When Westchester County terminated its contract with Port Chester Rye Transit (PCRT) to operate the Route 76 in Rye and Port Chester, it arranged for Liberty Lines to cover part of the route temporarily by extending Liberty’s Route 13 into Rye.
By Arthur Stampleman
When Westchester County terminated its contract with Port Chester Rye Transit (PCRT) to operate the Route 76 in Rye and Port Chester, it arranged for Liberty Lines to cover part of the route temporarily by extending Liberty’s Route 13 into Rye.
The Route 13 extension serves the area between the Port Chester train station, Rye station, and Playland. Route 13 does not cover the area between Playland Parkway and Milton Point formerly covered by Route 76.
Liberty Lines, as required, applied January 3 to the State Department of Transportation (DOT) for permanent authority to operate the Route 13 extension. The application is supported in letters from two County commissioners. A protest has been submitted by the County Board of Legislators, at the initiative of Rye’s representative Judy Myers, seeking restoration of service to Milton Point. Objections have also been filed by more than 100 Rye residents and many PCRT employees.
David Winans, Associate Counsel, Division of Legal Affairs for DOT, recommended approval of Liberty’s application in a six-page letter dated March 27. He noted that a hearing is not required because of the support from two County commissioners. Their authority, according to Mr. Winans, overrides an objection by the County Legislature. And, the approval of these commissioners determines whether or not there are municipal objections. Finally, Mr. Winans stated that passenger’s having to walk a mile to reach a bus is not considered a safety issue.
While the Legislature and Rye citizens may protest that service is diminished because of the termination of the Milton Point section, Mr. Winans wrote this does not detract from Liberty’s fitness to operate the Route 13 extension; and, the service provided by the temporary extension is needed permanently.
Legislator Myers and the Chair of the Board of Legislators submitted a four-page letter with several attachments to the judge April 4. They argued that only the Board of Legislators has the power to grant bus franchise authority in Westchester. Also, they posited that since one of the County commissioners supporting the #13 extension has since resigned, and the appointment of the other has not been approved by the Board of Legislators, in effect there is no requisite County approval.
At this time, the administrative judge at the Department of Transportation has not rendered an opinion. The Board of Legislators is planning to hold a public hearing on the matter in Rye in the near future.
