By JEANETTE WOLFBERG
HUDSON–At its February 14 meeting, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors authorized extending its contracts with bus companies to provide public transportation and purchasing a new bus.
Two companies provide the county’s bus service. One, Johnston Transportation LLC, runs buses to Albany, weekly trips from various parts of the county to Hudson, and some of the Hudson-Greenport Shopper Shuttles. Its contract is extended until April 13, 2025.
The other, ProPark America New York LLC, runs evening and Sunday buses on the Shopper Shuttle. Its contract is extended until March 9, 2025.
Johnston has served the county for several years, but Pro-Park is just completing its first year. To help pay for the extra Shopper service, the board authorized accepting up to $67,500 from the Eutopia Foundation.
The Shopper Shuttle loops through the Greenport shopping centers and the City of Hudson. For years it ran only weekdays and Saturdays until afternoon. Its evening and weekend service, via Pro-Park, began a year ago as a pilot program. Since then, said Supervisor Michael Chameides (Hudson, 3rd Ward), chairman of the county’s Public Transportation Committee, on February 20, ridership on the Shopper Shuttle has increased 30%. The shuttle has more riders on even its traditional hours. In 2023, Mr. Chameides said, the Shopper Shuttle had the highest ridership ever.
On February 14, the County Board also authorized purchasing a new adult 24-passenger bus for $223,997.69, to “replace a deteriorating bus fleet.”
On February 12, Mr. Chameides released an announcement that the New York State Department of Transportation had authorized the County Transportation Coordination Plan that the County Board approved in December. This plan, he said, identifies seven categories of priorities: build internal capacity to operate programs; optimize existing services; increase revenue through grant applications; improve transportation opportunities for residents by adding areas of service and adding new hours of service; maintain a high-functioning fleet of vehicles; publicize services so residents are confident about how to take advantage of existing services; and improve rider experience.
“Public transportation contributes to economic development, public health, and quality of life,” the announcement of the plan quotes Mr. Chameides as saying. “The new Columbia County Transportation Coordination Plan will help us create better opportunities for our residents.”
