This is a report on the role of governments in meeting passenger transportation needs of the 22- county metropolis known as the tri-state metropolitan region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It is part of the effort undertaken by the Regional Plan Association, Inc., a nonprofit planning organization, to prepare a series of draft materials for consideration and use of Anthony F. Arpala, former chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission and presently vice president, International Services, of the Railway Express Agency. Mr. Arpaia will apply these draft materials in preparing a report on federal policy on passenger transportation in the tri-state metropolitan region for the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce of the United States Senate. The Honorable Warren G. Magnuson of Washington is chairman of that committee which is engaged in a study of transportation nationally pursuant to Senate Resolution 244 of the 86th Congress.