Plattsburgh bus driver raises safety and job concerns as Clinton County considers transit changes

Tina Sullivan, a bus driver for Clinton County Public Transit, told the Clinton County Legislature on April 11 that planned changes to the county transit system have left her worried about driver safety and job security. Sullivan said some stops are located in dark parking lots and on corners of truck routes and expressed concern about the county’s shifting paratransit eligibility, which she said has contributed to funding and staffing pressures.

Paratransit rider Joanne Suker said deviations introduced to the route have caused delays and inconvenienced users; she said she planned to contact planning staff for follow‑up (Planning Technician James Bosley was identified in the meeting). Neither county staff nor legislators offered a formal response during public comment; the Legislature moved on to committee reports after the two speakers finished.

Why it matters: Clinton County Public Transit provides mobility for riders who rely on fixed‑route and paratransit service. Concerns about stop locations, schedule reliability and who may use paratransit affect rider safety and access and can have budget and staffing implications for the county.

The county roster and committee reports that followed the public comment period showed multiple county staff and legislators are engaged in transit and transportation matters, but the meeting record does not show a specific county response or an action plan generated during this session. Ms. Sullivan said she believes loss of Medicaid funding is related to agreements with other agencies; that assertion was made during public comment and was not corroborated or answered on the record during the meeting.

Next steps: Ms. Suker indicated she will contact Planning Technician James Bosley with specific questions; the Legislature did not set a public date to take formal action on the transit concerns during this meeting.