DeRiggi-Whitton Urges Bus Stops For Seniors and Businesses

Earlier this summer, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton met with residents of the Amsterdam at Harborside, a senior living community located just off West Shore Road in Port Washington. In an effort to extend bus service onto this six-mile road, representatives of the development sent a proposal to the County’s NICE (Nassau Inter County Express) bus system. Because the response letter they received basically told them there was nothing they could do, representatives of the development brought their request to the Legislature.

There are also two industrial parks on West Shore Road. Between the two industrial parks and the Amsterdam, thousands of people live or work just off a six-mile road with no access to public transportation.

In early August, Phil DelPrete, owner of R Best Produce located in one of the industrial parks met with Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton to request help in urging NICE bus to alter an existing bus route to include West Shore Road stops. “Many of the businesses in the industrial parks have a hard time hiring employees who don’t drive because of the lack of public transportation,” R Best Produce owner Phil DelPrete said. “The industrial parks and The Amsterdam represent thousands of people who need bus service. It’s simply a matter of extending service on an existing bus route to make three additional stops.”

On August 16, a following up meeting took place with Delia, Mr. DelPrete, other business leaders in the industrial parks and NICE Chief Executive Officer Michael Setzer. The meeting attendees discussed adding stops along West Shore Road for these two industrial parks and The Amsterdam. “Michael Setzer was very cooperative and took the time to discuss the issues with the various business owners and managers who attended the meeting,” Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton said.

A meeting with NICE Bus board of directors has been scheduled for September. In preparation for this meeting, Delia will assist business leaders from the industrial park and representatives of The Amsterdam to collect letters in support of adding these stops on West Shore Road. “While Mr. Setzer confirmed that the key issue with extending a bus line is a matter of funding and cannot guarantee anything, we will work hard with NICE’s board to try to work out a solution that will help many resident and industrial park employees,” DeRiggi-Whitton added.

Please contact Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton’s office about this or other topics at 516-571-6211 or dderiggiwhitton@nassaucountyny.gov.

Photo: NICE CEO Michael Setzer and Leg. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (center) during a meeting with Port Washington business leaders.