Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) is set to implement changes to its bus routes starting Wednesday, September 10, in response to increased ridership following the launch of free countywide bus service in 2022. The adjustments will affect routes in Kingston, New Paltz, and Newburgh, aiming to improve efficiency and rider experience.

According to Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, these changes are designed to make transit more reliable and responsive to community needs. The adjustments include additional trips on the X Route and College Loop (CL), connecting SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz, with five more trips per day to Newburgh and 6.5 more trips between New Paltz and Kingston.

In Kingston, the Yellow Route and T Route will merge to serve the Kingston Inn and the city, while service to Port Ewen will shift to the KPL Route. The EU Route between Ellenville and Kingston will be reconfigured as the E Route, with two eight-hour shifts to reduce trip times and improve rural access.

New Paltz will see fixed service routes with the KPL, UPL, and CL routes, enhancing arrival and departure accuracy. The NPL Route will be discontinued. Additionally, UCAT will increase its paratransit vehicles from three to five, improving accessibility for riders with disabilities.

These changes align with the ongoing Route Optimization Plan, which seeks to enhance public transportation efficiency. Metzger's office plans to convert part-time driver positions to full-time, addressing staffing shortages and improving service reliability.

Bus stewards will also begin riding key routes to assist passengers and support drivers. For more details on the Route Optimization Plan, visit Ulster County's website.