Going mobile in the mid-Hudson

HIGHWAYS

The Hudson Valley is criss-crossed by two interstate highway systems. Interstate 84 through southern Dutchess County leads to Connecticut on the east and northeastern Pennsylvania on the west. The New York State Thruway connects New York City with Buffalo via Albany.

The Taconic State Parkway is the valley's main north-south highway east of the Hudson River. The four-lane roadway also connects the Hudson Valley to New York City and Albany.

Other major north-south routes in the valley include U.S. Route 9 on the east side of the Hudson River and Route 9W on the west.

Dutchess County's busiest north-south roadway is Route 9.

BRIDGES

The New York State Bridge Authority operates five Hudson River toll crossings. Eastbound passenger cars pay 75 cents to use the bridges. There is no toll for westbound travelers.

The crossings are the Bear Mountain Bridge linking Westchester and Orange counties; the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge carrying Route 84 across the river; the Mid-Hudson Bridge linking Poughkeepsie with Highland; the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge between northern Dutchess and Ulster counties; and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge joining Columbia and Greene counties.

BUSES

The Dutchess County LOOP bus system, established in 1975, offers regular and express service throughout the county. The operator is Progressive Transportation Services, Inc.

Poughkeepsie Transit serves the City of Poughkeepsie. Routes include a number of routes including Main Street A, Main Street B, Northside A, Northside B, Southside, the Hospital Route and the Shopper's Special. Schedules vary for each route.

Shortline offers express service between Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Fishkill, Rhinebeck, Newburgh, Middletown, New York City, Ithaca and Binghamton. Daily service also is provided to casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., with an extra trip on Saturday. Fares depend on destination.

Shortline's Dutchess County terminals are located at Sub City, 246 Main Mall in the City of Poughkeepsie; Chestnut Mobil on Route 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie; McShagel's, in the Ames Plaza on Route 52, in Fishkill; and Arlington Getty Service Station, 813 Main St. in the City of Poughkeepsie. For information, call (800) 631-8405.

Adirondack Trailways offers two trips daily between Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Esopus, West Park, Highland, Milton, Marlboro and Newburgh. An express also runs from Newburgh to Kingston on Fridays and Sundays. Fares vary depending on destination.

Adirondack's Dutchess County terminal is located at Sub City, 246 Main Mall in the City of Poughkeepsie. For information, call 485-3579, 331-0744 or (800) 225-6815 for a recorded message.

AIRPORTS

Dutchess County Airport in New Hackensack offers commercial service through USAir Express. The airline flies 19-seat Beechcraft 1900s three times a day to Burlington, Vt., and four a day times to White Plains, with one flight continuing to Boston. Charter services are also available.

The county airport, built as a military satellite to Stewart International Airport in the 1940s, has been forced to re-examine its role as Stewart continues to grow just 12 miles west, across the Hudson River.

Stewart International Airport in New Windsor has five airlines for general and corporate aviation services.

TRAINS

Metro-North Commuter Railroad provides daily service to and from New York City on its Hudson and Harlem lines. The Hudson line's northern terminus is Poughkeepsie and the Harlem line in eastern Dutchess ends in Dover Plains.

Several construction projects have been completed designed to make rail travel quicker and more convenient at the Poughkeepsie, New Hamburg and Beacon stations. A project underway at New Hamburg would add 71 parking spaces.

Station platforms at New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie have been renovated under a separate $19 million project at six upper Hudson stops.

For information, call (800) METRO-INFO.

Amtrak also offers rail service from Poughkeepsie north to Rhinecliff, Hudson, Albany-Rensselaer and Schenectady. Southbound stops from Poughkeepsie are Croton-Harmon and Pennsylvania Station. Amtrak trains heading south from New York City leave from Pennsylvania Station.

For more information, call (800) 872-7245.

BOATS

Public access to the Hudson River is available up and down the Dutchess County waterfront. Boats can be launched from the City of Beacon Boat Ramp, Chelsea's Boat Launch Ramp, the Rhinebeck Town Landing, Victor Waryas Park in the City of Poughkeepsie and White's Hudson River Marina at Point New Hamburg.

TAXIS

Several taxi companies serve the Hudson Valley. They are listed in the telephone directory.

Compiled by Laurie Hlavaty