Oswego County Mobility Management announces changes to its transportation programs to better meet the needs of county residents. Starting Monday, March 18, the newly expanded ACCESS Oswego County public transit service will be free and available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We’ve merged our ACCESS and Curb-to-Curb for Seniors programs into one service that is available to everyone,” said Legislator Mary Ellen Chesbro, District 10, chairwoman of the Oswego County Legislature’s Economic Development and Planning Committee. “This change allows us to open up the range of locations, days and times we are able to provide transportation, so there is no set ‘zone’ or time schedule for people to keep track of anymore.”

Oswego County Mobility Management Director Heather Snow agreed, “Not having to coordinate their doctor’s availability with the transit system in their area will give people peace of mind when making appointments, and the expanded schedule will give them more opportunities to plan other activities like grocery shopping or meeting friends for lunch.”

The enhanced program is a curb-to-curb weekday transportation service provided free of charge to all county residents. There are no age, income or application requirements.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer this service to everyone, including nursing home residents,” Snow said. “While it’s important for them to know that this is not a ‘door-to-door’ service, so the bus driver will not be able to assist them, it’s also good to know that they are more than welcome to bring their aides with them if needed.”

Ride reservations for the service must be made two business days before the planned trip. With a reservation, a bus will pick up the resident from home and take them anywhere they wish to go within the county. People can also use the service as a “first-mile, last-mile” connection to the broader Centro bus schedule.

Funding for the expanded public transit system is made possible thanks to the New York State Department of Transportation in Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance (STOA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided economic relief due to the public health crisis. Other funding sources include the New York State Department of Health in Medicaid reorganization funding and the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5311 grant program.

“We also want to thank the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter for donating over $20,000 to the ACCESS Oswego County program,” said Chesbro. “Their generosity helps to cover the state’s minimum fare requirement for the first 66,000 to 133,000 trips, which goes a long way toward helping us launch a ‘free fare’ system.”

For ACCESS Oswego County ride reservations, call OCO Transportation at 315-598-1514 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn more about Oswego County’s public transportation services, stop by the next Department of Mobility Management Open House. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 18 at CiTi Fulton Family Welcome Center, 104 Cayuga St.

For details, contact Heather Snow at 315-746-4220 or heather.snow@oswegocounty.com.