Spring 2018 Announcements

New Platform, Same Great Content

In January of 2018, Orange County launched a new website using Civic Plus as the vendor.  This new website has been a transition for staff and residents alike, and we thank you for your patience while we configure a new, easy-to-navigate and ADA compliant webpage.  With this new website, the OC Planning Department had decided to cease printing newsletter editions, and move towards a more environmentally-friendly online platform.  All of the content of the Newsletter you know, aptly named “The Resource,” will remain the same and continue to feature pertinent and planning-related articles, just on an easy-to use, new platform.  The Events, Articles, and Announcements can still be found with each new issue, launched on the new Department newsletter webpage on the first day of each season.  Articles can be viewed online as a PDF or downloaded and printed by interested readers.  A summary of each newsletter and links to full articles will be emailed through an e-newsletter to municipal leaders and interested parties each quarter.  

Happy Reading!

Orange County Designated as a Clean Energy Community (CEC)

Orange County has been designated a Clean Energy Community (CEC) by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).  Introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo in August of 2016, the $16 million CEC initiative encourages local governments across the State to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects in their communities.  Orange County received the designation for completing high-impact clean energy actions, including: adopting a Legislative Policy and initiating benchmarking of energy use of County buildings, undertaking two community-based Solarize campaigns, earning Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification, and establishing an Energize NY Finance Program for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at commercial buildings and not-for-profits.   

Contact Kate Schmidt at 845-615-3858 or [email protected] for advice on working with your community to get a CEC designation.  For more information on Clean Energy Communities, visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec.

$2.7 Million Dollar Transit Center Project Complete

The Town of Warwick opened a new transit center last fall.  The $2.7 million project started when former Congresswoman Sue Kelly obtained Federal Transit funds for the facility.  Construction began in the summer of 2016 and was completed in October 2017. The new facility has eight bays for bus storage as well as office space, a break area for drivers, and dispatching accommodations.  In addition to helping the Warwick Dial-A-Bus program, the facility will be able to assist other dial-a-bus programs too, offering a location for trainings, for example.  The Town of Warwick Dial-A-Bus program is currently the largest in Orange County operating seven days a week.

Middletown Area Welcomes New Operator of Transit Service

Hudson Transit/Coach USA took over the Middletown area transit service after Mid-City Transit Corp ended its decades-long run as the Middletown area’s operator.  Mid-City Transit Corp began transit services in the Middletown area in the 1930’s and announced they would be ending their operation in the Middletown Area in Fall 2017.  After going through the bidding process, Hudson Transit/Coach USA began its service on January 2, 2018.  The new operator also expanded the service from five days a week to six days, Monday through Saturday, in hope of better accommodating transit riders.

Visit Transit Orange to view schedules and services.