As Restarting Dutchess efforts continue, Dutchess County Public Transit (DCPT) has announced full bus service will resume for all 13 fixed routes, as well as rail link services, this Saturday, June 6th. Extensive social distancing and cleaning protocols are in place to protect the health and safety of riders and drivers and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bus fares for all services have been temporarily suspended for a pilot period to allow passengers to adjust to the various safety protocols.
In a statement Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said,“With more and more residents returning to work and as businesses reopen under the State’s phased reopening plan, Dutchess County Public Transit will return to full service to help get people to work and other activities.”He continued, “We are all navigating uncharted waters, so we ask everyone to be patient and cooperative with safety measures that are designed to protect our community’s health and safety. During the initial transition to full service, there will be no charge to passengers, and we will continue to offer our special same day on-demand service for our more vulnerable residents.”
Dutchess County Public Transit has implemented significant cleaning and sanitation procedures, as well as new public health safety policies for drivers and passengers including vehicles cleaned and sanitized daily with sanitizing spray, daily temperature checks for drivers, bus driver wearing face masks and gloves, requirements for riders to wear a face covering or mask with masks available on the buses for riders who need them, social distancing markers and passengers required to board and disembark buses through rear doors. In addition, the County’s special same-day, on-demand service, which was implemented when Public Transit limited service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 24th, will continue to be available Monday thru Friday, 9am – 5pm for senior citizens, those with disabilities, and veterans. Other riders may be accommodated if seat availability allows.
All Dutchess County Public Transit’s routes and schedules are available online at DutchessNY.gov/publictransit.