State Senator James Skoufis announced on Thursday, December 15 a new bus fare program along the Newburgh transit routes that will allow residents to ride public transportation for free until March 31, 2023. The pilot program also includes paratransit services for Newburgh residents and was to begin on the same day.

“One of my primary jobs, one of our [elected officials] primary jobs in Albany, is to bring back your tax dollars. It’s not my dollars, it’s not Albany’s dollars. These are the City of Newburgh residents, Orange County residents tax dollars, I’m just bringing them back home,” said Skoufis.

According to Skoufis, $67,500 was secured by his office for the pilot program, and this state funding will cover approximately 30,000 fares or 30,000 rides. There is no federal partnerships/funding involved in this program according to Skoufis. This is mainly state supported funds used in this program and the hope is to have an increased amount of ridership over the next few months.

“If you make public transit free, no fares, more people use public transit. And so to that end, this $67,500 is going to make the busing free for the four routes in the City of Newburgh through the end of March starting now, just before the holidays,” said Skoufis.

The four main bus routes are listed as follows: 1) Newburgh Broadway West: This route includes Route 17K from Broadway and Liberty Street to the Target Plaza and various stores along Route 300 such as Walmart. 2) Newburgh Crosstown North: This route includes Montefiore St. Luke’s Hospital’s Newburgh and Cornwall campuses, Vails Gate/Price Chopper and Route 32 near the Price Chopper. 3) Newburgh Northside: This route includes Broadway and Liberty Street and stops at Mount Saint Mary College and the Mid Valley Mall. 4) Newburgh Southside: This route includes apartment complexes such as the Lake Drive Apartments and residential areas south of Broadway, the Newburgh Five Corners and the Newburgh Ferry Dock.

Skoufis was joined by Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, newly elected State Senator Rob Rolison, Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján, Newburgh City Councilman Bob Sklarz, City of Newburgh Chief of Staff Mike Neppl and Orange County Chamber of Commerce President Heather Bell-Meyer.

Other comments from the gathered allies included concerns over bus shelters, providing access to bus route schedules, accurate bus arrival times and additional support for the program. “People need the shelters, they need the bus schedule, so they know when it’s going to come. And then the buses have to come on a regular basis,” said Jacobson. “This is a great project. And we thank Senator Skoufis for this and look forward to the success of this project.”

“While this is a pilot, it’s a significant pilot, it is the beginning potentially of something great. This is going to help us increase ridership, this is going to help us increase economic development, this is going to help people get to their jobs,” said Luján. “This only works if we make sure that everyone is riding buses. We want to increase ridership.”

Luján also stated that work at the county level includes bus route expansion and applying a digital app for riders to find more accurate information on bus arrivals.

Additionally, commuters can visit RideTransitOrange.com/Newburgh for further information on the bus schedules and routes.