County Legislator Judy Myers drew a crowd of Rye residents and a lot of members of the media to her public protest of the discontinuation of the #76 bus line, which ran, until the beginning of the year, from the Kohl’s shopping center to Milton Point and back. She made her case in front of the former bus stop near Milton Harbor House January 13.
By Robin Jovanovich
County Legislator Judy Myers drew a crowd of Rye residents and a lot of members of the media to her public protest of the discontinuation of the #76 bus line, which ran, until the beginning of the year, from the Kohl’s shopping center to Milton Point and back. She made her case in front of the former bus stop near Milton Harbor House January 13.
“Public input was never sought on this,” she stated. “The County Legislature in our good wisdom put this back in the 2012 budget, and it still made budget, yet the County Executive vetoed it. We overrode his veto and he chose to ignore our veto override.”
County Executive Rob Astorino has repeatedly stated that he let the contract expire on the No. 76 line because it was the most inefficient of the lines with low ridership, and the $243,000 in savings could be better used keeping other busier bus routes operating.
Ms. Myers argued that the line is needed to bring workers and helpers from Port Chester to the clubs, to private homes, and to Milton Harbor House, where many of the residents are senior citizens. She noted that many seniors depended on the bus to get to appointments, as they no longer can drive themselves.
“The County Executive points to savings, but this line was only costing us 35 cents per fare,” she said.
Ned McCormack, Senior Advisor and Communications Director for the County Executive, offered a much higher number in savings. “It cost the County $8,000 per year per rider of No. 76.”
While none of the County buses makes money, he explained, “with the No. 76 line it was just a question of how big a subsidy. We determined it could not be justified, and combined it with the No. 13.”
Ms. Myers advocates making changes but not eliminating the line.
Among the speakers at the press conference was SPRYE President Tom Saunders who reported that bus service is essential as the senior population is rising.
At the January 25 City Council meeting, Milton Harbor House resident Arthur Stampleman urged the City Council to lend a hand in restoring the service on behalf of poor workers, seniors, and commuters.
To strengthen his case, he brought an article from a February 1943 Rye Chronicle. The headline was “No Changes in Milton Bus Route”. The opening paragraph told the story: “Letters of protest and telephone calls from residents against shortening the Milton bus route have had the desired effect. Conferences between Rye officials and the County Transportation Company resulted in the decision that the suggested change would accomplish comparatively little saving in time so the busies will continue on their present route.”
That story differs from today’s because money, not time, is the issue. Mayor Doug French informed Mr. Stampleman that he had already writtenthe County Executive asking that the bus service be restored.
Only time will tell.
