The Transportation Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors released a draft report on county transportation services and invites the public to provide input on transportation services. 

2023 Draft Columbia County Transportation Plan

ABOUT THE DRAFT COLUMBIA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION

PLANNING ANALYSIS

The draft report documents existing transportation services and notes that residents use these services to get to work, education, healthcare, recreation and shopping, and government services. Public transportation served over 30,000 riders in 2022. In addition to public transportation, government and non-government agencies provide critical point-to-point transportation for specific purposes, such as Healthcare Consortium’s medical dial-a-rides service. These non-public-transportation services provide over 40,000 trips per year.

The draft report provides a detailed demographics analysis that helps inform decisions makers on transportation needs. The information includes geographic data on households without a vehicle, people with a disability, seniors, and population density. 

The draft report also maps points of interest, which could be used to determine future transportation destinations. The map includes large employers, government services, medical facilities, multiple-unit housing, educational institutions, and recreation sites. 

The draft report builds on the 2017 “Columbia County Transportation Coordination Plan,” the County’s current plan approved by the New York State Department of Transportation. The draft report includes the committee’s evaluation of the progress on the action items from the 2017 plan. It also incorporates feedback from two public hearings held in March 2023. 

The draft plan also identifies a timeline and priority actions. These priorities are grouped into seven categories.

1. Build internal capacity to operate programs and carry out transportation plan

2. Optimize Existing Services

3. Increase revenue through grant applications and reporting

4. Improve transportation opportunities for residents by adding areas of service and adding new hours of service

5. Maintain a high-functioning fleet of vehicles

6. Publicize services so residents are confident how to take advantage of existing services

7. Improve Rider Experience

The Public Transportation Committee will review the public feedback and incorporate it into a final report. Using the lessons from the report, the Committee will update the 2017 Transportation Plan to better serve residents and their transportation needs.