Almost a year to the date when the Hudson Link bus system began operation, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski stood with Harriet Cornell, Rockland County Legislator and Chairwoman of the Special Committee on Transit and Randy Glucksman, Chair of Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council and MTA Board Member, to call on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to hold a public hearing to solicit commuter input.

Service for Hudson Link began on October 29, 2018, replacing the County run Tappan Zee Express. Since its rollout, Zebrowski’s office has worked closely with DOT to try and improve service by communicating rider feedback. There have been tangible results; improving commuter experience by schedule adjustment, adding new routes, and increasing accessibility. Most notably, before the service began, Assemblyman Zebrowski was instrumental in preserving the express bus from Palisades Center Lot J to Tarrytown line. This service was a TZ express stop and a preferred route by commuters that Hudson Link had eliminated when the initial schedule was released.

“We are now a year into this service and the public deserves to have their voices heard. Many mass transit systems routinely hold public meetings to hear from their riders. Despite the positive progress that we have had with Hudson Link, my office still regularly receives suggestions, complaints, and input from commuters. DOT should hear directly from the people that are taking these buses every day and are reliant on it,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

Commuters have cited a number of on-going issues that remain unaddressed over the past year. There have been various complaints of buses leaving earlier than their scheduled time, leaving people to wait an hour for the next bus, no communication regarding late or cancelled buses, no notice of schedule changes, and a lack of coordination with Metro North. Buses do not seem to wait when a train is just a couple of minutes late, once again forcing commuters to wait anywhere up to an hour for the next bus.

“There are so many reasons to take mass transit, rather than a car – but Rockland has long been treated as a “transportation orphan” by the state. If we don’t have a one-seat train ride to Manhattan directly from Rockland – and we should-- then we deserve high quality, on-time bus service to and from the trains in Westchester. When I served on the Governor’s Mass Transit Task Force, the service was going to be BRT, Bus Rapid Transit. Yes, even though we are on the West side of the Hudson River, we are New Yorkers and deserve better,” said Legislator Cornell.

“Metro-North riders need to be able to get to their trains on both sides of the Hudson, and Hudsonlink buses make that connection. It’s critical that the buses run, and run on-time. Last minute cancellations and service changes are unacceptable,” said Randy Glucksman.

Mass transit systems like the MTA often host public hearings for riders and potential customers. This would allow DOT to hear how to better meet the needs of their riders. Zebrowski has requested that the dates and times take into account commuters’ schedules and held in the evening to be accessible to all.

“The bottom line is that Rockland is severely lacking in mass transit options. Commuting is never fun, but this brand-new, state of the art bus system should at the very least, be reliable and open to feedback. I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation and Hudson Link to make this a reality very soon,” concluded Assemblyman Zebrowski.