Otsego Express adds new route with Arc's help

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February 11, 2012

BY JOE MAHONEY Staff Writer The Daily Star Sat Feb 11, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

COOPERSTOWN -- A new Otsego Express bus route, using an 18-passenger vehicle owned by The Arc Otsego, has begun ferrying passengers from nine rural towns and hamlets and the town of Oneonta twice daily on weekdays.

Riders taking the system's Route 9 bus are able to connect with the Oneonta Public Transit system at the state Department of Transportation transfer point off Route 7 in the town of Oneonta.

"This is important in a public sense because it provides transportation in rural communities that is not otherwise out there, and connects all those communities into Oneonta," said Joel Habercorn, dispatch operator for The Arc Otsego.

Route 9's morning loop leaves Hartwick at the Arc Otsego garage at 6:50 a.m. before heading to Garrattsville, New Lisbon, Morris, Gilbertsville, Otego, Otego Village and the state DOT transfer point.

It then continues through the town of Oneonta, stopping at both the Arc Workshop on Browne Street and the Arc facility on Lower River Street before heading to Laurens and Mount Vision. It completes the loop in Hartwick at 9:05 a.m.

The afternoon route, going in the reverse order, sets out at 1:45 p.m. from Hartwick and returns to Hartwick at 4:25 p.m.

The Arc has its own transportation system with a total of eight routes. Route 9 is the third of those Arc routes being shared with Otsego Express riders, officials said.

Otsego County senior Karen Sullivan pointed out some bus riders may not realize that the Route 9 bus and two other buses with Arc markings on them do pick up and drop off Otsego Express passengers.

The adult fare for riders is $1. For seniors aged 60 and older, the fare is 50 cents. Children under age six ride free.

Otsego Express riders can connect with the Oneonta Public Transit system at the state DOT transfer point on Route 7.

Habercorn said the new bus, combining a Ford chassis with a Starcraft body, was purchased for nearly $60,000 with state assistance.

The Route 9 bus is equipped with a lift that makes it wheelchair-accessible. It began making its runs this week.

"Our staff has extensive training in assisting people with disabilities of all sorts," Habercorn said.

More information on Otsego Express routes can be obtained by contacting the dispatch center at 1-800-388-9853 or logging on to the Otsego Express web site at: www.otsegoexpress.com.