Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Paratransit And Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ACCESS rides surge and MAS complaints spur county tracking; Ride Oswego app, STOA boost and seven buses procured
Summary
Oswego County staff told the TAC ACCESS ridership has risen 33%, prompting capacity challenges; Heather Snow said the Ride Oswego County app introduced mode preference that made 15–20% of trips no longer ACCESS‑eligible, the state STOA uptick should fully fund fixed‑route contracts, and the county procured seven 16‑passenger buses from Chenango.
Oswego County staff told the Transportation Advisory Committee on March 3 that paratransit and demand‑response services are under strain as usage grows and state-contracted providers struggle to reliably serve rural trips.
Gary Mashaw, director of transportation at Oswego County Opportunities (OCO), said OPT fixed‑route ridership has risen mildly and transfer points with Centro have seen growth, and that ACCESS experienced a 33% increase in ridership that has increased demand on OCO’s services.
Heather Snow, director of the Office of Mobility Management, described two operational responses: a new Ride Oswego County app launched in September 2025 with features to account for winter travel (a 25% buffer) and a Mode Preference setting that routes riders to the most appropriate mode. Snow said Mode Preference has meant roughly 15–20% of trips are no longer ACCESS‑eligible, which in turn frees ACCESS capacity for more rural trips but requires staff assistance when eligibility conflicts arise.
Snow also reported a likely increase in STOA funding for Oswego County in 2026 sufficient to fully cover the county’s fixed‑route contract with OCO, with remaining STOA funds to support ACCESS. The county also procured seven 16‑passenger cutaway buses from Chenango, NY, at a reported cost of $200 each; Snow said the buses are wheelchair accessible, will be inspected by DOT and will need some maintenance.
Several attendees raised concerns about MAS (state Medicaid transportation) operations: participants said MAS drivers sometimes accept rides they cannot accommodate and drop trips last minute. Snow said the Office has created a complaint form to track MAS issues and will coordinate with neighboring counties to advocate to the state. Chair Roy Reehil said Oswego County previously opposed moving MAS to state control, arguing the structure does not suit rural counties: "it may work great in Brooklyn, but it does not work in Oswego County," he said.
Local taxi and medical‑transport providers also noted they often must fill gaps when MAS or other vendors decline local trips, including instances where no medical transportation operates on Sundays.
