Schumer: Grant Will Improve Dutchess Public Transit System, Result in Fewer Break Downs & Increase Efficiency and Safety

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he is pushing to secure a $4.2 million federal grant that would transform the Dutchess County Loop Bus System. Schumer explained that Dutchess County is applying for federal funding that would be used to replace 15 older, yellow school buses with state-of-the-art public transit buses. Schumer explained that the current buses are sub-optimal for elderly and disabled individuals who use them, and that they are in poor shape due to the normal wear and tear of multiple trips each and every day, something school buses are not meant to do. The new buses will be better equipped to stand up to the rigors of public transit, will have a longer life-span than the school-bus type vehicles currently in use, and will provide a safer, more comfortable commute for those who rely on these buses to get around. Schumer announced that he is seeking the funding for this project through the federal Department of Transportation's TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant program, which provides funding for road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives.

"This federal funding would help transform Dutchess County's Loop Bus System, allowing it to replace outdated, unreliable and uncomfortable buses meant for schoolchildren with state-of-the-art buses that are meant for the rigors of public transit," said Schumer. "It is high time we provide Dutchess County commuters something better than a yellow school bus, and that is why I am pushing the federal Department of Transportation to award Dutchess County this very competitive grant."

Schumer continued, "These buses will be used to connect Dutchess County Loop Bus passengers to the Poughkeepsie Metro-North Station, to walking and biking paths, to City centers, to work locations, and to destinations like Walkway over the Hudson."

The buses that Dutchess County currently uses were built for use in a school-bus environment, not public transit, and the long hours of transit service have taken their toll. The buses break down regularly, impacting the transit network's efficiency. The buses are also not comfortable or easily accessible for the people that use them, many of whom are elderly or disabled. If Dutchess County receives TIGER funding, the 15 new, state-of-the-art buses it will be able to purchase will be more comfortable and less prone to breakdowns. In addition, they may be a long-term cost-saver because the long-term costs of maintaining heavy duty buses are lower than school buses used in transit service. In addition, these heavy-duty buses will be more reliable and safe during any sort of major climate disaster or other emergency.

The TIGER Discretionary Grant program provides an opportunity for DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives. In each round of TIGER, DOT receives many applications to build and repair critical pieces of freight and passenger transportation networks.

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