Page 54 - Westchester Relocation Guide 2021

TRANSPORTATION
GETTING THERE FROM HERE BY TRAIN, FERRY, BUS AND PLANE
One of the greatest advantages of living in Westchester and the Hudson Valley is the region’s strong transportation capabilities.
Like all sectors of life in 2020, transportation in Westchester and the Hudson Valley was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the dip in use, however, our transportation resources remain one of our key assets.
The newest transportation innovation in the state is the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, spanning the Hudson River and connecting Westchester and Rockland counties. The 3.1 mile state-of- the-art twin spans feature eight general traffic lanes and dedicated space for disabled vehicles, emergency responders, and buses. The newly opened shared-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians was a much-welcomed addition for socially distanced outdoor activity.
Railroad and Ferry Services
Metro-North Railroad ridership rates in 2020 dipped nearly 80 percent due to the pandemic. However, 2019 num- bers show the true strength of the sys- tem: overall ridership was 86.6 million, up 100,000 from 2018. The Hudson Line broke a record with 17.4 mil- lion rides in 2019, and trains overall ar- rived on time nearly 95% of the time. And the MTA stepped up its cleaning regimen throughout the pandemic, with daily disinfection of Metro-North trains using antimicrobial biostats, ultraviolet light, electrostatic sprayers, and innovative air filters.
Commuters who take the Hudson Line through Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties have the Hudson River and Palisades serving as a beautiful backdrop. The Harlem Line brings commuters to and from bustling communities such as White Plains, Pleasantville, and Mount Kisco. The New Haven Line hugs the Long Island Sound and brings passengers to and from New York City or New Haven, CT, and every place in between. Rockland and Orange County residents are serviced
by Metro-North’s Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines, respectively. There are also ferries connecting Haverstraw to Ossining and Newburgh to Beacon.
Bus Services
While bus services were scaled back throughout the region during the height of the pandemic, they remain an essential mode of transportation. In Westchester, the Bee-Line bus system serves more than 30 million passengers annually with a combination of local, express, and railroad-feeder bus services.
Rockland residents can also take the Hudson Link commuter bus service to Metro-North stations in Tarrytown and White Plains. Hudson Link features 45- foot buses with wireless network service, USB charging stations, and bike racks.
Transport of Rockland (TOR) is Rockland County’s local bus system, providing service along major corridors as well as feeder loops within the county.
Putnam Area Rapid Transit (PART) operates fixed routes year-round in addition to a seasonal trolley in Cold Spring, and a commuter shuttle to the Metro-North station at Croton Falls.
Dutchess County Public Transit transports approximately 800,000 passenger trips per year on 13 routes and two different RailLink routes to train stations.
Orange County sponsors 16 individual transit operators providing commuter bus, local bus, and dial-a-bus, plus para- transit services for people who can’t use the local system due to disability.
Innovative transportation options are also gaining ground in the area. Since its launch a year ago, Circuit NR — a complimentary, on-demand electric shuttle service that transports riders along several downtown routes — has provided more than 30,000 free trips, reduced vehicle miles traveled in New Rochelle by 38,000, and cut carbon emissions by 15 metric tons.
Air
When air travel plummeted due to stay-at-home orders, the closure of Westchester County Airport (HPN) allowed for fast repaving of the 6,500- foot main runway — a silver lining of the pandemic, according to County Executive George Latimer. Spruced up and phasing back towards full operation, HPN offers commercial, business, and private aviation services and is typically served by four passenger airlines: American, Delta, United, and JetBlue. As a result of the pandemic, Delta and United suspended service from HPN in 2020, but are expected to resume service at some point in 2021.
Private aviation has remained strong, with airlines including Blade and Tradewinds offering charter service, and large corporations using HPN as a base for corporate jet travel. In May 2018, a new Million Air hangar opened at HPN’s private aviation complex, featuring an 8,000 sq. ft. terminal and a new, 52,000 sq. ft. hangar addition.
While coronavirus-related suspensions have had an outsized impact on the flight offerings at New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County, Allegiant continues to offer consistent service from Stewart to three cities in Florida.
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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE
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