MONTICELLO – Starting next Monday, August 19, Sullivan County will have its first county mass transit system.
County officials, Monday, announced “Move Sullivan,” initially starting with two buses and two routes, Mondays through Fridays. Routes and schedules are on their new Facebook page.
Both routes – one express and the other non-express – will loop around from Monticello to Liberty with stops along the way, including Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, Ferndale, the Village of Liberty, Loch Sheldrake, Hurleyville, Fallsburg, South Fallsburg, Kiamesha Lake and back to Monticello.
County Legislator Ira Steingart said the service is “a good indication” of the growth in the county.
Legislator Alan Sorensen said the routes are designed for people to get to and from work, SUNY Sullivan and doctor appointments.
County Manager Josh Potosek said the service is aimed at resolving issues that have been plaguing the county.
“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation rankings have ranked us next to last in health rankings for the last five to six years. One of the main contributing factors for those poor rankings is access to health care. So one of the main goals with this route was to ensure that not only hitting the population centers, but hitting our major health institutions such as Catskill Regional Medical Center and their urgent care and their urgent care facility,” he said.
There will be no charge to ride the bus through the end of the year and $2 one-way fare thereafter.
Move Sullivan is being funded at a cost of some $400,000 a year through the county, Federal Transportation Administration and state Department of Transportation.
The Rolling V Bus Company won the competitive bid to provide the buses for the service.
https://www.facebook.com/104959927527260/videos/403747746930521/
