Rockland County’s Department of Transportation will hold hearings next month on proposed service cuts and fare increases to the Tappan Zee Express (TZx) and Transit of Rockland (TOR) bus routes. The county proposes increasing the one way fare on the Tappan Zee Express by 50 percent, from $2 to $3 a ride. TOR fares would increase to $2 a trip. Changes have also been proposed for the county’s TRIP’s shared ride service for seniors and citizens with disabilities.
The public will have a chance to weigh in on the changes on Tues. Feb 15 at the Palisades Center. The Tappan Zee Express connects Rockland County commuters to the Metro North train in Tarrytown and other stops in Westchester. TOR is an intra-county bus route.
Service cuts, which would go into effect on April 1, include eliminating TOR #59, M-F late night routes going East from Suffern to Nanuet at 12:30a and 1:30a and the westbound trips at 11:05p, 12:05a and 12:55a from Nyack to Suffern would now terminate in Spring Valley. TOR’s #95 route would eliminate eastbound service M-F at 3:20p, 4:20p and 6:20p and westbound at 3:10p and 5:10p. Mon-Sat DIRECT Service from Palisades Mall to Haverstraw would be discontinuted on TOR #91 and TOR #92 Sunday service would be eliminated. Saturday service on TOR route #94 and Loops #1, #2 and #3 would also be dropped.
| Route | Current | Proposed |
| TOR Cash Fare | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| TOR Standard Transfer | $0.30 | $0.50 |
| TOR Senior Citizen/Disabled Fare | $0.40 | $0.75 |
| TOR Senior Citizen/Disabled Transfer | $0.15 | $0.25 |
| TOR SuperSaver Tickets | $9.00 | $11.00 |
| TZx Cash Fare | $2.00 | $3.00 |
| TZx Standard Transfer | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| TZx Senior Citizen/Disabled Fare | $0.60 | $1.00 |
| TZx Senior Citizen/Disabled Transfer | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| TZx SuperSaver Tickets | $9.00 | $11.00 |
| TRIPS Cash Fare | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| TRIPS Tickets (book of ten) | $9.00 | $12.00 |
| TRIPS ADA Fare | $3.00 | $4.00 |
A public hearing will take place on Tues. Feb. 15, 2011 on the 4th FL of the Palisades Center in the Adler Room. There’s an afternoon session from 2-4p and an evening session from 6p-8p. Public comments can also be filed with the county by email, voice mail (845 364-2062), fax (845 364-2074) or in writing (Attention: Fare Increases, Building T, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970) through Feb 28.
On April 1, senior fares and rides for people with disabilities will increase to 75 cents on TOR and $1 on TZX routes. The cash fare for TRIPS buses will be increased to $2. TRIPS riders who use the volume-discounted tickets will pay $1.20 per ride. TRIPS tickets will be sold in books of 10 at a proposed cost of $12 per book. TRIPS passengers traveling under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations will pay $4 per ride.
