Bee-Line Bus System: Difference between revisions

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{{Use mdy dates|date=JuneMay 20242025}}

{{Short description|Bus system in Westchester County, New York}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

Line 13:

| headquarters = 100 East First Street, 9th Floor<br>[[Mount Vernon, New York|Mount Vernon]], [[New York (state)|NY]] 10550

| locale = [[Westchester County, New York]]

| service_area = [[Westchester County, New York]] and [[Putnam County, New York]]; [[The Bronx]] and [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]]; and [[Fairfield CountyGreenwich, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] in [[Connecticut]]

| service_type = Local, Limited, express, shuttle buses

| alliance =

| routes = 64

Line 23:

| lounge =

| fleet = 327 fixed route<br>91 paratransit

| ridership = 11172,316350 <small>(20132023)</small> <ref name=NTD1>{{cite web |url= httphttps://www.ntdprogramtransit.dot.gov/ntdprogramsites/pubsfta.dot.gov/profilesfiles/2013transit_agency_profile_doc/agency_profiles2023/207620076.pdf |title=NationalBee TransitLine Database Program Filing for The Bee-LineBus System, 20132023 |access-date=Annual AugustAgency 8, 2015Profile |archive-urlwebsite=Federal https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052254/http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/pubs/profiles/2013/agency_profiles/2076.pdfTransit |archive-date= March 4, 2016 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(139 KB)Administration}}</ref>

| fuel_type = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]], [[Diesel-electric]] hybrid

| operator =

Line 35:

==History==

The system was founded on May 1, 1978, by the then Westchester County Department of Transportation to consolidate the bus system with thirteen private bus companies and has been given control over the buses, fare structure, routes, and services. By the 1980s, the bus system had an identity problem in who was providing the service. On May 19, 1987, WCDOT officially named the bus service "The Bee-Line System" with a 'bee-in-flight' mascot drawn by cartoonist [[Jack Davis (cartoonist)|Jack Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.utrc2.org/sites/default/files/pubs/Singh-Report.pdf |title=Variable Fares for Elderly & Handicapped Transit Riders: An Analysis of Westchester County }}&nbsp;{{small|(1.25 MB)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kriss |first1=Gary |title=Bus System Gets a Name And a Logo |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/24/nyregion/bus-system-gets-a-name-and-a-logo.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 7, 2021-07-07 |date=May 24, 1987-05-24}}</ref>

The Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation currently contracts out to two private bus companies to provide service in Westchester County and the surrounding counties: [[Yonkers, New York|Yonkers]]-based [[Liberty Lines Transit, Inc.]], the main company that either bought out or obtained franchises from the other twelve bus companies over the years, operates buses on all but three bus routes; and [[Cortlandt Manor, New York|Cortlandt Manor]]-based P.T.L.A. Enterprise, Inc., a small company that operates buses on routes 16, 18, and 31.

Line 41:

==Scope of service==

[[File:Valhalla Bee-line HQ jeh.jpg|thumb|left|The Cerrato Satellite Bus Facility in Valhalla]]

Most Bee-Line routes operate seven days a week. ThereBefore is2025, there was no service county-wide on two days of the calendar year, [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] (the fourth Thursday in November), and [[Christmas]] (December 25).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transportation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/Schedules/2025holidayschedules.pdf|title=2025 Holiday Schedules|website=transportation.westchestergov.com|access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref>

===Within Westchester===

Line 47:

The system's 64 routes are mostly concentrated in the more urban southern portion of the county, with the cities of [[Mount Vernon, New York|Mount Vernon]], [[New Rochelle, New York|New Rochelle]], and [[Yonkers, New York|Yonkers]] receiving a high frequency of service. [[White Plains, New York|White Plains]], the county seat and most centrally located city, is a major transportation hub with many routes converging on the city's TransCenter.

Service in the northern portion of Westchester is sparse and is concentrated near slightly populated areas such as [[Mount Kisco]], [[Ossining (village), New York|Ossining]], or [[Peekskill]]. Areas such as [[Lewisboro, New York|Lewisboro]], [[North Salem, New York|North Salem]], and [[Pound Ridge, New York|Pound Ridge]] receive paratransit service only. During the school year, special bus routes also operate. All but the county's smallest, most rural communities have at least [[rush hour]] service.<ref name=Bee-Line-Service>{{cite web |url= httphttps://transportation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/SysMapENG28juneSmartC/wcdotsysmapeng032025.pdf |date=March 20112025 |title=Bee-Line System Map |website= transportation.westchestergov.com |access-date= January 1, 2012 |archive2025-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018142502/http://transportation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/SysMapENG28june.pdf |archive05-date= October 18, 2015 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(4.64 MB)17}}</ref>

===Outside Westchester===

Line 80:

** free to MTA local buses, subways, and other Bee-Line services

** $3.75 "step-up" charge for transferring to an MTA Bus express route

|$33.0034<br><small>$16.5017 with Reduced Fare ID</small>

|$127.00132<br><small>$63.5066 with Reduced Fare ID</small>

|-align="center"

!'''BxM4C'''

Line 87:

|$3.75<br><small>(Off peak only)</small>

|

* '''No transfers accepted, transfers areor issued as follows:'''

** '''Cash''': Valid on MTA buses, other Bee-Line buses.

** '''MetroCard''': Valid on MTA buses and subways, other Bee-Line buses.

| colspan="2" |No Unlimited-Ride MetroCards accepted

|-align="center"

Line 99 ⟶ 97:

** First departure and last four departures from Manhattan

|}

Bee-Line Bus started accepting MetroCard on April 1, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mta.info/metrocard/beeline.htm |title=MTA NYC Transit MetroCard – Westchester Bee-Line Buses |date=April 2007 |website=mta.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528165951/http://www.mta.info/metrocard/beeline.htm |archive-date=May 2007-05-28, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 2017-05-15, 2017 }}</ref> The fare for the BxM4C went down from $7 to $5. The regular fare was $2 for MetroCard, and $1.75 if paid in cash. Dollar bills, passports, and ticket books were no longer accepted for fare payment after this date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westchestergov.com/currentnews/2007pr/metroAllAbout.htm |title=All About MetroCard in Westchester |date=April 2007 |website=westchestergov.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831194920/http://www.westchestergov.com/currentnews/2007pr/metroAllAbout.htm |archive-date=August 2007-08-31, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 2017-05-15, 2017 }}</ref> MetroCard Vans made stops on heavily used routes to help people get ready for the MetroCard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westchestergov.com/currentnews/2007pr/metrocardvanschedule.htm |title=MetroCard Van Schedule |date=April 2007 |website=westchestergov.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901231800/http://www.westchestergov.com/currentnews/2007pr/metrocardvanschedule.htm |archive-date=September 1, 2007-09-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 2017-05-15, 2017 }}</ref> On July 23, 2019, it was announced that the Bee-Line bus fare system on all buses would be upgraded to the [[OMNY]] fare system in 2021–2022, replacing the MetroCard. The Westchester County Department of Transportation states that "OMNY is targeted for introduction on the Bee-Line Bus System beginning in 2022 at the earliest." OMNY hasn't been installed {{as of 2023|2025|05|lc=y}}, but is expected to be installed in late 20232025 to early 20242026. MetroCard will continue to be accepted by New York City Transit subways and buses and Bee-Line service until 20242026, enabling Bee-Line passengers to have the option of using MetroCard or OMNY during the transition phase. By 20242026, MetroCard will be discontinued and all Bee-Line passengers will then use OMNY. The Reduced-Fare MetroCard Program will also be converted over to OMNY."<ref>{{Cite web|title=OmnyOMNY/Bee-line|url=https://transportation.westchestergov.com/omny|access-date=January 31, 20212025-05-17|website=transportation.westchestergov.com}}</ref>

For certain periods during the summer and winter of 2022, the buses were fare-free.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/9685-county-executive-george-latimer-announces-free-rides-on-the-bee-line-bus-for-the-holiday-season|title=County Executive George Latimer Announces Free Rides on the Bee-Line Bus for the Holiday Season|publisher=Westchester County|date=November 2022-11-16, 2022|accessdate=December 2022-12-23, 2022}}</ref> As ofDuring the summersummers of 2023 and 2024, buses arewere fare free until Labor Day 2023.

==Fleet==

Line 108 ⟶ 106:

This roster only lists buses and shuttle vans used in fixed route service. [[Paratransit]] vehicles are not listed. All buses are wheelchair accessible.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;sortable"

|+

|- align="center"

Line 118 ⟶ 116:

! width="50px" |Length

! width="50px" |Width

!Engines

!Powertrain

!Transmission

!Notes

|- align="center"

|116–136

(20 total)

(5 retiring)

|2005

|[[Image:Bee-Line Orion 136.jpg|150x150px]]

|''' rowspan="3" |[[Orion Bus Industries]]'''

| rowspan="2" |[[Orion V|Orion V 05.505]]

| rowspan="2" |{{convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| rowspan="2" |{{convert|96|in|m|abbr=on}}

|Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR

| rowspan="3" |[[Allison Transmission|Allison]] [[Allison Bus Series|B400R]]

|

|- align="center"

|

|

|

* Detroit Diesel Series 50

* [[Allison Transmission|Allison]] [[Allison Bus Series|B400R]]

|

* Originally had Cummins ISM

|- align="center"

|801–830

(30 total)<br>(19 active) retiring

|2008

|[[Image:Bee-Line System Orion V 05.501 suburban single door 801.jpg|150x150px]]

|'''[[Orion Bus Industries]]'''

|[[Orion V|Orion V 05.501]]

| rowspan="24" |{{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| rowspan="810"|{{convert|102|in|m|abbr=on}}

| rowspan="2" |[[Cummins]] [[Cummins ISL|ISL]]

|- align="center"

|

|

| rowspan="3" |[[North American Bus Industries]]'''

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins ISL|ISL]]

| rowspan="3" | [[NABI 40-LFW|NABI 40-LFW HEV]]

* [[Allison Transmission|Allison]] [[Allison Bus Series|B400R]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Allison Transmission|Allison]] E^P40 Hybrid System

|

* Suburban-spec buses

* Last diesel Orion V buses produced.

* 827–830 were retired in 2010 and sent to Downeast Transportation & Shuttle-Bus Zoom in [[Maine]]

|- align="center"

|205–299

(95 total)<br>(all active)

|2009

|[[File:Bee-Line System NABI 40LFW (model year 2009).jpg|150x150px]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Cummins]] [[Cummins ISL9|ISL9]]

|'''[[North American Bus Industries]]'''

|

| [[NABI 40-LFW|NABI 40-LFW HEV]]

|- align="center"

|

|Allison H 40 EP

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins ISB|ISB]]

hybrid system

* [[Allison Transmission|Allison]] E^P40 Hybrid System

|

|- align="center"

|301–378

(78 total)<br>(all active)

|2018–2020

|[[File:302 XDE60 Bee Line.jpeg|150x150px]]

Line 170 ⟶ 167:

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE60 articulated]]

|{{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L9|L9]]

|BAE Systems

HDS300

hybrid system

|

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins L9|L9]]

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS300

*

|

* Replaced 2000–03 AN460.

* First Hybrid articulated buses in the fleet.

|- align="center"

|100–106

|100–110 (6 delivered)

|2023

|2023–2024

|

|'''[[New Flyer Industries]]'''

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE35]]

|{{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins B Series engine|B6.7]]

|

|BAE Systems

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins B Series engine|B6.7]]

HDS200

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS200

hybrid system

|

|- align="center"

|141–144

|2021

(4 total)<br>(all active)

|2021–2022

|

[[File:XE35 bee line.jpg|128px| ]]

Line 197 ⟶ 192:

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XE35]]

|{{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|rowspan="2" | Siemens HV1DB2016

|rowspan="2" |Siemens ELFA2

|

* Siemens HV1DB2016

* Siemens ELFA2

|

* First electric buses in the fleet

|- align="center"

|145–146

(2 total)<br>(all active)

|2021

|

Line 211 ⟶ 203:

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XE40]]

| rowspan="3" |{{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|

* Siemens HV1DB2016

* Siemens ELFA2

|

|- align="center"

|398–503

(106 total)<br>(all active)

|2021–2022

|[[File:BeelineXDE40.jpg|frameless|128x128px]]

|

[[File:XDE40BeeLine.jpg|128px| ]]

|'''[[New Flyer Industries]]'''

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE40]]

|rowspan="2" | [[Cummins]] [[Cummins L9|L9]]

|

|rowspan="2" |BAE Systems

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins L9|L9]]

HDS200

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS200

hybrid system

|

|- align="center"

|504–515 (11 delivered)

516-555? (future deliveries; numbers unknown)

|2023–2024

|[[File:XDE40 Bee-Line.jpg|frameless|128x128px]]

Line 235 ⟶ 222:

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE40]]

|

* [[Cummins]] [[Cummins L9|L9]]

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS200

|

* Expected to retire all 2008 Orion V Suburbans

|}

Line 249 ⟶ 232:

! Width<br><small>(inches)</small>

! {{access icon|20px}}

! Engine/Transmission

! Numbers

! Year Last Retired

Line 259 ⟶ 241:

| 96

| rowspan="6" | [[Image:X mark.svg|15px]]

| Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Allison V730

| 101–106,<br>189–190,<br>194–205

| 1996

Line 271 ⟶ 251:

| 40

| 96

| Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Allison V730

| 107–188,<br>191–193

| 1996

Line 283 ⟶ 261:

| 60

| 102

| MAN D2566 MLUM

Renk-Doromat 874B

| 600–661

| 2002

Line 296 ⟶ 272:

| 40

| 102

| |[[Detroit Diesel Series 92|Detroit Diesel 6V92TA]]

Allison HTB-748

| 901–936

| 2009

|

| Last non-accessible Bee-Line buses on the active roster.

* Last non-accessible Bee-Line buses on the active roster.

|-align="center"

| 1990

Line 306 ⟶ 281:

| 40

| 102

| Detroit Diesel 6V92TA

Voith D863.3

| 760–874

| 2007

|

| These were Bee Line's last buses without wheelchair lifts.

* These were Bee Line's last buses without wheelchair lifts.

|-align="center"

| 1990

Line 316 ⟶ 290:

| 40

| 102

| Cummins L10

Voith D863.3

| 875–879

| 2001

|

| These were Bee Line's first buses with four-cycle engines.

|-align="center"

| 1994

Line 327 ⟶ 299:

| 96

| rowspan="12" | [[Image:Yes check.svg|15px]]

| [[Navistar T444E engine|Navistar T444E]]

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 301–310

| 1999

Line 339 ⟶ 309:

| 25.92

| 96

| Navistar T444E

Allison AT545

| 311

| 2000

|

| This bus would be the only Orion 2 ever ordered. It was used on bus-to-rail shuttles.

* This bus would be the only Orion 2 ever ordered. It was used on bus-to-rail shuttles.

|-align="center"

| 1995

Line 349 ⟶ 318:

| 22

| 102

| Solectria AC55

| 312

| Unknown

|

| This was Bee-Line's only electric-powered bus. It was used for the Shoppers Shuttle service within White Plains.

* This was Bee-Line's only electric-powered bus. It was used for the Shoppers Shuttle service within White Plains.

|-align="center"

| 1995–<br>1996

Line 358 ⟶ 327:

| 40

| 102

| Detroit Diesel series 50

Allison B-400R Gen II

| 401–484

| 2009

Line 371 ⟶ 338:

| 25

| 96

| Navistar T444E

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 313–332

| 2004

|

| These buses expanded the shuttle fleet.

* These buses expanded the shuttle fleet.

|-align="center"

| 1999

Line 381 ⟶ 347:

| 25

| 96

| Navistar T444E

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 333–361

| 2005

|

| These buses expanded the shuttle fleet, and were replacements for the first 11 shuttle vans.

* These buses expanded the shuttle fleet, and were replacements for the first 11 shuttle vans.

|-align="center"

| 2000–2003

Line 391 ⟶ 356:

|60

|102

|[[Detroit Diesel 60|Detroit Diesel Series 60]]

[[Allison Transmission|Allison]] [[Allison Bus Series|B500R]]

| 501–578

| 2020

Line 399 ⟶ 361:

* 501 was a 2000 model

* Replaced all Man SG310 buses

* Replaced by New Flyer XDE60 buses<ref>{{cite web |last=Coyne |first=Matt |date=August 1, 2016-08-01 |title=Westchester Legislators OK New Bee-Line Buses |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2016/08/01/westchester-new-bee-line-buses/87924304/ |website=lohud[[Lohud]]}}</ref> between 2018 and 2020.

* 577 as the last unit

* 14 units sold to Virginia Alexandria Transit Company's [[DASH (bus)|DASH]] for use on the [[WMATA]] [[Yellow Line (Washington Metro)|Yellow]]/[[Blue Line (Washington Metro)|Blue]] line shuttle bus service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Malouff |first1=Dan |date=July 8, 2019-07-08 |title=DASH Is Running the First non-WMATA Articulated Buses in Washington Area Transit |url=https://ggwash.org/view/72772/alexandria-has-the-first-non-wmata-articulated-buses-in-the-washington-area |website=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=August 15, 2019-08-15}}</ref>

* Option to order AN440 buses there 40&nbsp;ft versions 601/602 test units until Neoplan announced a shutdown.

|-align="center"

Line 408 ⟶ 370:

| 32

| 96

| Detroit Diesel series 50 EGR

Allison B-400R Gen III

| 101–115

| 2012

Line 415 ⟶ 375:

* Replaced older shuttle vans.

* Retired without replacement with 2012 budget cuts in maintaining the fleet and were sold to the following transit agencies:

** 4 units were sold to [[Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit]].<ref name="Community Buses Roll Into Maine">{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=DOT_Press_Releases&id=345524&v=article|title=Community Buses Roll Into Maine| work=[[MaineDOT]]|date=January 24, 2012-01-24|access-date=February 4, 2012-02-04}}</ref>

** 5 units were sold to [[Community Connector]].<ref name="Community Buses Roll Into Maine"/>

** 2 units were sold to [[South Portland Bus Service]].<ref name="Community Buses Roll Into Maine"/>

** 4 units were sold to [[Housatonic Area Regional Transit]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/minjan12.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131213073031/http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/minjan12.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 13, 2013 |title=Connecticut Public Transportation Commission }}&nbsp;{{small|(97.9 KB)}}</ref>

|-align="center"

| 2005

Line 424 ⟶ 384:

| 25

| 91

| [[Navistar VT engine#VT365|Navistar VT365]]

Alison 2000 PTS

| 301–318

| 2010

Line 437 ⟶ 395:

|40

|102

|

|201–204

|2022

Line 451 ⟶ 408:

|40

|102

|

|601–704

|2023

Line 463 ⟶ 419:

| 25

| 91

| [[Navistar VT engine#MaxxForce 7|MaxxForce 7]]

Alison 2000 PTS

| 319–320

| 2010

|

| Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.

* Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.

|}

===Future fleet===

In February 2020, it was announced that Westchester County's Bee-Line Bus fleet would be expanding with 78 hybrid-electric 60-foot buses (all delivered by summer 2020), 106 hybrid-electric 40-foot buses and two 40-foot battery-electric buses – all built by New Flyer Industries – under a plan to have the entire transit bus fleet running on either fully electric or diesel-electric hybrid technology by 2025. As of July 2020, 106 40-foot diesel-electric buses and two 40-foot battery-electric are planned to be delivered between 2021 and 2025. Four 35-foot battery-electric buses are also planned to be delivered, totaling 6 battery-electric buses by 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |date=February 4, 2020-02-04 |title=Westchester Awarded $3M For Hybrid-Electric Buses From New York State|url=https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/8265-westchester-awarded-3m-for-hybrid-electric-buses-from-new-york-state |website=westchestergov.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=June 5, 2020-06-05 |title=Westchester County to Expand Its Electric Vehicle Fleet with $1.5M Grant from the US Department of Transportation |url=https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/8502-westchester-county-to-expand-its-electric-vehicle-fleet-with-1-5m-grant-from-the-us-department-of-transportation |website=westchestergov.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=July 21, 2020-07-21 |title=Going Green: County Approves Nearly $4.5M Bond For Electric Buses|url=https://www.westchestergov.com/home/all-press-releases/8563-going-green-county-approves-nearly-4-5m-bond-for-electric-buses|website=westchestergov.com}}</ref>

==References==