New Transit Study Targets Hudson Valley, Catskills – Advocates Push for Real Change

A newly announced effort to study transportation needs west of the Hudson River is drawing early praise from advocates, alongside calls for stronger action to ensure the plan delivers measurable improvements.

A coalition of environmental advocates, community leaders and elected officials is urging the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure the West of Hudson Transit study results in tangible benefits for commuters across the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

The study, announced Feb. 23 by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Congressman Pat Ryan (D- NY 18), will examine potential improvements to bus networks, including local routes, regional commuter service and microtransit. It will focus on a broad region that includes Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, as well as connections to Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester and New York City.

Taylor Jaffe of Catskill Mountainkeeper said the scope of the study is encouraging and reflects long-standing calls for better regional connectivity.

“This is a really broad region that we’re looking at, specifically to improve transit,” Jaffe said. “The goal here that they’ve stated is really to see how people are moving through these counties and create some real outcomes to actually get folks around better and safer.”

The coalition praised the state’s intentions but raised concerns about gaps in the initial rollout. Among them is the lack of explicit coordination with the ongoing Route 17 Mobility and Access Improvements Project, a $1.4 billion investment in a major travel corridor.

Advocates say aligning the transit study with that project is critical to ensuring the state maximizes its investment while improving safety and mobility.

“There’s definitely connectivity to Route 17 — it’s a major travel corridor,” Jaffe said. “We want to make sure that this transit study also has an impact on the Route 17 recommendations.”

The group also pointed to the absence of a clear link to the state’s climate goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York, and advocates say the study presents an opportunity to reduce car trips and expand low-carbon travel options.

Another key concern is ensuring robust public engagement. While the study includes plans for a stakeholder advisory committee and outreach, advocates want assurances that residents and local officials will have meaningful opportunities to shape the outcome.

“We just really want to ensure that the public and local elected officials have plenty of opportunities to share their experiences,” Jaffe said.

Transit gaps between and within counties remain a persistent challenge, particularly for residents without access to a car. Jaffe said current limitations on bus systems — including restrictions that prevent some county-run services from crossing county lines — hinder access to jobs, education and government services.

“We know people travel in between these counties,” Jaffe said. “There should be transit to get them where they need to go.”

Despite the concerns, advocates say the study could mark a turning point if it leads to action.

“I think this is a really great opportunity,” Jaffe said. “We will not tolerate it being left on a shelf.”

Jaffe encouraged residents to get involved by submitting comments and contacting state and federal officials to push for inclusion in the planning process.

“If they hear from all of the different towns, all the different villages that we’re really excited about this study and we want to be engaged, it’s going to be really hard to ignore,” Jaffe said.

Image: File photo of Route 17 near Liberty, NY (By Famartin – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)