The Allegany County Ways and Means Committee on June 18 approved a resolution authorizing the county to enter an agreement with the City of Olean to memorialize Olean’s responsibility to maintain 11 bus shelters through Dec. 31, 2027. The term is retroactive to Jan. 1 and runs concurrently with the county’s public transportation partnership with the city.

The agreement specifies that the city will maintain the shelters purchased by the city for riders of the former Oates transportation system during each shelter’s remaining useful life. County counsel told the committee there is no direct fiscal impact to Allegany County from the agreement.

Committee members asked how long the shelters’ remaining useful lives are. County counsel said they vary: “Some of them could be for, like, another year to year and a half. Some of them have a little bit longer period of time.” The agreement gives Allegany County a right of first refusal to purchase any shelter at the end of its useful life; if the county declines, responsibility remains with the City of Olean.

A motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded and the committee approved it with an affirmative voice vote.

The agreement dovetails with the county’s existing public transportation partnership with Olean. The county attorney answered procedural questions during the discussion and confirmed the agreement’s term and the county’s option to acquire individual shelters at end of life.