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Online Editor's note — The following information is changed from the original article that appeared in the Press-Republican to correct several errors.

PLATTSBURGH — As a way to help senior citizens cope with hard economic times, their fares for the Clinton County Public Transit system are being reduced.

Beginning Sunday, people age 60 and older can get a senior pass at $20. The senior pass should last twice as long since it will be punched at the reduced rates.

Senior passes can be obtained at the Clinton County Planning Office at 135 Margaret St., Suite 124, Plattsburgh. They can also be obtained Clinton County Office for the Aging at the same street address.

Seniors must show valid identification with their age on it to get the pass.

They will then show the pass on the bus to get the free or reduced rates for routes.

NEW RATES
Under the new plan for seniors:

  City routes will go from $1 to 50 cents.

  Rural routes will drop from $2 to $1.

  Shuttles will remain at 50 cents.

  The Seton Express will remain at 50 cents.

  City paratransit (disability availability) routes will go from $2 to $1.

  Rural paratransit routes will drop from $3.50 to $1.50.

  Tokens will remain at $1.00.

  Transfers to city routes will remain at 50 cents.

  Transfers to rural routes will remain at $1.50.

The Public Transit staff worked with the county's Office for the Aging to come up with the new fare schedule in order to ease the financial burden on the elderly.

Clinton County legislators approved the plan.

"We found that the costs for seniors who use the bus a lot were becoming somewhat prohibitive," said County Legislator Keith Defayette (R-Area 5, Schuyler Falls), who chairs the county's Transportation Committee.

Defayette said the system will not lose money on the deal because the county will still get federal aid based on ridership.

"There will be no negative impact on the county on this, and we will still have these seniors on the buses."

For more information on the new senior fares, call Sally Garvey at the Office for the Aging at 565-4620 or Maggie Barie at Clinton County Public Transit at 565-4713.

SENIOR BUS
Some changes are planned to the Senior Bus that is designed specially for older people.

The city routes, which were hardly used, have been dropped, and rural routes have been expanded.

Instead of having fixed drop-off destinations in Plattsburgh, riders can let the dispatcher know when they are making their reservation where they want to be dropped off within Plattsburgh city limits and approximately when they would like to be picked up.

SPECIAL TRIPS
One week each month, special trips for seniors will be scheduled for leaf-peeping, visits to pumpkin patches or to view holiday decorations.

Those Senior Bus events will start Nov. 18, with three trips to the Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy. The bus will depart from the Senior Center at 5129 North Catherine St. in Plattsburgh at 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

On Nov. 20, three trips to Champlain Centre are scheduled, with the bus departing at the same times.

To reserve a seat, call dispatch at 561-1452.

OFFICE MOVING
The phone numbers for Clinton County Public Transit will remain the same despite it moving to new headquarters.

The offices will move to 226 Arizona Ave. on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base on Monday.

Office hours and dispatch services will not be changed, and the buses will continue to run without interruption.

The move to the new facility is part of a five-year project by the county to rehabilitate the former Air Force building into the new bus garage.

The garage will have three service bays, one drive-through wash bay, offices, a parts room and a conference/training room.

The fleet features 16 vehicles, including two senior and two paratransit buses.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com