Staff Report / December 15, 2025
PENN YAN – Yates County residents will temporarily lose access to public transportation beginning in the new year as the county transitions to a new transit provider. County officials and Yates Transit Service (YTS) confirmed in separate announcements issued Dec. 12 that bus service will be suspended while the county moves from its current operator to the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, which manages Regional Transit Service.
YTS, a nonprofit that has operated local transit routes since 2017, said it will cease service on Dec. 31 after failing to reach a funding agreement with the county. The organization stated it could not continue operating without additional financial support, citing significant monthly losses incurred by its parent company, Mozaic. Negotiations between the county and YTS broke down after the two sides could not agree on a per-mile reimbursement rate, leading to the end of the existing service contract.
County officials said the decision to change providers followed concerns raised in a 2023 New York State Department of Transportation audit, which identified compliance and procurement issues, as well as dissatisfaction with service performance. While preparations are underway to bring RTS on board, county leaders acknowledged the disruption the suspension will cause and said the interim period without transit could last up to two years. The county has pledged to provide updates on the transition and to share any available interim transportation resources as they become available.
