Bee-Line Bus System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:45, 15 June 2024

Revision as of 13:52, 15 June 2024

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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

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

{{Infobox Bus transit

| name = Westchester County Bee-Line System

Line 22 ⟶ 23:

| lounge =

| fleet = 327 fixed route<br>91 paratransit

| ridership = 111,316 <small>(2013)</small> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/pubs/profiles/2013/agency_profiles/2076.pdf |title= National Transit Database Program filingFiling for The Bee-Line System, 2013 |access-date= August 8, 2015-08-08 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052254/http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/pubs/profiles/2013/agency_profiles/2076.pdf |archive-date= March 4, 2016-03-04 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(139 KB)}}</ref>

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

| operator =

Line 46 ⟶ 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= http://transportation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/SysMapENG28june.pdf |date= 2011 |title= Bee-Line System mapMap |website= transportation.westchestergov.com |access-date= January 1, 2012-01-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018142502/http://transportation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/SysMapENG28june.pdf |archive-date= 2015-10-October 18, 2015 |url-status= dead }}&nbsp;{{small|(4.64 MB)}}</ref>

===Outside Westchester===

Because Westchester County borders on the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[the Bronx]], many of the Bee-Line's routes operate into the Bronx, offering Westchester residents connections to [[MTA New York City Transit]] [[MTA Regional Bus Operations|buses]] and [[New York City Subway|subways]]; at least one Bee-Line route connects to each [[List of New York City Subway stations in the Bronx#Lines and services|subway route]] serving the Bronx. The Bee-Line System also operates an express route, the '''BxM4C''' from White Plains, [[Greenburgh, New York|Greenburgh]], [[Hartsdale, New York|Hartsdale]], [[Scarsdale, New York|Scarsdale]], and Yonkers along [[New York State Route 100|Central Park Avenue]] to [[Fifth Avenue]] in [[Manhattan]] (return trips operate on [[Madison Avenue]] within Manhattan).

Bee-Line operates mostly closed-door service in the Bronx (local service is not provided solely for travel within the Bronx; appropriate MTA Regional Bus Operations service must be used instead). The only exceptions are:

* '''Routes 40, 41, 42 and 43''', which run along [[White Plains Road]] north of the [[Wakefield – 241st Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)|Wakefield – 241st Street]] subway terminal;

* '''Route 45''', which serves the [[Pelham Bay Park (IRT Pelham Line)|Pelham Bay Park]] subway terminal, the Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course, and the [[Bartow-Pell Mansion]];

Line 98 ⟶ 99:

** 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 busesBuses |date=April 2007 |website=mta.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528165951/http://www.mta.info/metrocard/beeline.htm |archive-date=May 28, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 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 31, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 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 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=May 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, but is expected to be installed in late 2023 to early 2024. MetroCard will continue to be accepted by New York City Transit subways and buses and Bee-Line service until 2024, enabling Bee-Line passengers to have the option of using MetroCard or OMNY during the transition phase. By 2024, 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|url=https://transportation.westchestergov.com/omny|access-date=2021-01-January 31, 2021|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 16, 2022|accessdate=December 23, 2022}}</ref> As of the summer of 2023, buses are fare free until Labor Day 2023.

Line 120 ⟶ 121:

!Notes

|- align="center"

|116–136

|116-136

|2004

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

| rowspan="2" |'''[[Orion Bus Industries]]'''

Line 132 ⟶ 133:

|

|- align="center"

|137–145

|137-145

|2005

| rowspan="2" |'''[[Orion Bus Industries]]'''

Line 140 ⟶ 141:

|

||- align="center"

|146–154

|146-154

|2006

| rowspan="2" |'''[[Orion Bus Industries]]'''

Line 151 ⟶ 152:

|

|- align="center"

|801–830

|801-830

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

|2008

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

Line 161 ⟶ 162:

* Suburban-spec buses

* Last diesel Orion V buses produced.

* 827-830827–830 were retired in 2010 and sent to Downeast Transportation & Shuttle-Bus Zoom in [[Maine]]

|- align="center"

|205–299

|205-299

(95 total)<br>(all active)

|2009

Line 174 ⟶ 175:

|

|- align="center"

|301–378

|301-378

(78 total)<br>(all active)

|2018–2020

|2018-2020

|[[File:302_XDE60_Bee_Line302 XDE60 Bee Line.jpeg|150x150px]]

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

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE60 articulated]]

Line 184 ⟶ 185:

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

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS300

*

|

* Replaced 2000-032000–03 AN460.

* First Hybrid articulated buses in the fleet.

|- align="center"

|100-110100–110 (6 delivered)

|2023–2024

|2023-2024

|

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

Line 200 ⟶ 201:

|

|- align="center"

|141–144

|141-144

(4 total)<br>(all active)

|2021–2022

|2021-2022

|

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

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

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XE35]]

Line 214 ⟶ 215:

* First electric buses in the fleet

|- align="center"

|145–146

|145-146

(2 total)<br>(all active)

|2021

Line 227 ⟶ 228:

|

|- align="center"

|398–503

|398-503

(106 total)<br>(all active)

|2021–2022

|2021-2022

|

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

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

|[[Xcelsior|Xcelsior XDE40]]

Line 239 ⟶ 240:

|

|- align="center"

|504-555504–555? (Number is unknown)

(11 delivered)

|2023–2024

|2023-2024

|

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

Line 249 ⟶ 250:

* BAE Systems Hybridrive HDS200

|

* Expected to retire all 2008 Orion V Suburbans

|}

Line 272 ⟶ 273:

| Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Allison V730

| 101–106,<br>189-190189–190,<br>194-205194–205

| 1996

|

Line 284 ⟶ 285:

| Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Allison V730

| 107–188,<br>191-193191–193

| 1996

|

Line 296 ⟶ 297:

| MAN D2566 MLUM

Renk-Doromat 874B

| 600–661

| 600-661

| 2002

|

* These were Bee Line's first articulated buses and were used throughout southern Westchester County.

* 661 was originally NYCTA demonstrator bus 8990.

* Replaced with 2000-032000–03 AN460

|-align="center"

| 1986-1986–<br>1987

| '''[[Motor Coach Industries]]'''<br>102A2

| 40

Line 309 ⟶ 310:

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

Allison HTB-748

| 901–936

| 901-936

| 2009

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

Line 319 ⟶ 320:

| Detroit Diesel 6V92TA

Voith D863.3

| 760–874

| 760-874

| 2007

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

Line 329 ⟶ 330:

| Cummins L10

Voith D863.3

| 875–879

| 875-879

| 2001

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

Line 340 ⟶ 341:

| [[Navistar T444E engine|Navistar T444E]]

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 301–310

| 301-310

| 1999

|

Line 365 ⟶ 366:

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

|-align="center"

| 1995-1995–<br>1996

| '''Orion Bus Industries'''<br>05.501

| 40

Line 371 ⟶ 372:

| Detroit Diesel series 50

Allison B-400R Gen II

| 401–484

| 401-484

| 2009

|

Line 384 ⟶ 385:

| Navistar T444E

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 313–332

| 313-332

| 2004

| These buses expanded the shuttle fleet.

Line 394 ⟶ 395:

| Navistar T444E

Ford 4R100 4 speed

| 333–361

| 333-361

| 2005

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

|-align="center"

| 2000–2003

| 2000-2003

|'''[[Neoplan USA]]'''<br>AN460 "Transliner" articulated

|60

Line 404 ⟶ 405:

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

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

| 501–578

| 501-578

| 2020

|

* 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 |title=Westchester legislatorsLegislators OK newNew Bee-Line busesBuses |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2016/08/01/westchester-new-bee-line-buses/87924304/ |website=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 |title=DASH isIs runningRunning the firstFirst non-WMATA articulatedArticulated busesBuses in Washington areaArea transitTransit |url=https://ggwash.org/view/72772/alexandria-has-the-first-non-wmata-articulated-buses-in-the-washington-area |website=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=15 August 15, 2019}}</ref>

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

|-align="center"

| 2002

Line 421 ⟶ 422:

| Detroit Diesel series 50 EGR

Allison B-400R Gen III

| 101–115

| 101-115

| 2012

|

Line 437 ⟶ 438:

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

Alison 2000 PTS

| 301–318

| 301-318

| 2010

|

Line 443 ⟶ 444:

* Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.

|-

|2006

| '''Orion Bus Industries'''

''07.501 (hev)''

|40

|102

|

|201–204

|201-204

|2022

|

* Replaced with XDE40's and XE40ng

* First hybrid buses

|-

|2006

| '''Orion Bus'''

'''Industries'''

''05.501''

|40

|102

|

|601–704

|601-704

|2023

|

* Order was originally for 2005 AN440(oh) until Neoplan went bankrupt

* Replaced 1990 Flexible Metro B

* Replaced by XDE40 and XE40ng

|-align="center"

| 2007

Line 476 ⟶ 477:

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

Alison 2000 PTS

| 319–320

| 319-320

| 2010

| Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.

Line 482 ⟶ 483:

===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 |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 |title=Westchester County to expandExpand itsIts 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 |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==

Line 494 ⟶ 495:

{{NYC surface transit}}

[[Category:Bus transportation in New York (state)]]

[[Category:Transportation in Yonkers, New York]]

[[Category:Transportation in Westchester County, New York]]

[[Category:1978 establishments in New York (state)]]

[[Category:SurfaceBus transportation in Greater New York (state)]]

[[Category:Paratransit services in the United States]]

[[Category:BusSurface transportation in Greater New York (state)]]

[[Category:Transportation in Westchester County, New York]]

[[Category:Transportation in Yonkers, New York]]