. at City Hall.
• Will Staten Island ever get a restored North Shore railroad? (Advance)