City updates bus policies and procedures
Kingston aldermen have taken steps to bring the Citibus transit system into compliance with requirements of the Federal Transit Administration.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council adopted two separate resolutions to update polices and procedures relating to the operation of the Citibus system. One deals with the city’s procedure to change bus fares and the other is an employee drug and alcohol policy.
Mary Howard, a consultant working with the city, had previously told the council’s Finance and Audit Committee that the updates addressed two deficiencies identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Triennial Review of the Citibus system. She said other deficiencies had either already been corrected, or were in the process of being fixed.
Howard’s comments came a few weeks after Ulster County Planning Director Dennis Doyle told aldermen there were “significant problems” with the Citibus system that would have to be corrected before the city and county could consider merging their transportation systems.
The idea of Ulster County taking over the city bus system is not new. It has been suggested many times in the past, but has never materialized. The current consideration was proposed by Ulster County as part of a package of proposals for increased intermunicipal efficiencies, as required of all counties by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Historically, city officials have been reluctant to give up local control of the bus system.
So far, neither the Ulster County Legislature nor the Common Council has received any resolu-
tion needed for a vote on a possible merger.
In an email Thursday, Mayor Steve Noble said Howard would send the resolutions adopted by the Common Council and other documentation to the Federal Transit Administration.
“She will then follow up with (the Federal Transit Administration) to go
through the items one by one to ensure that they are satisfied with our actions,” Noble said. “If there is no further action deemed necessary, we anticipate that we will receive a letter or email closing out the findings.”
The triennial reviews are required because the federal agency provides the city with funding and wants to know how it is being spent, Howard has said. She said the agency last reviewed the city operation in June.