Columbia County’s Shopping Shuttle Service Extended
The Spark of Hudson partners with NYS DoT to pilot Shopping Shuttle extended hours
We are thrilled to announce The Spark of Hudson (in partnership with its sister organization, The Eutopia Foundation) has sponsored a pilot to extend hours of Columbia County’s Shopping Shuttle service. Starting March 9th 2023, the Shopping Shuttle, which offers $1 rides in Hudson and Greenport, will include longer hours during the week and weekends (including now running on Sundays). The service will run from 6:45 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Why support such a pilot? In speaking with local residents, The Spark has come to appreciate how important public transportation is in rural areas and small towns, particularly for those without cars. Without reliable transportation, residents have trouble getting to and from work, going food shopping, or getting to medical appointments. We’re hoping this transportation pilot will make local residents’ lives that much easier on a day-to-day basis.
Many thanks to Michael Chameides, Columbia County’s Public Transportation Committee Chair and Supervisor, for championing this shuttle extension (it’s been a long road — so to speak! — to get there).
Here’s the full press release:
Public Transportation to Add Hours
More Opportunities for Residents to get to Work, Education, Healthcare, and Government Services
Starting on Thursday, March 9, the popular Shopping Shuttle, which offers $1 rides in Hudson and Greenport, will meet longstanding demand for extended hours. The new Columbia County Public Transportation service will run from 6:45 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM.
“Public transportation contributes to economic development, public health, and quality of life,” says Public Transportation Committee Chair and Supervisor Michael Chameides. “I’m grateful to be working with great partners to improve this vital service.”
Public Transportation serves a vital workforce development purpose. The 2017 Columbia County Public Transportation Plan identified the need to extend public transportation hours, especially for residents who use public transportation to get to and from work.
The Columbia Greene Workforce 2017-2020 Local Plan notes, “The lack of public transportation in our rural area is always an issue that limits not only access to the Career Center, but also access to other workforce preparation services, and job opportunities for many of our most in-need residents.”
Over 21,000 riders used the Shopping Shuttle in 2022 to get to work, education, healthcare, recreation and shopping, and government services. Ridership dropped at the beginning of the pandemic, but now ridership is above pre-pandemic levels.
Funding for this extension is supported by Federal and State grant funds, as well as generous support from The Spark of Hudson in partnership with The Eutopia Foundation.
"We are thrilled to support a pilot to extend shopping shuttle hours, making daily life that much easier for local residents," says Susan Danziger, Founder of The Spark of Hudson and the Eutopia Foundation:
The Shopping Shuttle is one of several routes that Columbia County provides to residents. Dial-a-ride services are also available for seniors, veterans, and people needing medical transportation.
The Columbia County Board of Supervisors recently released a draft report on transportation services. The public is invited to provide feedback at two upcoming public hearings. The first hearing is on March 15 at 6:30PM at 401 State Street, the second is a virtual hearing on March 28 at 6:00PM and can be accessed at meet.google.com/cek-unez-dni?hs=122&authuser=0. The public can also submit written comments by emailing Shari.franks@columbiacountyny.com. Based on comments offered at the two public hearings, committee members may schedule additional hearings, interviews, and focus groups.
More information is available at publictransportation.columbiacountyny.com.
The Spark of Hudson is a hub for learning and community development located in Hudson, NY. This transportation pilot is part of The Spark’s on-going mission to learn and respond to community needs. Other initiatives sponsored by The Spark of Hudson in partnership with the Eutopia Foundation, The Spark’s sister organization, include hospital debt relief, payment of back rent for Hudson residents facing eviction as well as HudsonUP, the first (and longest running) U.S. small city universal basic income (UBI) pilot. For more information on The Spark of Hudson and its associated programs, please contact hello@sparkofhudson.org.