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County readies Alpine Express shuttle with Fort Drum; route funded by Army under IGSA/ICSA
Summary
Lewis County described plans for the Alpine Express shuttle—a Fort Drum‑sponsored route operated by Boerne Bus—intended to run seven days a week with no direct county cost; launch penciled for June/June‑later pending final intergovernmental agreement and vehicle procurement.
Lewis County planning staff briefed the Finance and Rules Committee on the Alpine Express, a shuttle service being developed in partnership with Fort Drum that will be operated under an intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA/ICSA) and run by the county's current contractor, Boerne Bus.
Planning Director Cassie Buell described about a year of work with Fort Drum, Boerne Bus and other partners to design the route, stops and operational details. The Army will fully fund the service under the IGSA/ICSA arrangement, and county staff said the route will not cost local taxpayers. Buell said the route was designed to meet Fort Drum requirements and to support personnel and community access points on base as well as public stops off base.
Key operational points: the route is planned to run seven days a week for roughly 12–13 hours per day; Boerne Bus will operate the service and expects to add two to three buses and six to seven drivers; Fort Drum will provide on‑base parking, facilities, plowing and some office/maintenance space. Buell said the county applied for and received a DASNY grant to help purchase a bus specifically for the route, reducing costs to the county operator.
Buell said the project faced two major hurdles earlier: federal 5311 funding requirements for public open‑door service and vehicle useful‑life considerations given an estimated 120,000 miles per year on the route. Those issues were resolved by Fort Drum providing full funding under its agreement. Buell said the team was targeting an early summer launch (a tentative June 1 target was set) but expected some scheduling slippage pending the final intergovernmental agreement and final operational arrangements.
The planner said county staff negotiated route stops, transit app integration, signage, on‑board Wi‑Fi and other rider amenities and will manage the service as an extension to the county's existing bus contract with Boerne Bus. The county emphasized the partnership benefits: no county general‑fund impact and expanded transit options to link Fort Drum and local communities.
Committee members praised the work and staff for negotiating the intergovernmental arrangements and grant support for vehicle procurement.
