Sharing Bus Service = Savings and Service Enhancements for City of Poughkeepsie
New transit services to include senior shopping routes set for June start

Poughkeepsie…Beginning July 1st, Dutchess County Public Transit will launch four new County bus routes in the City of Poughkeepsie, enabling the City of Poughkeepsie to reduce costs and consolidate services, while still ensuring reliable transportation for residents.    The new routes are an example of the County’s ongoing efforts to work with local municipalities to share services, offer consolidation opportunities and provide greater efficiency in the delivery of services for residents.      Additionally, the County will begin new “shopping” routes designed to accommodate City of Poughkeepsie senior housing communities in June.   These new routes will connect seniors and other users with popular shopping areas in and around the City of Poughkeepsie.    Dutchess County Public Transit is able to offer these new routes at no additional cost to taxpayers, while providing significant savings and service enhancements for the City of Poughkeepsie.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed between the City of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County outlining the expansion of Dutchess County Public Transit into the City of Poughkeepsie.  Dutchess County’s service expansion into the City of Poughkeepsie will ensure city residents will continue to have bus transportation without the cost burden on the City’s property taxpayers.   With a strong management and supervisory team, Dutchess County Public Transit will be able to make continuous adjustments to the routes and services to meet the needs of residents and ensure all state and federal obligations are met.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We remain a partner with the City of Poughkeepsie, and this collaboration is the latest in our growing shared services initiatives. These new routes will provide for expanded service hours and increased access to other Public Transit routes throughout Dutchess County for City residents and visitors. Dutchess County has been working to enhance bus services for our residents and visitors with the launch earlier this year of Route I and Sunday Service, and the new routes and service enhancements further demonstrate these efforts.”

The new routes set to launch July 1st are:

• Route CJ (Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, Route 9G, Dutchess Community College, Stop & Shop Hyde Park)
• Route CK (Vassar Hospital, Beechwood Avenue, Hudson & Poughkeepsie Plazas)
• Route CL (City School Tripper and Main Street, Riverfront, Poughkeepsie Train Station, Adams Fairacre Farms, Stop & Shop, Kmart)
• Route CM (Earline Patrice Park, Dutchess Community College, Fox Hill)
   

Additionally, there will be two new shopping routes geared towards serving the senior population in the City of Poughkeepsie:
 

• Route CN (Kmart, Stop & Shop, Adams Fairacre Farms) *Mondays only except holidays beginning June 5th
• Route CO (Hudson Plaza, Spackenkill Plaza, Oakwood Commons, Barnes & Noble, Poughkeepsie Plaza) *Fridays only except holidays beginning June 2nd
   

City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said, “The partnership between Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie is very important to our City and our residents. This is a perfect example of how when governments work together, costs can be reduced and services can be more efficient. The ability for Dutchess County to provide a more viable transit system for the City of Poughkeepsie now and in the future is critically important to the fiscal stability and growth of our City. Better service, longer service hours, and improved routes for riders – not to mention the opportunity for long term sustainability at a lower cost to our taxpayers – is a benefit to everyone.”

Dutchess County Public Transit hosted five public outreach meetings last week to provide attendees the opportunity to learn about the new routes, view route maps, and participate in a question and answer session.  Participants also had the opportunity to ride the county buses along the new routes.    Many concerns were alleviated when county officials addressed several frequently asked questions – noting the $.30 discount transfer fare within the City of Poughkeepsie will  continue to be honored; employment opportunities are available at Dutchess County Public Transit; all County buses are handicapped accessible and have adequate space for wheelchairs and walkers; buses will pull into senior living complexes; among other questions.

“We understand that change is difficult and until the new service is underway and people have a chance to experience it, there will be those who have doubts.    We are grateful to all of those who came to our information meetings; it was a successful conversation.    We are committed to continuing those conversations to ensure that we are delivering the service that people need in the most effective way possible,” said County Executive Molinaro.

Over the next year, Dutchess County Public Transit will continue to offer quarterly public outreach meetings and conduct passenger surveys to receive input and feedback from riders to make adjustments to routes and service as needed.

To learn more about the new routes and to view route schedules, go to: www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit