Referred to:  The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Erner, Fabiano, Litts, and Nolan), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Legislator Phil Erner offers the following:

WHEREAS,for effectiveness of public transportation the people must understand how to use the system; and

WHEREAS, historically as a rural bus service, Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) operates on a flag-stop basis with only a few time points marked as bus stops; and

WHEREAS, UCAT now also operates within the city of Kingston; and

WHEREAS, at present UCAT instructs riders within the city of Kingston and the village of New Paltz to wait only at designated stops; and

WHEREAS, would-be or actual bus riders have reported difficulty in locating stops, including on which side of a road or where in a parking area to wait; and

WHEREAS, as part of the Art Education Program of the Kingston Midtown Arts District through the City of Kingston’s Look Lab project hosted by D.R.A.W., the Department of Regional Art Workers, students focused on the Kingston bus system to offer recommendations for enhancement; and

WHEREAS, said recommendations included clearer bus stops, stating that while the current flag system has its advantages, more conspicuous, well-marked stops would minimize user confusion; and  

WHEREAS, the Legislature anticipates that the marking of more locations as bus stops would help increase ridership and improve rider experience; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Departments of Public Transportation and Public Works, and other departments as the County Executive may direct, shall install and maintain bus-stop markers along regular fixed bus routes, at spacing of no greater than every half-mile in rural areas and the lesser of every two blocks or quarter of a mile within villages, hamlets and the city of Kingston, securing permissions and maintenance agreements with municipalities and the State as necessary, except that no additional marker shall be required at a bus shelter, hub or major stop already so marked, 

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                         NOES:    

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on ____________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD