Transit in Rockland Must Do Better

By Jon Ross, RAD: Rocklanders for Alternatives for Driving

Rockland County Has Many Transit Options.

Here’s What’s Wrong with Each One and How They Can Improve

Because Rockland County lacks a frequent, reliable, and direct transit route to Manhattan, a mishmash of convoluted and flawed transit options are foisted upon commuters. Each of these services attempt to fill the void of a functional transit mode in different ways, and each comes up short. The result is many Rocklanders choosing to drive into the city rather than use transit, particularly if they work odd hours or if they are traveling for leisure, family, or medical reasons. This option results in first time travelers or visitors  left confused and irresolute. In this piece, I will outline what current transit modes are available and what makes them insufficient. Perhaps in understanding where each of these services go wrong, lawmakers may find the political will to bolster something that does work.

NJ Transit: Single Tracked and Indirect

Metro-North owns and New Jersey Transit operates our lone passenger rail service. Its five stations cover a limited range of the county, isolating its eastern and northern communities. It is often cited that its biggest problem is that one must transfer in Secaucus or Hoboken to reach the city. But I think the larger issue is the fact that it is single tracked, which significantly impacts its frequency. With a second track or well placed sidings, the train could run on a dependable hourly schedule with peak and off peak express trains, cutting down on travel times. When used in tandem with the eventual building of the Bergen Loop as part of the Gateway Project, the dreamed one seat ride from Rockland will be attained. Additionally, restoration of passenger service on the West Shore Line, which currently only operates freight rail, should be on the table.

Coach USA: The Dreadfully Disappointing Direct Link

Coach USA subsidiaries Rockland Coaches and Shortline operate eleven bus routes, the only direct routes to Manhattan, covering each corner of the county. This service should be a slam dunk transit option, but it falls short in insulting ways. This service denigrates riders by not bothering to mark their stops with anything identifiable, not releasing a system map, not offering live bus tracking, and not making onboard announcements so riders know where to exit. Schedules and tickets can be accessed via the Coach USA app, but the location of stops is convoluted, resulting in only the experienced commuter knowing where to access the bus. Most routes only run during rush hour and none are very frequent. To improve the service, the MTA or the state should take over these routes and install proper infrastructure to make this an attractive and easy to use service.

HudsonLink: The Fake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

When the new Tappan Zee Bridge was being built, we were promised a rail line across it. Eventually, this was whittled down to a bus rapid transit system, and that was whittled down to a fake bus rapid transit system. HudsonLink runs along the 287 corridor and connects Rockland  to the Tarrytown and White Plains stations in Westchester, where passengers can connect to frequent and reliable trains. HudsonLink offers travelers the best frequency, with buses running two to three times an hour most of the day and night and connecting to most Metro North trains. But HudsonLink is subject to traffic everywhere except on the bridge’s bus lane, at times resulting in passengers missing their connecting train. To improve the service, bus lanes and other infrastructure means should be implemented to give buses priority over general car traffic to make this option competitive with other modes.

Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry: Restrictive & Weather Vulnerable

The Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry is our only traffic free route across the Hudson and it is instrumental for North Rockland residents’ access to the city, with passengers able to transfer to Metro-North on the Westchester side. It is a comfortable and scenic ride, and a new, attractive terminal has recently opened. The ferry only runs during weekdays at rush hour and on select summer weekends, restricting riders from having a flexible schedule. The ferry is also subject to suspensions due to the river freezing. This winter, the ferry was suspended for two months and replaced with bus service. To improve the service, the ferry should operate hourly, weekdays, and weekends from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. New York Waterway is able to run its ferry system from New Jersey to Manhattan in icy conditions; the company must investigate and invest in means to keep the ferry running all year.

TOR: Our Beleaguered Local Bus System

Transport of Rockland (TOR) operates local bus service throughout the county. Its failings are too great to quantify. The bus’s routings are dreadfully circuitous resulting in arduously long rides over short distances. For example, to ride from Nyack to New City, one most travel north to Haverstraw, west to Mount Ivy, south to Pomona, and then east to New City, making a 9 mile trip take one hour and forty minutes. The bus is susceptible to crippling traffic, further delaying the network. Its schedule is merely a suggestion. There is no bus tracking or onboard announcements. Many bus stops lack shelters or even sidewalks. The bus is currently fare free, but when it did collect fares, it accepted cash and “SuperSaver Tickets” only. The entire system needs a significant overhaul to bring it into the 21st century and to provide basic dignity to its riders.

We Must Never Stop Fighting for Better Transit

Rockland County deserves world class transportation, yet we have so many obstacles in our way. The MTA has still not appointed a Rockland representative to its board. The County and other operators lack the resources and infrastructure to address these woes. It’s hard not to become complacent, but we need to keep pushing elected officials for change. Otherwise, Rockland will remain a tapestry of substandard transit choices, resulting in greater congestion, pollution, and hindered from growing our local economy.