> “I just don’t understand why people put up with, tolerate, endure those kinds of [road traffic] conditions, even if it’s just one or two days a week, instead of taking the train,” Cameron said.

Because the train is almost laughably expensive.

My Ford Focus RS, at an average of 19.5mpg of 93 octane fuel, costs $26.83 to drive the 56.9 mile round trip from my home to the office on W 23rd in Manhattan at $4.60/gal, plus the $3 toll for the Henry Hudson Bridge.

That same trip in my wife's RAV4 Prime costs $9.87 plus tolls, based on the current $3.29/gal or so for 87 octane.

Round trip Metro North peak fare (Wilton to GCT) is $34 a person, so it's $68 just for me and my wife to get into and out of the city for a weekday outing. That also does not count subway fares if our destination isn't within walking distance of Grand Central.

So the cost is comparable if I take the car that drinks premium fuel and it's just me. But not under any other circumstances. $68 vs $13 is a complete joke if you're doing that more than occasionally.

I would also theorize that the increase of remote work has resulted in most white-collar employees in NYC only being in the office 1-3 days a week and working the other 2 days from home. If your in-office schedule is unpredictable it makes almost no sense to buy the 20-trip or unlimited ride passes. MNR discounts are rather paltry with the 10-ride tickets.

Extrapolating the daily costs with tolls, it would cost about $257 to drive the RAV4 Prime into the city and back for 20 days - the average number of working days in a month. A monthly commuter pass is $333.

I could go on endlessly with pros and cons, talk about parking costs, working from the train (if you're lucky enough to get a seat), depreciation/maintenance/repairs, fixed costs associated with vehicle ownership, subway fares, whatever. You get the deal.

Bottom line, Metro North is more expensive in most circumstances, and the WFH revolution has resulted in it making even less financial sense.