MONTICELLO — After a year of planning and discussion, Sullivan County has revealed its county-wide bus route dubbed, “Move Sullivan.”

With more than 17 stops across the middle part of the county, the Sullivan County Transportation Department wants to offer residents a reliable ride that will be able to connect communities.

Buses will begin operating on Monday, August 19 and will be free for the remainder of the year. Starting on January 1, 2020, one-way fares will cost $2.

According to County Manager Josh Potosek, they are still working out how they will collect fares.

Move Sullivan at its initial start will have two bus routes, which start taking passengers between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

The bus routes will serve the areas with the largest concentration of residents in the county, according to Potosek, with plans to expand if the program is successful.

“We need to get people around the county to go to work, go to doctors and go shopping,” said District 7 Legislator Joseph Perrello. “I think this will help people going out looking for work, knowing that they have some type of transportation.”

Major stops on the bus route will be SUNY Sullivan, Village of Monticello, Village of Liberty, Walmart, Resorts World Catskills Casino, Kartrite Waterpark, Hurleyville Arts Center, Catskill Regional Medical Center, the Shortline Bus Terminal and Thompson Square Mall in Monticello.

District 8 Legislator Ira Steingart said, “I think it's a great indicator of the economic changes that are going on in Sullivan County. The workforce is very important to the growth of the economy and people being able to get to their jobs. Many people in the county don't have transportation so I think this is going to help.”

Potosek cited the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation rankings as a reason that he is happy the project is finally off the ground. The study found Sullivan County to be second to last in overall health.

The study stated that one reason the county received that low ranking was residents lack of access to healthcare and exercise opportunities.

“One of the main goals with this route was to ensure that [we are] not only hitting the population centers but hitting our major health institutions such as Catskill Regional Medical Center and their urgent care facility,” said Potosek.

Adding these public transportation routes in the county will cost around $400,000 annually, according to Potosek. The project is funded by the Sullivan County Legislature and Federal Transportation Administration via the New York State Department of Transportation.

According to Potosek, the cost will be offset by fare collections starting in 2020.

The bus contract was awarded to Rolling V Bus Corporation for three years, with an option for two more years after that, according to Potosek.

Rolling V Bus Corporation President Phil Vallone said he was honored that his company was chosen for the project. “We will not let you down. People have to use it. If they use it, it'll grow,” Vallone said.

For more information, visit, www.movesullivan.com or on Facebook, Move Sullivan.