TZx to Add Sunday Bus Service, More Saturday Runs to Metro-North Stations from Rockland

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is strengthening its partnership between Metro-North Railroad and Rockland County’s commuter bus service, the TAPPAN ZEExpress, to add service on Saturdays and initiate Sunday service for the first time.

The changes will make it easier for Rockland residents to access Metro-North, MTA officials announced Wednesday.

The first part of the plan is to expand Saturday TZx bus service by adding eight new trips between Rockland and Westchester Counties, and extending two trips to White Plains. The aim is to provide more frequent service throughout the day.

Second, Metro-North and the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation will work together to initiate Sunday TZx bus service for the first time. The bus will operate on the same schedule as the newly enhanced Saturday service.

TZx currently makes 24 trips between Rockland and Westchester on Saturdays but has no Sunday service. In the future, it will have 32 trips on both Saturdays and Sundays.

"The funding approved today will, for the first time, provide TZx service on Sundays," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day in the announcement. "This is a much-needed and vital improvement, as currently there is no other public transit option between Rockland and Westchester on Sundays. We appreciate MTA and Metro-North stepping up with this additional funding for TZx.”

The TAPPAN ZEExpress bus serves seven stops on weekends in Rockland County: Spring Valley, Nanuet, Palisades Center Park & Ride, Palisades Center Stores, Central Nyack, Nyack, and South Nyack; and traverses the Tappan Zee Bridge to provide a timed connection with Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line at Tarrytown Station. The bus also stops at the White Plains Transportation Center bus hub, which is next door to the Metro-North Harlem Line station in White Plains.

"This is one of the many steps needed to build and repair our transit system," Assembly Member Ellen C. Jaffee said. "Many Rocklanders work Saturdays and/or Sundays, so this addition will greatly assist those who travel to the city for work or other obligations on the weekends. Adding the new Sunday service will also provide additional options for those who must get into the city or other stops along the way.”

Rockland County will announce the enhanced weekend bus schedules and connections prior to the start of service, which is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2017.

“As we continue to push for strategies to build train and bus ridership, we’re delighted to be able to offer more options for interconnectivity between Metro-North and TAPPAN ZEExpress,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “The changes we’re announcing today will mean Rockland County residents will have an easier time connecting to Metro-North trains on weekends.”

Day expressed appreciation to MTA and the Board for their support of Rockland County’s TZx commuter bus service. "Rockland County commuters rely upon TZx as a key connecting service to Metro-North’s Hudson and Harlem lines in Westchester County," he said.

Patch file photo