Connect with us

Government

Rockland County Launches TOR Ferry Connection Bus To Serve Weekend Ferry

Published

11 months ago

on

New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day and the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation have announced that Transport of Rockland (TOR) will launch the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus service starting on Saturday, July 6th. The bus service will provide connecting transit service for Metro-North Hudson Line customers who travel to Haverstraw via the Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry, enabling them to travel beyond the Ferry Landing via public transit. The TOR Ferry Connection will also provide service for Rockland residents who want to use the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry to travel to Westchester or to NYC via Metro-North Hudson Line trains from Ossining.

The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus will serve Metro-North’s Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry service pilot program, which began on May 25th and is expected to operate through November 10th. The TOR Ferry Connection will meet each of the ferries arriving and departing the Haverstraw Ferry Landing on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekend ferry customers can board the TOR Ferry Connection upon arrival at the Haverstraw Ferry Landing. The Ferry Connection enables easy access to downtown Haverstraw, which is approximately one mile from the Landing, and then travels through the Village of Haverstraw to the Village of West Haverstraw to serve the Garner Arts Center, south on Route 9W to serve Rockland Lake State Park in Valley Cottage, then to downtown Nyack before heading west on Route 59 to serve the Palisades Center mall in West Nyack.  At Palisades Center, the bus will serve the stores bus stop at Macy’s as well as the Commuter Parking Lot.

“Rockland County is happy to be able to host visitors from around our region, who are able to use the new Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry Service to travel to Rockland,” said County Executive Ed Day. “With the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus service, those visitors now have a way to travel from the Ferry Landing to the various destinations and attractions Rockland has to offer.”

“This is the perfect time to launch this new service – with summer in full swing and so many opportunities to enjoy our Hudson River waterfront, arts centers, restaurants, shops and more,” Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “This effort means visitors can leave their cars at home but still have a reliable way to visit the many cultural, recreational and historic landmarks that help make Rockland County the special place we all love. Likewise, Rockland residents will have a special way to travel across the Hudson to visit the east side and even travel further into New York City if they choose. Thanks to all who have helped make this new service possible.”

“We are pleased that our Department was able to work quickly to put the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection into place,” said Rockland County Public Transportation Department Acting Commissioner Doug Schuetz. “Thanks to the hard work and efforts of our staff and bus operator, and with operating assistance funds from Metro-North, TOR can now provide this valuable service.”

“This new bus route combined with the weekend ferry service offers visitors and residents a convenient option to explore Rockland’s unique tourism assets,” said Lucy Redzeposki, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “Expect the unexpected in beautiful Rockland County!”

“The Village of Haverstraw is thrilled that the County of Rockland has recognized this opportunity to promote tourism along the Hudson River provided by the start of the weekend ferry service,” said Village of Haverstraw Mayor Michael Kohut. “Now those from the east side of the Hudson can have the chance to explore Rockland’s river communities at their leisure and Rocklanders can enjoy the opportunity to explore Westchester and beyond via Metro-North.”

Customers using this TOR connecting service will be able to transfer to other transit options at TOR transit hubs in the Village of Haverstraw, downtown Nyack and at Palisades Center to access additional destinations. The TOR Ferry Connection schedule also includes a final evening trip to Palisades Center for Metro-North customers who may stay beyond the 8:20 pm departure time of the last ferry back to Ossining. This provides an option for Metro-North customers to return to the Hudson Line at Tarrytown via the Hudson Link bus from Palisades Center or downtown Nyack.

The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection schedule features 26 trips per day for both Saturdays and Sundays, including 13 Southbound trips that meet all ferry arrivals and 13 Northbound trips that meet all ferry departures at the Haverstraw Ferry Landing. The service operates between 8 am and 10 pm. The service is provided by the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation and Metro-North Railroad, in partnership with the Rockland County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Village of Haverstraw.  The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection service is fare free.

Go to www.rocklandbus.com for more information and to sign up for free Transit Alerts. For trip planning assistance, call the Transit Information Center at (845) 364-3333, Monday-Friday from 9 am and 5 pm.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Government

Creating a More Inclusive Rockland – One Business at a Time By Rockland County Executive Ed Day

Published

1 week ago

on

May 31, 2025

By

To our business leaders, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organizations that make Rockland County the vibrant place it is, I want to bring your attention to a new and FREE training that will create a more inclusive Rockland one business at a time.

Here in the United States, 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with Autism. And yet, many of our public spaces, businesses, and institutions remain unfamiliar with how to support them.
That needs to change—and here in Rockland, we’re leading that change.

It was with that in mind that in April, during Autism Acceptance and Awareness Month, my administration’s Department of Mental Health launched a new All-Abilities Training Program, created in partnership with the Anderson Center for Autism.
This training is available at no cost and is designed to educate the workforce, including our local businesses, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organizations. It’s a powerful tool to help you better serve all members of our community, especially those with Autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD).

This initiative is more than just training—it’s a commitment to understanding, acceptance, and accessibility for individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

When we launched the Rockland Thinks Differently initiative in 2024, we committed ourselves to promoting inclusion at every level of our community. This training is a direct extension of that promise. It will help your team create more welcoming environments for all.

But this isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s also smart business.

Many individuals with Autism are loyal, capable, and hardworking.

The training includes insight into how to make your workplace more accessible for potential employees with Autism and the many benefits of hiring from this often-overlooked talent pool.

I urge every business and organization in Rockland to take advantage of this fantastic and free opportunity. Doing so will show the community that your organization not only accepts differences but embraces and celebrates them. Let’s work together and continue creating a Rockland that truly thinks differently.

To sign up for the training or learn more, please contact the Anderson Center at 845-889-9616 or ACCT@AndersonCares.org.

* This is a weekly column by Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

Continue Reading

Government

Senator Bill Weber Honors the Late Clarkstown Councilman Mark Woods Jr. with Induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame

Published

1 week ago

on

May 30, 2025

By

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – This week, State Senator Bill Weber posthumously inducted Town of Clarkstown Councilman Mark Woods Jr. into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the State Capitol.

Mark’s beloved wife, Jeanne, his daughter, Maggie, his son, Ray, and his mother, Marie, joined the ceremony to accept the award on Mark’s behalf.

A Brooklyn native, Woods was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry after attending The Citadel. He served in Berlin at the end of the Cold War and deployed to Bosnia for peacekeeping operations. His civilian career included service as a corrections officer, border agent, and NYPD officer, where he was part of the Vice Squad and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He returned to active duty in Iraq post-9/11 before continuing his public service stateside.

Woods later became Deputy Director of the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency and then Director of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program at BRIDGES, where he supported fellow veterans through mental health and crisis recovery work. His advocacy and compassion touched countless lives.

“Mark Woods Jr. exemplified the spirit of selfless service,” said Senator Weber. “His dedication to his country, his community, and especially to his fellow veterans, was unparalleled. This induction ensures that his legacy of compassion, leadership, and service will be remembered and honored for generations to come.”

“I can think of no one more deserving at this moment. Mark Woods is the purest example of a serviceman dedicated to his country and his community. He was humble, passionate and undeniably committed to seeing our community be better. I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to a selfless man like Mark Woods and his enduring legacy than his induction to the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame.” said Carlos Martinez, LMSW, CEO and Executive Director of BRIDGES

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, a good friend of Mark Woods added, “I am proud to help honor the life and legacy of Mark Woods. From his service in the U.S. Army to the streets of NYC as an NYPD officer, to his compassionate work with our veterans and as Town Councilman, his unwavering commitment to helping others will always be an inspiration. Clarkstown and New York State will never forget his lifetime of service.”

The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of veterans who enrich their communities long after leaving active duty. Mark Woods Jr. stands among the finest examples of that enduring legacy.

Continue Reading

Trending