By JEANETTE WOLFBERG
HUDSON–Columbia County’s bus service is slated to continue and perhaps expand this year, though the future of some service is uncertain starting next year.
On February 12, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors extended contracts with two companies to run the county’s public buses and authorized the pursuit of funding arrangements for the bus service. The companies are Johnston Transportation LLC and ProPark America, New York LLC. Johnston operates the once-a-week round trips to Greenport shopping centers from Philmont, Ancramdale, and Livingston; the weekday buses between Hudson and Albany via Kinderhook; and the morning and midday runs of the Hudson-Greenport Shopping Shuttle Monday through Saturday.
Plans call for Johnston also running new service to Chatham, which could start this year. ProPark operates the Hudson-Greenport Shopping Shuttle on Sunday and after 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The contract with Johnston is for three years, beginning April 14, with two one-year extensions. The contract with ProPark is for one year, ending March 9, 2026.
To help finance the bus service, the county is:
•Applying for a grant through the NY State Department of Transportation, as per a federal policy related to public transportation in non-urbanized areas
•Contracting with Eutopia Foundation to fund costs not covered by the grant, up to $32,000. Eutopia Foundation, which gives grants to projects it believes “will help make the world a better place,” has supported the ProPark service in previous years.
The Shopping Shuttle added late day and Sunday service in March 2023, when ProPark started running it. Since then, ridership on the Shopping Shuttle has increased 49% overall, hitting an all time high in 2024, according to a February 14 press release by Supervisor Michael Chameides (Hudson, 3rd Ward). In 2024, over 32,000 tickets were sold for the Shuttle.
“The Shopping Shuttle has been a lifeline for so many residents,” Mr. Chameides said in the press release. “I’m happy to create something people asked for and so many people utilize. I’m thankful for my fellow supervisors and county staff who all worked together to make this happen. We’re proud to have helped support it.”
But despite its ridership boost and popularity, the continuation of the Shuttle’s extra service beyond 2026 is uncertain. A major reason is that the federal financial support that upholds the state support is uncertain.
“The shopping shuttle is a blessing. People wanted the extended hours. If we lost it, it would rob people of their independence,” said Lira Campbell, who works at Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, the press release reports.
But alongside worries for next year is action for growth this year. On February 18, Mr. Chameides reported that the county has applied to the state for approval to run buses between Chatham and the Greenport shopping centers. If all goes well, service could start as early as this April or May.
County has a public transportation plan
HUDSON–The Shopping Shuttle is one of several routes that Columbia County provides to residents. Dial-a-ride services are also available for seniors, veterans, and people needing medical transportation. An additional year of extended hours is part of a comprehensive effort to improve public transportation services as identified in the Columbia County Public Transportation Plan. To maintain the fleet, the county just added a new bus to the fleet. Another bus purchased last year will be added to the fleet at the end of 2025.
To learn more about transportation and the Columbia County Transportation Coordination Plan, visit PublicTransportation.ColumbiaCountyNY.com.
