On May 21st, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York announced that Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will launch the “Summer Saturdays” discount program in July. Passengers holding monthly tickets for these two railway systems can bring two additional passengers to travel on Saturdays for only $1 per person each way.
During weekends from July 6th to August 31st, passengers with monthly tickets for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad can travel to and from any station within their respective railway systems, regardless of the station restrictions listed on their monthly tickets.
In addition, passengers with monthly tickets can bring two extra travelers with them on Saturdays when using these two railway systems, with each additional person only needing to pay $1 for a one-way journey.
Robert Free, President of Long Island Rail Road, and Catherine Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad, stated that this initiative allows passengers and their families to enjoy railway services at discounted prices, explore the Hudson River Valley, mountain trails in Connecticut, and museums, and take the whole family on a railway adventure this year!
MTA reminds passengers that the discount program does not apply to interchanging between different railway companies. This means that LIRR passengers cannot use their monthly tickets to ride on Metro-North Railroad, and vice versa.
MTA stated that the reinstatement of the “Summer Saturdays” discount program is due to the impending implementation of congestion pricing at the end of June, encouraging people to actively use public transportation.