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Putnam County would add on-demand service
Cold Spring resident Carolyn Ricapito, who is 91 and relies on a walker, depends on her daughter and a home aide to get to medical appointments and shopping.
She may have another option starting next year: Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne announced on Thursday (July 30) at the senior center in Cold Spring that his 2027 budget proposal will include funding to expand the county's on-demand transit service to Philipstown and Putnam Valley.
Riders can book a ride the day before by app or telephone and be driven anywhere within their local zone. Fares are $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for seniors, students and disabled residents.
The expansion was among the recommendations in a county-funded study of the $2.5 million Putnam Area Rapid Transit network, which includes fixed-route and paratransit services, a commuter shuttle and the Cold Spring trolley. Dan Hymowitz, director of partnerships for Via, which provides the "microtransit" service, said it should reach 20,000 rides next month in eastern Putnam.
The study, conducted by a firm called LaBella, said the transit service in western Putnam should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and connect via Route 9 to the Hudson Valley Towne Center, Walmart and other destinations in Fishkill, as well as Dutchess County's transit service.
Putnam Valley would be included in a zone that would extend into parts of Philipstown and Mahopac. LaBella said it should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Both services would cost about $250,000.
"We've known for a long time that there's a gaping hole in service that exists for our residents on the western side of the county, and it needs to be addressed," Byrne said.
If approved by the Legislature in the fall, the expansion will add to a nascent on-demand service introduced in May 2025 as a pilot serving Carmel, Patterson and Southeast. LaBella did not recommend any changes for the Cold Spring trolley, which provides service between Manitoga and the Cold Spring and Garrison Metro-North stations.
Cold Spring resident Carolyn Ricapito, who is 91 and relies on a walker, depends on her daughter and a home aide to get to medical appointments and shopping.
She may have another option starting next year: Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne announced on Thursday (July 30) at the senior center in Cold Spring that his 2027 budget proposal will include funding to expand the county's on-demand transit service to Philipstown and Putnam Valley.
Riders can book a ride the day before by app or telephone and be driven anywhere within their local zone. Fares are $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for seniors, students and disabled residents.
The expansion was among the recommendations in a county-funded study of the $2.5 million Putnam Area Rapid Transit network, which includes fixed-route and paratransit services, a commuter shuttle and the Cold Spring trolley. Dan Hymowitz, director of partnerships for Via, which provides the "microtransit" service, said it should reach 20,000 rides next month in eastern Putnam.
The study, conducted by a firm called LaBella, said the transit service in western Putnam should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and connect via Route 9 to the Hudson Valley Towne Center, Walmart and other destinations in Fishkill, as well as Dutchess County's transit service.
Putnam Valley would be included in a zone that would extend into parts of Philipstown and Mahopac. LaBella said it should operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Both services would cost about $250,000.
"We've known for a long time that there's a gaping hole in service that exists for our residents on the western side of the county, and it needs to be addressed," Byrne said.
If approved by the Legislature in the fall, the expansion will add to a nascent on-demand service introduced in May 2025 as a pilot serving Carmel, Patterson and Southeast. LaBella did not recommend any changes for the Cold Spring trolley, which provides service between Manitoga and the Cold Spring and Garrison Metro-North stations.