Last Day of TZx Bus Service Is Oct. 28

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The last day of TZx service will be Oct. 28. Hudson Link service begins on Monday, Oct. 29. It's part of the Lower Hudson Transit Link, a program of integrated projects aimed at improving traffic and transit in Rockland and Westchester counties.

Schedules for commuters to Metro-North rail stations in Tarrytown or White Plains in Westchester County are now available here.

The new transit service will feature four routes with new and upgraded bus stops, providing frequent connections between major employment, residential, medical, and entertainment centers, officials said. These are the routes: 1) Suffern, Rockland County, to Palisades Center, Rockland County, 2) Monsey, Rockland County, to White Plains, Westchester County, 3) Palisades Center to White Plains, and 4) Palisades Center to Tarrytown, with both local and express service being maintained between Lot J at the Palisades Center and Tarrytown.

The new service is designed to enhance connectivity, making transfers to other local bus services as seamless as possible, officials said.

Most bus stops will be located adjacent to, or within a block of, Bee-Line or Transportation of Rockland stops.

Info will be made available at www.RideHudsonLink.com. However, as of Oct. 14 the site was not yet active.

Fall 2018 student discount passes for Rockland Community College, Dominican College and St. Thomas Aquinas College will be accepted on the new Hudson Link buses through Dec. 21, 2018.

In a press release issued Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that 31 state-of-the-art buses will be fully operational in time for the launch of Hudson Link.

The new transit service, state officials said, will be one of the most advanced in the nation, featuring new buses, manufactured by Prevost in Plattsburgh, NY, and intelligent transportation management technology with real-time traffic information for commuters. The system will help reduce travel times for bus riders, improve travel time reliability, enable the buses to operate at more consistent speeds and enhance safety.

In the announcement, Assembly Member Ken Zebrowski said, "The opening of the new Hudson Link bus service is an exciting time for Rockland commuters. The new and improved buses, traffic enhancements and state of the art customer interfaces will provide riders with a more enjoyable and faster commuting option. I am pleased that the Hudson Link will provide an array of routes including the preservation of the express service from Lot J to Tarrytown; a popular route for Rockland commuters. This new service will hopefully improve existing riders' commutes and attract new riders to the system."

Hudson Link, run by an operation named Transdev, will provide more than 230 one-way rides per day between Rockland and Westchester counties with an estimated annual ridership of more than 400,000.

The bus network will utilize Integrated Corridor Management, using technology and real-time traffic information to operate efficiently, helping to control traffic flow and manage congestion, officials said.

Sensors collecting traffic and transit data will assist in routing and give the buses travel priority at some intersections that have traffic signals, making the new transit service one of most advanced in the nation. Cameras on the buses will assist with traffic monitoring along the I-287 corridor.

"The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge embodies New York's unwavering commitment to building a 21st century infrastructure that will meet the needs of residents and visitors for decades to come," Cuomo said. "The innovative Hudson Link bus service, with capabilities to analyze real-time traffic, will not only help to ease congestion and improve air quality, but ultimately provide New Yorkers with a safer, more convenient way to commute."

The 45-foot fully accessible buses will provide several passenger amenities, including free wireless network service, USB charging stations and bike racks on the front of the buses. The buses will be equipped with LED panels to provide passengers with real-time travel information and provide overhead storage and personal lighting for passengers.

Most bus shelters also will have free WiFi connectivity. Bike racks will be placed at or near bus stops, as space permits.

"The new Hudson Link bus service will be a valuable and welcomed addition to the transportation landscape in the lower Hudson Valley," Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said in the announcement. "We look forward to Rockland and Westchester commuters having a seamless ride across the I-87/I-287 corridor and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge."

In response to community interest, routing plans call for buses to maintain existing express service from Lot J at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, Rockland County to the Metro North stations in Tarrytown and White Plains.

The new service will offer multiple payment options, including cash, credit/debit, tickets, and a new mobile application.

Transdev has New York offices on Long Island, and has established a Hudson Valley office in Hillburn, Rockland County.

Image via New York Department of Transportation

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