Budget Proposal Expands County Public Transit Services
Sunday Bus Service, New Route and City of Poughkeepsie Service
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro’s 2017 Executive County Budget proposal includes several service expansion initiatives for Dutchess County’s Public Transit system, including the addition of highly requested Sunday bus service, a new route in the Town of Poughkeepsie, and mid-year expansion of transit service into the City of Poughkeepsie. These new transit initiatives will be discussed a public information meeting on Saturday, November 19th from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. at the Family Partnership Center in the City of Poughkeepsie.
“We are excited to announce these new initiatives. The addition of Sunday Service for our most popular routes, expanded service in the Town of Poughkeepsie, the expansion of transit service in the City of Poughkeepsie, and the launch of a new mobile app will provide residents and visitors an expanded number of accessible options for commuting easily and affordably around the County,” said County Executive Molinaro.
As part of the County Executive’s transit initiatives, service will expand from six days a week to seven on the most popular routes. Sunday bus service is one of the most requested service enhancements. Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, Sunday bus service will available as pilot program for Public Transit’s most popular routes including Routes A, B, F and H. The inclusion of Sunday Service would deliver service seven days per week and meet a growing need for passengers who frequent the County’s public transit system.
A new fixed-route bus service, Route I, will also launch in the first quarter of 2017, providing a link to and from the Main & Market Street bus stop in the City of Poughkeepsie to the Metro-North Poughkeepsie Train Station, Boardman Road, the Dutchess County Airport, and the Poughkeepsie Galleria via Hooker Avenue and Vassar Road. Route I, an approximate one-hour one-way trip route, will run Monday through Saturday from 6:25 a.m. to 11:36 p.m. This new route will be launched on a pilot basis.
Also in 2017, Public Transit will install new and improved bus signage and launch a mobile app to make navigating the public transit system easier and more accessible. The new mobile app, which will be available for both Android and iPhone users, will enable riders to get arrival prediction information in real-time on all routes. Public transit riders can plan their routes in advance, view bus schedules, and track the location of buses in real time, adding efficiency and making Dutchess County Public Transit more user-friendly than ever before.
Dutchess County will also expand transit service in mid-2017 into the City of Poughkeepsie following the discontinuation of City bus services (if adopted in the City’s 2017 budget). This expansion will offer improved service to City residents by extending daily hours and modifying operation for four of the City’s bus routes from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.Monday through Friday and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. The proposal will end duplicative bus service to the Poughkeepsie Galleria, the Shoppes at South Hills, Dutchess Community College and Hyde Park since Dutchess County Public Transit bus routes already cover those destinations. Additionally, Dial-a-Ride in the City of Poughkeepsie would be expanded to five days per week, providing regular service to all seniors and the general public in the City. If approved, the new service will provide immediate savings for the City of Poughkeepsie and would be fully offset by state and federal revenue, resulting in no additional costs to County taxpayers.
The public information meeting on Saturday, November 19th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Family Partnership Center in the City of Poughkeepsie will provide an overview of the County’s current public transit system, fares and connections to areas throughout Dutchess County, as well as a venue to discuss route and public transit options in the City of Poughkeepsie. The public will be able to ask questions about the proposed service and provide feedback about how public transit services can be improved in the City. Dutchess County Public Transit will provide free courtesy shuttle transportation to and from the meeting from various locations throughout the City of Poughkeepsie. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Diane Houghtaling at dhoughtaling@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 486-2121.
Dutchess County Transit Administrator Cynthia Ruiz said, “We’re looking forward to offering our passengers expanded service options to help them get where they need to go in a timely and efficient manner. These initiatives will enable more residents and visitors to take advantage of the County’s public transit system, providing greater opportunity to commute to and from work, dine, shop and enjoy the many offerings available in Dutchess County.”
For more information the 2017 Executive Budget, including budget documents and upcoming town hall forums, visit dutchessny.gov.
