Oneonta-Cooperstown Bus Changes

Oneonta Public Transit this week consolidates four bus runs into two, addressing a driver shortage, overlapping existing routes, and changing ridership data.

OPT Director David Hotaling told the Oneonta Common Council in December that existing “East End” and “Cooperstown” routes overlap, and “West End” and “River Street” routes faced dwindling ridership.

The Council unanimously approved the plan.

The Cooperstown run now leaves the OPT terminal at the top of the hour, with stops at FoxCare Center and Price Chopper before heading to Cooperstown with stops at Springbrook (upon request), Portlandville, Milford’s four corners, the Meadows Office Complex (Monday through Friday, by request on Saturday), Bassett Medical Center, and the Cooperstown fire department.

Mr. Hotaling said times are approximate, but riders should expect to get to FoxCare at 10 minutes past the hour and to Price Chopper at 15 minutes past the hour.

Mr. Hotaling said buses will leave Cooperstown on the half-hour and make stops at Oneonta’s Price Chopper and FoxCare on the way back to the bus terminal.

The Cooperstown route, which runs Monday through Saturday, remains a busy run with many commuters who work at Bassett Medical Center.

The new River Street/West End route leaves the OPT terminal at the top of the hour and at 30 minutes past the hour, with stops at Nader Towers, Corning, the state Department of Transportation, near the corner of Oneida and Chestnut streets, and at Fonda Avenue.|

“We’re trying to get the message out about these changes,” Mr. Hotaling said. “Our bus drivers have been telling riders about the changes.”

Direct questions to the OPT dispatch office at 607-432-7100, extension five.