SULLIVAN, NY —  Move Sullivan, the county’s free public bus service, has two new routes now operating nine months after approval. 

Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek announced in his March newsletter that the bus service “has just expanded with Route E,” a route that travels from Liberty to Livingston Manor, Roscoe, Callicoon Center, Jeffersonville, Youngsville and White Sulphur Springs.

The legislature originally voted on June 20, 2024 to expand the free service to include the additional route as well as an hour-long shuttle loop service for downtown Monticello and Liberty. 

What took so long? 

Communications director Dan Hust says designing the new routes, securing enough buses and New York State Department of Transportation approval all contributed to the time it took to get the expansion up and running. 

Move Sullivan currently runs buses from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Liberty, Fallsburg, Monticello, Swan Lake and Mongaup Valley. 

Sullivan County Division of Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley presented the budget for the program expansion to the legislature during its executive session last June. The proposal renews an 18-month contract with Rolling V Bus Corporation, which supplies the buses.

Ridership from January to May 2024 increased more than 71 percent from that same time period in 2023, Quigley said. 

The points of expansion were decided based on a countywide survey. Fifty-one percent of the country’s population lives in Monticello, Liberty and Fallsburg. Most of the responses came from Monticello and Liberty residents asking for a more timely shuttle. One resident complained about having to wait for three hours at the library before Move Sullivan returned to pick them up back in 2024, when the expansion plans were first underway. 

Livingston Manor and Jeffersonville residents also asked for service in their areas. 

Move Sullivan does not serve Tusten or Highland, which are on the list for future expansions. Comments from residents requested service to expand to include the towns of Delaware, Highland and Tusten.

There has been no movement by the county or legislature for that expansion. Additionally no formal movement has been made on interest for the inclusion of weekend and evening service runs to shelters and coordination with Garnet Health.

Find the full list of schedules by visiting movesullivan.com, or by calling Rolling V at 845/434- 4102.