The following is attributable to Tom Wright, President and CEO of RPA:

It’s a great relief that a deal has been struck to end the LIRR strike, the first in over thirty years. As service resumes this afternoon, RPA commends both union and MTA negotiators as well as Governor Kathy Hochul for coming together to end the 3-day strike. Our analysis, published yesterday, shows that by 2024, approximately 321,000 Long Island residents were connected to New York City employers, earning an estimated $42.4 billion in direct wages and salaries. Once local spending effects are included, those earnings supported an estimated 507,000 direct and induced jobs and $59.1 billion in direct and induced earnings. It’s excellent LIRR service that facilitates this magnitude of economic boon to our region, and it’s a financially stable MTA that will allow that service to remain the economic engine that it is.