The New Year brought with it a continuation of the struggle between County Executive Rob Astorino (R) and the Democratic majority of the County Legislature. In Mr. Astorino’s original 2012 budget, the #76 bus line, which runs from Kohl’s Shopping Center through Rye to Milton Point and back again, was eliminated. The County Legislature restored the item to the budget, Mr. Astorino vetoed it, and the Legislature overrode his veto.

 

By Robin Jovanovich

 

The New Year brought with it a continuation of the struggle between County Executive Rob Astorino (R) and the Democratic majority of the County Legislature. In Mr. Astorino’s original 2012 budget, the #76 bus line, which runs from Kohl’s Shopping Center through Rye to Milton Point and back again, was eliminated. The County Legislature restored the item to the budget, Mr. Astorino vetoed it, and the Legislature overrode his veto.

 

Nevertheless, the County Executive cancelled service beginning January 2. The route of the #13 bus, which runs from Rye to Ossining, will be expanded to cover most of the bus line, but the Rye train station to Milton Point section has been eliminated.

 

Explained Ned McCormack, the County Executive’s Senior Advisor and Communications Director, “The #76 bus, particularly the Milton Point section, was the least efficient part of the entire Westchester Bee Line System.” The County has been losing $8 every time a passenger rides the route. Cancelling the contract saves $243,436.

 

The proposed budget calls for maintaining bus fares at their current levels. Service on the Bee-Line bus system also remains intact. The only change is the cancellation of the contract with Jak Rabbit, the local bus company that operates a single route for the County.

 

Under the new arrangement, the stops on the current Route 13 bus are being expanded to accommodate the 160 riders who had been using the 76 bus. The stops of only 30 riders will be affected and the change will mean that passengers, for the first time, will be able to ride from White Plains to Rye without transferring buses, according to Mr. McCormack.

 

But everyone is not on board with the decision.

 

Rye resident Arthur Stampleman, who lives at Milton Harbor House on Milton Road, said he “can’t argue for the economics but he can for the poor workers and the unfortunate seniors who depend on this bus route.” He added, “It’s the Legislature’s decision to make. The bus should continue.”

 

As of January 11, Mr. Stampleman reported that he had the signatures of 75 Milton Harbor House residents petitioning the County to continue the 76 Bus. He has notified the County Executive, County Legislator Judy Myers, and Mayor Doug French of the importance of this bus service.

 

“This is our only public transportation servicing the entire Milton Point neighborhood of Rye and linking us to the train station or downtown area in Rye or the Kohl’s Shopping Center,” emphasized Mr. Stampleman.

 

“Several of the senior residents in our apartments at the end of and along Milton have had to give up their keys to cars and must take public transportation. Others who are not able to get out have health aides who commute from the station on a regular basis. The same is true for some low-income building staff and other workers. Cutting the 76 will make it difficult or more costly for senior citizens to obtain the help they require or others to continue to be active members of the community.”

 

He continued, “Some residents use the 76 service for daily train commuting connections to Manhattan, and there is a long waiting list for parking permits at the station.”

 

David Kucera of Jak Rabbit told the paper, “As far as I can determine, route 76 was one of the most economical in the County. Partial coverage of this route and only two trips in the morning and two in the afternoon doesn’t meet commuters’ needs and removes a level of transportation to and from municipalities that pay big taxes.

 

“Members of the Rye City Council are upset about this and the interests of the Port Chester residents, at least 150 a day I estimate, who use the service aren’t really being represented. News of the public hearing was put up in English and we had to translate it for many of those workers who were left stranded starting January 2.”

 

The matter was discussed at the City Council’s January 11 meeting, but no action was taken.

 

County Legislator Myers is calling for restoration of the service and holding a press conference at the former bus stop in front of Milton Harbor House this Friday.

— Additional reporting by Jim Byrne

— Photo by Bill Lawyer