Olean Area Transit receives award

Nominated from among 50+ rural transportation systems in New York State, Mayor Witte announced that the Olean Area Transit System received the Outstanding Rural Transit System of the Year Award from the New York State Department of Transportation.  The announcement was made and the award was presented at the New York State Public Transit Industry Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York.  Accepting on behalf of the City of Olean was Mary George, Department of Community Development, Vito Sportelli, City Consultant and Jim Gorman, First Transit.

Mayor Witte thanked those individuals and organizations who continue to work collaboratively to provide this important public transportation service in an economical and coordinated fashion.  Current partners include The ReHabilitation Center, Cattaraugus County, St. Bonaventure University and the Seneca Nation of Indians.  Efforts are underway to seek additional partners to expand the service to other parts of Cattaraugus County to serve the mobility needs of our elderly, disabled and those individuals seeking self sufficiency through meaningful employment.  Mayor Witte also thanked the State Department of Transportation officials who have worked closely with the City to help bring Federal and State funding resources to the system.

Mayor Witte also announced news of an expansion of the current OATS route into the Village of Portville (three trips per day), as well as the recent expansion into the City of Salamanca, three times daily.  The Salamanca and Portville services will be provided by First Transit, Inc., the operator of the Olean Area Transit System. The six month service trial for the Salamanca route began on November 1^st and operates Monday through Saturday, except holidays.  Current trips include one morning and one afternoon round trip from Olean to Salamanca and back during daytime hours and one round trip in the evening. 

The cost for each passenger is $1.00 for an adult one-way fare to ride the bus within either the City of Olean or Salamanca. The cost for passengers traveling from either Olean to Salamanca or any stop in between is $2.00. Seniors and disabled individuals may ride for one-half of the adult fare. Children under 12 years of age ride for free but must be accompanied by an adult. 

The bus stop schedules for both expansions to Portville and the new OATS Olean to Salamanca service are available on the City of Olean website, www.cityofolean.org.  Information on the Salamanca bus route and schedule may be obtained through the Seneca Nation Department of Planning by calling Nancy Williams, Community Planner at 716-945-1790, extension 3064 or VMC at 716-373-2223.  Information on the bus route and schedule for OATS Olean to Portville service may be obtained by contacting First Transit Inc. at 585-968-0834 or the City of Olean Department of Community Development at 716-376-5647 during normal business hours.