Lawmakers at Odds Over Fate of Pough­keepsie Bus Service

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Annette Hubbard relies on the city bus service to get to her physical therapy appointments. She says the city bus stops right next to her home.

But funding for city buses is scheduled to run out on June 30, meaning she will have to rely on the county bus service starting this summer. Hubbard said unlike the city’s bus, which stops right in front of her home, the county bus stops will be several blocks away.

"It’s really sad, because this is supposed to be about we the people,” she said.

On Monday, the common council fell one vote short of what was needed to override the mayor’s veto of a resolution that would have kept the buses funded through the end of the year. Common Council member Chris Petsas said the four county routes that are scheduled to take effect on July 1 have long wait times and cover fewer areas.

Mayor Rob Rolison said the city can’t afford to keep the city buses funded with a $13 million deficit. He said letting the county take over city transit responsibilities is the way to go.

“We can continue to work with the county to make sure there is an adequate and more robust transit system that will exist here in the city and in moving forward,” said Rolison.

Common Council members have until May 19 to override the mayor’s veto, and while Petsas doesn’t foresee another vote before then, he says the fight isn’t over to save the city’s bus service.

"Groups are mobilizing in the city of Poughkeepsie to bring this into courts, and I think any court will find that this is a problem,” said Petsas.

“My suggestion would be let’s try to work together. I don’t see the purpose or a long term solution in a law suit,” said Rolison.

Petsas said that there is also another possibility the council could draft another resolution before June 30 to keep city buses funded.

Hubbard said she’s hoping the city and the county can work together to get people the bus routes they need to get around.

“Don’t do what y'all want to do; do what the people need, because they’re not doing what the people need right now,” she said.