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Dutchess Co Exec looks to merge the "Loop" and Poughkeepsie Bus lines


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"Dutchess County is examining the possibility of expanding the bus operations in the City of Poughkeepsie, according to a release from the County Executive’s Office.

The county and city are working with a Buffalo-based transportation consultant to determine whether expanding the LOOP bus system could be a benefit to taxpayers, the release said.

Wendel Companies is conducting a service analysis of the city bus system to compare its services to those already provided by the county. The company is expected to recommend potential timetable and route adjustments to the existing bus routes. These changes may take affect by next summer.

“We are looking closely at our public transit services to see how we can improve and find greater efficiencies, with the goal of saving our taxpayers money and providing better service,” said County Executive Marc Molinaro. “If we can expand our service into the City of Poughkeepsie with minimal cost to the county’s budget, it would be a logical move to simply have one bus system.”

The study, paid for primarily with federal transit funds, will include detailed financial and operational review of the city system, including staffing and capital equipment. The county’s statement states the additional cost of drivers, mechanics and fuel costs for expanded service could be offset by fare revenue and use of the existing 5307 federal and state dollars.

“Our goal is to always look at ways to save the taxpayers’ money,” said city Mayor John Tkazyik. “If there is an opportunity to save taxpayer money, while maintaining and enhancing our public transit services, it will be beneficial for the city. We look forward to reviewing the consultant’s final analysis.”

 

 

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20120921/NEWS01/120921012/County-looks-expand-bus-service-city

 

 

FYI. This is not an new idea. The proposal was attempted in 2007-'08 before a successful public letter writing campaign led by the Poughkeepsie Bus Drivers (who are union) that stopped that plan. The Loop Bus drivers are Non Union and are members of the teamsters union.

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If they are teamsters they are part of a union, just not the same one as the Poughkeepsie Bus Drivers. If it will save the taxpayers of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess county money and consolidate services to make better use of available equipment, then I am all for it.

 

Poughkeepsie is a very strange city, for its size its peculiarly lacking in proper limited access highways, just US 9 which has that interchange in the downtown area but US 44/NY 55 is at grade thru the city and probably backs up like the city of Long Beach thanks to crappy timed lights.

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If they are teamsters they are part of a union, just not the same one as the Poughkeepsie Bus Drivers. If it will save the taxpayers of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess county money and consolidate services to make better use of available equipment, then I am all for it.

 

Poughkeepsie is a very strange city, for its size its peculiarly lacking in proper limited access highways, just US 9 which has that interchange in the downtown area but US 44/NY 55 is at grade thru the city and probably backs up like the city of Long Beach thanks to crappy timed lights.

 

 

Hit the nail on the head foxie. Traffic on 44/55 is a parking lot rush hours especially in area near the FDR/Mid-Hudson Bridge.

 

Big issue is that 85-90% of the ridership on the loop and Poughkeepsie bus lines combined is either in the city of Poughkeepsie or along the US Route 9/Route 9d coordior between Main/Market(Downtown Poughkeepsie) and Fishkill or Beacon.

At same time, 2 years back when the loop made service changes to put almost all of their services in the western part of the county, Eastern Ducthess towns such as Dover and Wassic now have almost no bus service.

 

Other problem is The Poughkeepsie Bus drivers are *public union* civil service employees. They dont want to become part of the private union with the teamsters. That the big issue here on why there no merger. The ridership warrants running the Bus line between the Galleria Mall area and Downtown Poughkeepsie every 30 minutes most of the day until at least 9pm. While it's a joke bus service(run by Poughkeepsie bus lines) to the Arlington K-mart Shopping Center right now ends at 6pm weekdays and 4pm Saturdays. Not counting of course the Loop (D) and (E) routes.

 

Not sure of answer but with Dutchess one of the state's fastest growing counties ,over the last 20 years or so, the local bus system sucks here and not updated to match the ridership.

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does it really matter what union you are a part of? to me they are all the same. I am pretty sure they are in the upper income bracket up there, any way you slice it.

 

 

It comes down to health benefits foxie. As city of Poughkeepsie union employees, Poughkeepsie bus drivers have better health coverage/pay little in co-pays. While the Loop with private teamsters union drivers has much less. That my point on why a merger attempt has failed so far.

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I would Combine them, since COP needs to join the Loop. The Loop is losing money because COP Bus is operating under their own brand.

 

COP NEEDS TO GO!!! MORE SERVICE NEEDED ON C AND A LOOPS!!!! Finally common sense is sinking in I have no respect for COP they are a cancer to the dutchess county bus system.
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