Warwick to build transportation facilities

Warwick — Town of Warwick will build a new $575,000 bus garage to house its fleet of buses, thanks in large part to funding from state and federal grants. Supervisor Michael Sweeton announced that the building would be a combination bus garage, office and bus washing facility. Today, the bus service office sits in a corner of the Department of Public Works garage. At one time, the buses were kept in the garage, but the fleet has grown over the years as has the needs of the department, leaving many of the buses outside all-year round. The new facility is scheduled to begin construction in 2008 and should be completed by 2009, Sweeton said. A federal SAFETEA-LU grant of $460,000, obtained by former Congresswoman Sue Kelly, is covering the bulk of the cost. New York State is chipping in $57,500. The remaining $57,500 will fall to Warwick taxpayers. “Because of these funds, our local taxpayers will only be responsible for about $57,500 or roughly 10 percent of the total cost,” Sweeton said. Both Sweeton and Warwick’s transportation coordinator, Sharon Lisberg, said the new facility would help the system run much more smoothly. “This facility will make it so much easier and safer,” said Lisberg. “We are efficient; this will help make us more efficient, keeping the vehicles out of the elements. The vehicles will last longer. People are standing, waiting for a bus. We have to have a bus available.” “Our ability to continue to meet these demands depends in large part on our ability to maintain our fleet of vehicles in tip-top shape,” said Sweeton. “The garage and washing facility will protect our vehicles from the devastating effects of our winter weather.” The Dial-A-Bus system has grown tremendously since its start in 1986 when a local taxi service ran it. Lisberg came on board in 1988 when ridership was 2,815. In 2006, ridership rose to nearly 32,000. But the dramatic increase, Lisberg said, came over the past five years. “Ridership in 2002 was just over 15,000,” she said. “It more than doubled over five years.” Lisberg attributed the growth in ridership in part to the success of the Dial-A-Bus, which has expanded as the population has grown. Today, three buses service the town on an on-call basis. Riders call 24 hours in advance to make a reservation. Because of intermunicipal agreements between Warwick and several nearby towns — including Goshen, Monroe, Woodbury, Wallkill, Blooming Grove and Chester — the buses also take Warwick passengers throughout the county. For example, there is a fixed route bus from Monday through Saturday that goes from CVS in Warwick to Wallkill. It picks up passengers throughout Florida and stops at Arden Hill Hospital as well as the Crystal Run Healthcare facility. It heads to the Galleria Mall and shuttles over to Wal-Mart and other stores. Another fixed route service goes to Monroe every Friday, hitting Woodbury Common, Wal-Mart and other retail locations. Every Tuesday and Thursday a bus goes directly to ShopRite. That will change in January, when an additional day will be added. For those who want to take in a movie, a bus runs every other Saturday to the Chester Cinemas. This is especially good news for senior citizens who make up a large number of riders. Lisberg noted that there also are many younger people have become regular riders because of the accessibility to other areas of the county. The state is designing new brochures about the system, with updated schedules in January. Anyone who would like to reserve a spot on the Dial-A-Bus should call 986-2877 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Any questions about the system or the fixed routes should be directed to 986-4174.