Rural transportation still a problem in the Harlem Valley

PINE PLAINS — The Foundation for Community Health’s "Legislative Forum Breakfast" last week at the Pine Plains Lions pavilion was a chance forDutchess and Litchfield county officials to discuss one of the most serious issues facing area residents: transportation.

Senators Vincent Leibell, who represents New York District 40, Andrew Roraback, who represents Connecticut’s District 30, and New York State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro joined more than 40 town and state officials, supervisors, selectmen, board members and service providers.

Program & Communications Officer Gertrude O’Sullivan from the Foundation for Community Health (FCH) explained the foundation’s background and reason for setting up the breakfast forum.

"Our priority this morning is transportation," she said. "There has been research gathered and studies drawn that will be presented today, and what we’re really trying to do is create collaboration. The people attending today are people with the ability to make change in either policy or legislation. Hopefully everyone will throw out their ideas about the current status quo and what it could be with changes. We need to figure out the best way to spend both our time and money."

Roraback said he’d like to see transportation improved to Sharon Hospital, which for most in the area covered by the FCH is the closest hospital where people can receive medical attention.

"I’d like to see the people from the rural areas of these two states who don’t have cars be able to get to their medical appointments and have a method of transportation to social activities," he said.

"Rural transportation is a problem in this area, especially with seniors," said Amenia town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard. "Back when we held the CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] hearings there were some elderly ladies who were looking for their transportation van to have wheelchair accessibility. I’m here today to do as much as I can to help them towards that goal, including looking for grant money to help pay for that ramp."

Jenny Hansell, who is the executive director for the North East Community Center, commented that the NECC has a transportation program where volunteers have been driving senior citizens to doctors’ appointments in Millerton, Amenia, Wassaic and Dover.

"Demand is increasing," she said. "We have two vehicles that are out every day. A little organization like ours can only do so much. I want to hear about our options and how we can all work together. There’s not going to be more money coming in during the next few years, but I think there’s a lot of creativity in this room and that some solutions can be reached."

Hage spoke briefly about transportation programs the Pine Plains Lions Club is involved in and lamented that when the Pine Plains Board of Education budget didn’t pass, the cost to rent out a vehicle went from $1 per mile to $2.50 per mile.

"It makes it hard," he said. "But the community needs that transportation. Without it, how would any of you sitting here have made it to this meeting?"

Pine Plains town Supervisor Gregg Pulver said that he appreciated the "weekend population" in his town but that, "we can’t forget about our senior citizens. Right now the town is not doing enough for them because of budget constraints. Pine Plains has 65 miles of road and I am hoping we can come up with some ideas today so people without means of transportation can enjoy them as well."

Maria Ayoob, a senior research associate with the Center for Governmental Research (CGR), gave a detailed report of her study on senior transportation issues in the area and addressed current options and what they’re lacking.

Different transportation systems in the area included fixed routes (e.g. buses, trains), demand responses (e.g. Dial-a-Ride), nonprofit agencies (e.g. NECC), government-sponsored transportation (e.g. Medicaid, Head Start) and informal transportation (e.g. relatives or friends). CGR’s study concluded that none of these options were viable on their own; collaborative efforts would prove the best and most cost-effective way to provide transportation in the area to those who need it.

But discussion wasn’t just limited to the elderly. Ed Frederick, who does outreach work for HR Health Care and Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network, addressed the issue of Hispanic workers hired by local farms.

"They don’t have access to transportation. I’ve traveled some 3,000 miles each and every month, driving people around to Sharon Hospital for example," he said. "If they were better educated about their options in the area it would help them out tremendously."

Mark Debald, senior planner for the Poughkeepsie-Dutchess County Transportation Council (PDCTC), proved one of the more unpopular attendees when he spoke about the upcoming transportation improvement programs, which, if implemented, would eliminate the Route 22 bus route from the county’s LOOP bus service.

"The LOOP needs to be better, not eliminated," Hansell protested angrily.

"Why not use the Metro-North train line in lieu of the Route 22 route?" Frederick suggested, saying that all the LOOP system would have to do was stop at one of the train stops and customers could utilize the cheap and reliable service there.

Debald said regrettably that the budget isn’t big enough for all these projects.

"Unfortunately, it’s just not cost-effective to continue the rural transportation as it is currently running. There aren’t enough passengers using the programs and the PDCTC feels that the community as a whole would benefit more from a concentrated bus route system [in more metropolitan areas]."

After concerns were voiced, proposals for the future were fielded at the end of the meeting, despite the fact that the forum’s length (culminating at about three hours) proved too long for several attendees, including Molinaro, Leibell and Roraback.

"Next Steps," as they were called, included, among others, the following:

• Establishing a Tri-State committee

• Issuing a group statement for the PDCTC public hearing

• Making contact with 211

• Addressing public policies, including insurance, the time frame for applying for public service drivers licences

• Holding a senior survey

"I hope this is just the beginning of these conversations," FCH Executive Director Nancy Heaton said. "We’ll get these recommendations out to the community and try to get as much done as we can. If anyone has any further suggestions or ideas they are more than welcome to call our offices."

All of the comments gathered from the breakfast will be used as the FCH continues its research and studies. The Foundation for Community Health is based in Sharon, telephone 1-800-695-7210.