Legislative Committees Approve Purchase Of Accessible Vehicles

The Rockland County Legislature’s Budget and Finance and Planning and Public Works committees approved the purchase of five wheelchair accessible vehicles to add to the TRIPS fleet. The vote on Tuesday moves the resolution for the $229,920 acquisition to the full legislature on Tuesday, June 18. The funds for the purchase come from New York State.

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said Rockland’s Department of Public Transportation needs the five MV-1 mobility vehicles to help it serve the spectrum of riders.

“Using smaller, more accessible vehicles in paratransit service is helping to meet the growing needs of transit agencies throughout the country,” said Vanderhoef. “Larger capacity buses will continue to serve the need for specific, high-demand destinations, while smaller vehicles can help TRIPS use its system more efficiently.”

The MV-1 is the only original equipment manufacturer vehicle that meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. Each vehicle costs 45,984 each. The gas-powered MV-1 low-floor mobility vehicles include automated deployable side-entry ramps, extra wide access doors, interior seating for three ambulatory passengers, one wheelchair passenger and one driver.

“With the addition of these accessible, low-floor, SUV-like vehicles in our TRIPS fleet, we will have greater flexibility in reaching and assisting Rockland County residents with disabilities who depend on TRIPS for public transportation,” said Public Transportation Commissioner Tom Vanderbeek. “MV-1s also get better gas mileage, are easier to navigate, and will enable us to operate more efficiently, which is a high priority in these times.” 

According to Vanderhoef, the planning department intends to issue bids for purchase of five additional MV-1 vehicles, as well as 15 gas-powered cutaway buses, later this year. The Planning Department is eligible to use $799,293 of the State budget’s $21 million in new accelerated capital funding for public transportation systems.