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Trustees weigh committing up to $20,000 a year to continue Project Mover pilot
Summary
At a March 24 workshop, Dobbs Ferry trustees discussed budgeting up to $20,000 per year starting in 2027 to sustain the Project Mover electric-mobility pilot, while county and state discussions explore centralizing the program and more data is gathered before a long-term commitment.
At a March 24 workshop, the Board of Trustees discussed whether to budget funds to continue Project Mover, the local electric mobility pilot, beyond 2026 and whether the program should transition to a county-run model.
Trustees were asked to consider budgeting up to $20,000 a year beginning in 2027. A board speaker said the request requires the board to “start budgeting that in the budget we're working on now,” and staff proposed including a $10,000 placeholder in the draft budget for 2027 to reflect the potential commitment.
Rob Baron, who briefed the board on regional meetings, said the consortium running the project has met with county legislators and other municipalities and is exploring a county-level expansion. “Small villages like ourselves — we struggle with the HR stuff… We don't have an HR person,” Rob said while describing the operational challenges small localities face in running programs and why a consolidated approach is being considered.
Board members said the county meeting tenor favored continuing the pilot and exploring a county-run program through a transportation budget, but they also described “an enormous amount of fear” about county budget impacts. Trustees noted a follow-up county meeting would include state representatives, a NAERTA representative and Project Mover staff to discuss scaling and funding strategies.
Trustees emphasized they want another full season of ridership data before making a long-term financial commitment. A trustee said the program expects to add six more hubs in 2026, with two already identified (one at Mercy and one at a children’s facility), and that a complete year of data will allow the board to better assess per-ride costs and ridership patterns.
The board did not take a binding vote on a long-term pledge at the workshop. Instead, trustees agreed to include the $10,000 placeholder in the draft budget and to continue monitoring county and program developments before any final commitment. A formal budget vote and any contract approvals will occur at a future meeting when staff present updated ridership data and contract terms.
