For More Information Contact:
Colleen Pillus
845-486-2000
Email: cpillus@dutchessny.gov
Poughkeepsie, NY… Beginning next Wednesday, July 31, 2013, Dutchess County Mass Transit will offer much-requested service to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut for medical appointments as part of the Northeast Dial-A-Ride program. The service will be offered on Wednesdays and Fridays each week. Users must schedule the service through Dial-A-Ride and are encouraged to make their reservations up to 30 days in advance of their medical appointment to ensure service availability.
Many residents in the northeast area of Dutchess County receive medical services from doctors and the hospital in Sharon, CT area, which is only a few minutes away. In order for Dutchess County buses to cross the border into Connecticut, special operating authority needed to granted by the New York State Department of Transportation.
“We are very pleased to be able to make this new service option a reality for residents in the northeastern portion of Dutchess County,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro. “This service is an important partnership effort among the County, local municipalities and the North East Community Center and we are thrilled to be able to expand the service to meet the needs of our residents.”
The Northeast Dial-A-Ride program provides transportation service for residents of the Towns of Amenia, Dover, North East, Pine Plains, Stanford and Washington. Service is available Monday and Thursday to the Poughkeepsie area. Local area service is available on Wednesday and Friday. Service to the Fishkill area, including the Walmart shopping area, is also available on the first Monday of the month.
The Northeast Dial-A-Ride program is made available through a cooperative funding partnership with Dutchess County, participating towns and the North East Community Center (NECC) in Millerton. NECC was able to secure a federal 5317 “New Freedoms” grant through the Poughkeepsie Dutchess County Transportation Council to help offset the local funding share.
“Travel to Connecticut has always been a top priority for this service since so many residents of our area use the doctors and hospitals that are only minutes away in Sharon, so we’re thrilled that it is coming to pass,” said Jenny Hansell, Executive Director of NECC. “For the elderly, and those unable to afford a car of their own, having a public transportation option is essential to their health and well-being. This has been an unprecedented collaboration with Dutchess County Mass Transit – thanks to them, we are able to provide excellent high – quality transportation, and now we can also fulfill all the medical needs of our clients.”
“This has been a much needed service for a long time,” said Dutchess County Legislator Alan Surman. “I am grateful to the Dutchess County Public Transit and the NECC, as well as the local towns who partner with Dover, for working together to make this service possible for our residents.”
For more information about this and other transit services available in the northeast part of Dutchess County, or to register for Dial-A-Ride or other transit services, call 845-473-8424 or visit www.dutchessny.gov/loop.htm
