Matt Coyne

mcoyne@lohud.com

Expanded weekend service — including the addition of Sunday service — is coming to the Tappan ZEExpress bus service, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is footing the bill.

Wednesday morning, the MTA Board approved a two-year, $1 million plan that adds eight more Saturday trips to the Rockland County-run bus line, bringing the total to 32. Two of the runs that used to end in Tarrytown will now be extended to run through to White Plains.

The plan also adds Sunday service, which will also make 32 trips and mirrors the new Saturday schedule.

Additionally, the MTA will assume the full cost of UniTickets, the bus-plus-rail tickets that combine the fares for both services.

The agreement calls for the new schedule to take effect in January.

It's important for the economy, the environment and making sure we have equitable transportation access in that corridor," said board member Veronica Vanterpool, who noted 10 percent of Rocklanders do not have access to a car.

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The deal will remain in place until 2018, when the new Tappan Zee Bridge opens in its entirety and the state Department of Transportation takes over running the cross-Hudson bus service.

The relationship between Rockland residents, the MTA and NJ Transit has been rocky at times. Unlike their counterparts on the New Haven, Harlem and Hudson lines, commuters in Rockland do not have a one-seat train ride into Manhattan, with many relying instead on buses to either take them into the city or to a train station in Westchester.

Train service into the metropolitan area is provided by NJ Transit under an operating agreement with the MTA, but requires a transfer at Seacaucus Junction or Hoboken to get to Manhattan, leaving Rockland commuters at the mercy of the Garden State's transportation issues.

Rockland County officials have said for every dollar they pay in various taxes to the MTA, they only receive a fraction back in service.

At Monday's MTA Board Metro-North Committee meeting, members said it was a way to help increase public transportation options in Rockland.

“This is going to be a great help to everybody," said Carl Wortendyke, Rockland County Executive Ed Day's appointment to the board. "It’s been quite a while since we’ve done anything, but it looks like we’re going in the right direction and I hope we continue.”

In a written statement Wednesday morning, Day praised the move.

"This action will not only provide Sunday (Tappan ZEExpress) service for the first time, but it is testament to the new partnership that we continue to forge with MTA and Metro-North," he said. "I thank the Board members, MTA Chair Tom Prendergast and Metro-North President Joe Giulietti for this incredibly positive step in the right direction to begin bridging Rockland County’s value gap.”

Twitter: @coynereports