City Bus Service to Be Absorbed By County

According to City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison a steady decline in ridership and a steady increase in cost has lead to the decision to discontinue the city's bus services after the second half of the year.

Rolison says city of Poughkeepsie tax payers cant continue to subsidize the transit system given the current fiscal state, not when there are better options available. Tax payers have been supplementing bus services by well over a quarter of a million dollars annually.

“It is unfair to City taxpayers to continue to subsidize two separate transit systems when those buses pass each other on the same streets day after day.  This new integrated system will provide better transportation options for our citizens.  We need these improved efficiencies to ensure the growth and revitalization of the Queen City,” said Mayor Rob Rolison.

Officials say the 2017 budget will continue subsidies for the first six months of the year at which time the city's system will be absorbed by the Dutchess County transit operations. Rolison says combining these two systems is the clear choice and that city residents will be able to travel more frequently and efficiently throughout their own city.