Poughkeepsie bus consolidation recognized by New York State Conference of Mayors
The City of Poughkeepsie was awarded first place in the New York State Conference of Mayors' Local Achievement Awards for its bus consolidation.
Poughkeepsie bus consolidation recognized by New York State Conference of Mayors The City of Poughkeepsie was awarded first place in the New York State Conference of Mayors' Local Achievement Awards for its bus consolidation. Check out this story on poughkeepsiejournal.com: https://pojonews.co/2rA1Zjb
Jack Howland, Poughkeepsie Journal Published 7:02 p.m. ET May 10, 2018 | Updated 1:47 p.m. ET May 11, 2018
A Dutchess County bus sits for a moment at the Main & Market station in the City of Poughkeepsie. The county launched four routes in the city Saturday.(Photo: Jack Howland/Poughkeepsie Journal)Buy Photo
The City of Poughkeepsie's controversial bus service consolidation with Dutchess County has earned an award from a state organization.
New York State Conference of Mayors recently gave the local shared services initiative first place in its Local Achievement Awards.
The consolidation will not only save the city money but "has resulted in a significantly improved County bus service," according to a press release from the organization.
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After months of debate among the city common council, a resolution to turn the bus service over to Dutchess was approved in May 2017 and the new service debuted on July 1, 2017.
The county has since made revisions to its service routes and schedule, amid complaints from some city residents.
Mayor Rob Rolison has said the change was necessary to help bring down the city's deficit, which stood at roughly $13 million last year.
"I'd like to thank the selection committee and leadership at NYCOM," he said in a statement. "The city's transit consolidation with the county has improved transit service for our residents, while at the same time saving our taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars ever year."
Part of that fiscal improvement has come in the form of a $300,000 local government efficiency grant the state approved contingent on the city passing the bus consolidation.
Controversy over the plan continued beyond July 1. The city failed to meet the Federal Transportation Administration's deadline for transferring its bus assets to the county, and risked incurring penalties of nearly $2 million. Ultimately, the council voted to lease the assets to the county.
The first place award was presented on Sunday at the conference's annual meeting in Saratoga Springs.
Conference President James Miccio, the mayor of the Village of Fishkill, said in the release the consolidation will "benefit Poughkeepsie for years to come.
"The City of Poughkeepsie is to be commended for its desire to improve City services," he said, "as well as the City's finances through this extraordinary example of intergovernmental collaboration."
Jack Howland: jhowland@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @jhowl04
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