KINGSTON, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Patrick K. Ryan announced today that passengers on UCAT’s Red, Yellow and Blue routes in the City of Kingston will continue to ride free through March 31, 2020. This is a three-month extension to the original six-month “free fares” period implemented following UCAT’s expansion of service into the City of Kingston in July 2019.
“I’m excited to be able to extend free bus services in the City of Kingston for another quarter to better serve all residents of our community as we continue to see an increase in ridership and make further improvements,” said County Executive Pat Ryan. “I want to thank the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and the City of Kingston for their valuable partnership in providing quality transportation services and ensuring we are reaching as many residents as possible.”
“I would like to thank County Executive Ryan for his dedication in continuing to improve transportation for the City of Kingston,” said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “We appreciate the County’s partnership and the Executive’s initiative to provide quality bus service and increase ridership within Kingston by offering free bus service for another quarter.”
Ulster County in partnership with the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley has extended a grant agreement intended to provide increased access to public transportation within Kingston. Beginning April 1, 2020, UCAT is proposing a base fare of $0.50 on routes within the City of Kingston, a reduction from the $1.00 charged by the City of Kingston prior to the consolidation of the two bus systems.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, UCAT carried over 2000 more passengers on its Red, Yellow, and Blue routes than Kingston Citibus transported in 2018. A public meeting will be held on February 10, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. at the UCAT offices located at 1 Danny Circle, Kingston, NY to inform the public on the new fare structure and afford the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the new routes.
In addition, SUNY Ulster students will continue to receive free fares on all in-County routes throughout the duration of the year.
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