Public Transportation Proposed for Putnam Valley

In a welcome break from the flooding that has pummeled the town and caused Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur to declare a state of emergency, Putnam Valley residents got some good news today. A publicly supported shared-ride service that has been running on the eastern side of the county since last summer may soon be available here.

Putnam County Kevin Byrne announced that he's including a proposal to expand the service to Putnam Valley and Philipstown in his executive budget. If approved by the legislature, it would launch next year. "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 at a press conference in Philipstown.

How exactly would this "microtransit" system work? Think of it as a heavily subsidized Uber or Lyft. Residents would call or use an app on their smart phone to request a pick up and drop off location. The driver might also pick up others who are going in a similar direction. Assuming the expanded service would operate as it has in towns like Patterson, the fare would be $2.50, or $1.25 for seniors, students and those in wheelchairs. Riders would also be able to leave the county to go to shopping areas in Shrub Oak and Jefferson Valley. To view information on how Putnam On-Demand works now, click here.

Barbara Barosa, the county's Commissioner of Planning, Development and Transportation, estimates that the service will cost about $250,000 in the first year, with most of that offset by a grant she obtained.

If you're not already a subscriber but would like to receive future stories, please click on the subscribe button at watchingputnamvalley.com and provide your email address. If you have ideas for future stories or want to provide feedback, please send an email to watchingputnamvalley@gmail.com.