Discount for LIRR Finally Comes to Far Rockaway

The long overdue CityTicket discount program for the Long Island Rail Road is finally coming to Far Rockaway.

On Thursday, May 4, Rockaway’s local elected officials held a press conference at the Far Rockaway Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station (Nameoke Street and Redfern Avenue) to announce that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is expanding the CityTicket program to include travel to and from Far Rockaway LIRR station in Queens.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, Senator James Sanders Jr., Senator Leroy Comrie, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer-Amato, Assemblyman Khaleel Anderson, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, Councilwoman Joann Ariola and an MTA representative were all at the conference to celebrate the long-awaited good news.

Under CityTicket, residents of Southeast Queens will be able to purchase a $5 flat fare ticket for off-peak hours for LIRR trips within New York City. Senator Sanders was able to get this proposal into the Senate One House Budget resolution this year as a negotiating position.

“What a magnificent victory,” Senator James Sanders Jr. said. “After leading the fight for over fifteen years, and joined by other elected officials, I am truly grateful the MTA finally listened to the demands and needs of the Southeast Queens community. Southeast Queens was ignored by the MTA from their discount ticket programs for too long. I applaud MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and the MTA for considering the Rockaways as part of New York City.”

This policy will save Southeast Queens residents money by offering reduced ticket fares to travel throughout New York City. The Far Rockaway CityTicket would only be sold from either Ticket Vending Machines at the Far Rockaway station (and not at Manhattan, Brooklyn, or other Queens stations) or by TrainTime, the MTA mobile phone app for ticket purchases. The program is expected to take effect later this summer.