We're Back In The Office

Photo Credit: MELISSA MURRAY

METRONORTH'S IS CONTINUING TO ADD SERVICE BUT NOONE'S SHOWING UP

If you build it, they will come - or so the saying goes. That's MetroNorth's hope anyway. The railway has announced it will continue to add services until ridership returns to pre-pandemic levels. Yet, suburbanites are wondering if that's ever going to be possible. While most of us have returned to the train at least of few times since we've turned-a-corner on the most isolating days of the pandemic, we only need to do so a few days a week. While many are hoping for normalcy, we aren't hoping for that normalcy! The 9-to-5 grind is something no one seems to miss. Hybrid work, yes. Social interaction, yes. Getting to the train station by 6:30 to squeeze into the last parking spot only to find there's no seats - nope, don't miss that. Dinner at 8:30 p.m. because the train was delayed once again, nope, don't miss that either. $386 a month for a "discounted" train pass, nope, ain't missing it. That said, train travel is the most pleasant way to travel on weekends and leisurely trips around the state. It's environmental and allows time to organize, read and hang out with travel companions. It also is an amazing place to network and make friends. There is alot of good about train travel and we need MetroNorth's services, without a doubt. But, their future is always uncertain. This time, I'm wondering if they are just too ambitious - and if this ambition will cost us? New York City has ridden alot of terrible waves and always come back. In some ways, it's MetroNorth's duty to restore normal service because that is part of who New York is. Resilient, doesn't even start to describe us. Yet, consumer sentiment is this: we want to return to work but not like before. Wellbeing matters. It matters we can eat dinner three days a week at 6:00pm instead of 8pm. It matters there is now time for evening walks. It matters there is more time spent within our family unit, than in constant public spaces. It matters to a lot of us. And thus, there is a clear reality. We want to be on the train half the time than we were before. We want to keep the spark, novelty and excitement of the city. But EVERY DAY - that's just too much. How will MetroNorth sustain the change? I don't know. It will. It always has. It's part of who we are but, I suspect somethings gonna give before it's all normal. Hopefully, that give won't be $386 a month for half-time service. Here's to hoping.