State Senate forum in Cooperstown on Wednesday will examine rural public transportation concerns ~ Local leaders and transportation management officials from throughout the state will testify

Albany, N.Y., July 20 – New York State Senators Tom O’Mara (R/C/I-Big Flats) and James L. Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) will be in Otsego County on Wednesday, July 22, for a forum at the Village Library in Cooperstown on the future of rural public transportation.

The senators will host a round table discussion focusing on rural concerns raised over the state takeover of the management of local Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NMET).

Local leaders and transportation management officials from Central and Western New York, the Mohawk Valley, the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and the North Country will testify in regard to their experience with the new system and the specific challenges rural communities are contending with due to the state’s ongoing Medicaid redesign strategy.  

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Seward said, “The state’s ongoing Medicaid redesign effort in non-emergency medical transportation represents a significant shift and major changes in public transportation services in many areas, but especially in the rural, upstate regions we represent. The future of public transportation is being put at risk by Albany’s attempt at a statewide, one-size-fits-all approach to these local systems.  It’s a developing crisis for many rural residents.  So we’re trying to bring more widespread attention to the changes underway, fully assess the consequences for our counties, and do what we can to ensure that the impact on rural, upstate public transportation at least receives a full and a fair hearing.” 

EVENT –WEDNESDAY, JULY 22nd:

New York State Senate Forum on the Future of Rural Public Transportation

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Village Library of Cooperstown

22 Main Street

Cooperstown