Rockland awarded $2.4M for new bus fare boxes

Rockland County has secured $2.4 million from the federal government to add state-of-the art fare boxes to its bus fleet, a move that will speed up rides for commuters.

The boxes will be installed on Transport of Rockland and Tappan ZEExpress buses in the coming months.

They will be paid for with funds from the Department of Transportation's Bus Livability program.

"With new fare boxes, the faster you get on the bus, the faster you'll get off," said Sen. Charles Schumer, who worked with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to obtain the funding.

"By installing new fare boxes, commuters will see reduced delays and they'll reap the benefits of the latest technology," Schumer added. "And the best part is this is only the first step in a series of upgrades Rockland is making to bring residents state-of-the-art, more efficient fleets."

The Bus Livability program provides funding to public transportation providers so they can replace and rehabilitate aging buses and bus facilities.

"This is an important investment for Rockland County's public transit," Gillibrand said. "A bus fleet with updated fare technology will help keep buses moving on time, connect commuters and businesses faster and help keep our economy on the move."