Bee-Line Bus System

The Bee-Line Bus System, branded on the buses in lowercase as the bee-line system, is a bus system serving Westchester County, New York. The system is owned by the county's Department of Public Works and Transportation.

Bee-Line Bus System

Neoplan AN460 #551, now retired, passes New Flyer XDE60 #302 on layover at Bedford Park.
Slogan	The Way To Go
Parent	Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation
Founded	May 1, 1978
Headquarters	100 East First Street, 9th Floor Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Locale	Westchester County, New York
Service area	Westchester, Bronx, New York, and Putnam counties in New York, and Fairfield County in Connecticut
Service type	Local, express, bus-to-rail shuttle buses
Routes	64
Fleet	327 fixed route 91 paratransit
Daily ridership	111,316 (2013) [1]
Fuel type	Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid
Operator	Liberty Lines Transit, Inc. (all fixed routes except 16, 18, and 31) P.T.L.A. Enterprise, Inc. (16, 18 and 31) Suburban Paratransit Service, Inc. (National Express subsidiary) (paratransit)
Chief executive	Jay Pisco, P.E., Commissioner
Website	Bee-Line Bus System

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.[2]

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-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-based P.T.L.A. Enterprise, Inc., a small company that operates buses on routes 16, 18, and 31.

Scope of service

The Cerrato Satellite Bus Facility in Valhalla

Most Bee-Line routes operate seven days a week. There is no service county-wide on two days of the calendar year, Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas (December 25).

Within Westchester

Main article: List of bus routes in Westchester County

The system's 64 routes are mostly concentrated in the more urban southern portion of the county, with the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Yonkers receiving a high frequency of service. 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, or Peekskill. Areas such as Bedford Hills, Lewisboro, North Salem, and 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.[3]

Outside Westchester

Because Westchester County borders on the 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 bus and subways; at least one Bee-Line route connects to every subway line serving in the Bronx. The Bee-Line System also operates an express route, the BxM4C from White Plains, Greenburgh, Hartsdale, Scarsdale, and Yonkers along 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:

• Route 8, which terminates at the College of Mount Saint Vincent on the Bronx/Yonkers border;
• Routes 40, 41, 42 and 43, which run along White Plains Road north of the Wakefield – 241st Street subway terminal;
• Route 45, which serves the Pelham Bay Park subway terminal, the Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course, and the Bartow-Pell Mansion;
• Route 54, which runs on Mundy Lane along the Bronx/Mount Vernon border, since no other bus routes travel entirely through these areas;
• and Routes 60 and 61, which run along US Route 1 (East Fordham and Boston roads in the Bronx).

In addition, Route 12 (Armonk-Purchase-White Plains) briefly enters Greenwich, Connecticut along King Street, in which it makes stops in Greenwich and Rye Brook, New York along the New York/Connecticut border; Route 77 enters Putnam County to serve the US Route 6 corridor between Mahopac and Carmel; and Route 16 briefly enters Putnam County to serve the Mahopac Village Centre.[3]

Fares

See also: New York City transit fares

All fares require exact change or MetroCard. All transfers are free with payment of fare. Dollar bills are not accepted on any Bee-Line System buses.[4]

Route	Full fare	Senior/ disabled fare	Transfer All transfers good for 2 hours	7-day unlimited ride MetroCard	30-day unlimited ride MetroCard
All except BxM4C	$2.75	$1.35	Cash: Valid on MTA Bus local buses, NYC Transit local, limited stop, and Select Bus Service buses, CT Transit, or Putnam Transit MetroCard: free to MTA local buses, subways, and other Bee-Line services $3.75 "step-up" charge for transferring to an MTA Bus express route	$33.00 $16.50 with Reduced Fare ID	$127.00 $63.50 with Reduced Fare ID
BxM4C	$7.50	$3.75 (Off peak only)	No transfers accepted, transfers are issued as follows: Cash: Valid on MTA buses, other Bee-Line buses. MetroCard: Valid on MTA buses and subways, other Bee-Line buses.	No Unlimited-Ride MetroCards accepted
Notes: All customers transferring to Hudson Link, CT Transit's 971 or Route 311/311B, or Putnam Transit must use a paper transfer. There is a $1.25 "step-up" charge for customers transferring from CT Transit Route 311/311B to Bee-Line buses in Port Chester. For the BxM4C, off-peak is: first two and last two departures to Manhattan First departure and last four departures from Manhattan

Bee-Line Bus started accepting MetroCard on April 1, 2007.[5] 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.[6] MetroCard Vans made stops on heavily used routes to help people get ready for the MetroCard.[7] 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.

Fleet

Active fleet

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

Year	Builder and model name	Photo	Length	Width	Powertrain (Engine and transmission or propulsion)	Numbers (Total)	Amount active	Energy source	Destination sign	Notes
2001-2002	Neoplan USA AN460 "Transliner" articulated		60 ft (18.29 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison World B-500R Gen III	577 (1 bus)	1 retiring	Diesel	Luminator MegaMax 3000 LED-backlit flipdot	Currently being replaced with New Flyer XDE60 models;[8] only 577 remains active, all other 77 AN460s have been retired. 506, 507, 510, 512, 514, 524, 531, 536, 533, 546, 548, 556, 557, and 573 were sold to Virginia Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH for use on the WMATA Yellow/Blue line shuttle bus service.[9]
2005	DaimlerChrysler Orion V 05.505 (32.5 ft long, 96 in wide)		32.5 ft (9.91 m)	96 in (2.44 m)	Detroit Diesel series 50 EGR Allison World B-400R Gen IV	116-136 (21 buses)	18		Luminator Horizon LED sign
2006	DaimlerChrysler Orion V 05.501 (40 ft long, 102 in wide)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISM Allison World B-400R Gen IV	601-704 (104 buses)	104		Luminator Titan LED sign
2006	DaimlerChrysler Orion VII OG 07.501 (40 ft long, 102 in wide)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISB BAE Systems HybriDrive	201-204 (4 buses)	4	Diesel-electric hybrid
2008	DaimlerChrysler Orion V 05.501 suburban (40 ft long, 102 in wide)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISL Allison B-400R WTEC Gen IV	801-830 (30 buses)	27	Diesel		All units have coach seats and no rear door. Last diesel Orion V buses produced.
2009	North American Bus Industries 40-LFW HEV		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISL Allison EP-40 Hybrid System	205-299 (95 buses)	95	Diesel-electric hybrid
2018-2019	New Flyer Industries Xcelsior XDE60 articulated		61 ft (18.59 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins L9 BAE Systems Hybridrive Series E	301-378 (78 buses)	77		TwinVision Chroma IV (full-color LED display)	302 was the first test bus delivered. Replaced the Neoplan AN460 models. 322 is indefinitely out of service pending repair.

Past fleet

Year	Builder and model name	Length (feet)	Width (inches)		Engine/Transmission	Numbers	Retired	Notes
1978	General Motors Corporation RTS-03 TH-7603	35	96		Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison V730	101-106, 189-190, 194-205	1996	Originally ordered for 11 operators and buses were delivered with wheelchair lifts. Only 35' 96" foot buses ordered by the Westchester County Department of Transportation.
1978	General Motors Corporation RTS-03 TH-8603	40	96		Detroit Diesel 8V71N Allison V730	107-188, 191-193	1996	Originally ordered for 6 operators and buses were delivered with wheelchair lifts. Only 40' 96" buses ordered by the Westchester County Department of Transportation.
1983	MAN SG-310-16.5-2A (articulated)	60	102		MAN D2566 MLUM Renk-Doromat 874B	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.
1986- 1987	Motor Coach Industries 102A2	40	102		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HTB-748	901-936	2009	Last non-accessible Bee-Line buses on the active roster.
1989	Flxible Metro-B 40102-6T	40	102		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Voith D863.3	760-874	2007	These were Bee Line's last buses without wheelchair lifts.
1989	Flxible Metro-B 40102-6C	40	102		Cummins L10 Voith D863.3	875-879	2001	These were Bee Line's first buses with four-cycle engines.
1994	Startrans Supreme Senator	25	96		Navistar T444E Ford 4R100 4 speed	301-310	1999	These buses were the first rail-to-bus commuter shuttles. These were also Bee Line's first buses to have wheelchair accessibility for the duration of their lives.
1994	Orion Bus Industries 02.501	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.
1995	Advanced Vehicle Systems AVS22	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.
1995- 1996	Orion Bus Industries 05.501	40	102		Detroit Diesel series 50 Allison B-400R Gen II	401-484	2009	Replacements for 1978 RTS stock. Sold to the MTA in 2009. Replaced by North American Bus Industries 40LFW (semi low floor electric hybrid) buses.
1997	Startrans Supreme Senator	25	96		Navistar T444E Ford 4R100 4 speed	313-332	2004	These buses expanded the shuttle fleet.
1999	Startrans Supreme Senator	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.
2002	DaimlerChrysler Orion 05.505	32	96		Detroit Diesel series 50 EGR Allison B-400R Gen III	101-115	2012	Replaced older shuttle vans. Retired without replacement with 2012 budget cuts in maintaining the fleet and were sold to the following transit agencies: 101, 105-106, and 111 to ShuttleBus-Zoom.[10] 102-103, 107, 109-110 to Community Connector.[10] 104 and 108 to South Portland Bus Service.[10] 112-115 to Housatonic Area Regional Transit.[11]
2005	Coach and Equipment Phoenix	25	91		Navistar VT365 Alison 2000 PTS	301-318	2010	Replacements for the Startrans vans. Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.
2007	Coach and Equipment Phoenix	25	91		MaxxForce 7 Alison 2000 PTS	319-320	2010	Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.

Historical Honors on Fleet

In October 2004, then-Westchester County Executive Andrew J. Spano launched a month-long celebration of local history by unveiling the top 15 winning names, which were applied on all of the 2002 Orion 05.505 buses. From 2005 to January 2012, these buses each bore the name of a person, place, or thing that played a role in the development of Westchester County.

Bus Number	Named after
101	The Toonerville Trolley
102	Rosa Parks
103	Amelia Earhart
104	Ella Fitzgerald
105	Horace Greeley
106	John Jay
107	Old Bet
108	The Spy Catchers
109	Eliza A. Horton
110	General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell
111	Michael Schwerner
112	Washington Irving
113	Chief Gramatan
114	The Dragon Coaster
115	Elisha Graves Otis

Future fleet

In February 2020, it was announced that announced that Westchester County’s Bee-Line Bus fleet would be expanding with 78 hybrid-electric 60 foot buses, 106 hybrid-electric 40 foot buses and 2 40 foot full electric buses under a plan to have the entire transit bus fleet running on either electric or electric-hybrid by 2025. The 60 foot buses (the XDE60s above) were all delivered by summer 2020. As of July 2020, 40 diesel-electric 40 foot buses and 2 full electric 40 foot buses are planned to be delivered between 2021 and 2025. An additional 4 full electric 35 foot buses are also planned to be delivered, totaling 6 full electric buses by 2025. The 2 40 Foot electric buses are planned to be built by New Flyer Industries. [12][13][14]

References

1. "National Transit Database Program filing for The Bee-Line System, 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-08. (139 KB)
2. "Variable Fares for Elderly & Handicapped Transit Riders: An Analysis of Westchester County" (PDF). (1.25 MB)
3. "Bee-Line System map" (PDF). transportation.westchestergov.com. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2012-01-01. (4.64 MB)
4. Fares and MetroCard
5. "MTA NYC Transit MetroCard - Westchester Bee-Line buses". mta.info. April 2007. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
6. "All About MetroCard in Westchester". westchestergov.com. April 2007. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
7. "MetroCard Van Schedule". westchestergov.com. April 2007. Archived from the original on September 1, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
8. "Westchester legislators OK new Bee-Line buses". lohud.
9. Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
10. "Community Buses Roll Into Maine". MaineDOT. January 24, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
11. "Connecticut Public Transportation Commission" (PDF). (97.9 KB)
12. "Westchester Awarded $3M For Hybrid-Electric Buses From New York State". westchestergov.
13. "Westchester County to expand its Electric Vehicle Fleet with $1.5M Grant from the US Department of Transportation". westchestergov.
14. "Going Green: County Approves Nearly $4.5M Bond For Electric Buses". westchestergov.

External links

• Bee-Line Bus System
• Bee-Line Roster as of 2002