Bee-Line Bus System

Bee-Line Bus System

Bee-Line #212 arrives in Yonkers from the Tuckahoe train station, due south to the county line.
Slogan	The Way To Go
Parent	Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation
Founded	May 1, 1978
Headquarters	100 East 1 Street, 9th Floor Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
Locale	Westchester County, New York
Service area	Westchester County, northern Bronx County, New York County, and southeastern Putnam County
Service type	Local, express, bus-to-rail shuttle buses
Routes	59
Fleet	329 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. (paratransit)
Chief executive	Jay Pisco, P.E., Commissioner
Website	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. It 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

Bus Facility in Valhalla

Within Westchester

The system's 60 routes are mostly concentrated in the more urban southern portion of the county, with more sparse service in the northern part of the county, with service concentrated near its slightly populated areas such as Peekskill, Ossining, or Mount Kisco, with paratransit service only in areas such as eastern Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem and Pound Ridge. White Plains, the county seat and most centrally located city, is a major transportation hub, with many routes converging on the city's TransCenter. Yonkers, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, the other major cities of the county (all located at the southern end), are the best served. 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 the New York City Subway system. Every subway service in the Bronx is served by at least one Bee-Line route. The Bee-Line System also operates an express route 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 Bronx; appropriate MTA Regional Bus Operations service must be used instead). The only exceptions are routes 60 and 61 along Boston Road, routes 40, 41, 42 & 43 north of the Wakefield – 241st Street station, since the Bx39 bus terminates at 241st St/White Plains Rd, route 45 through Pelham Bay Park, and route 54 on Mundy Lane near the Westchester border, since no other bus routes travel entirely through these areas.

In addition, route 12 (Armonk-Purchase-White Plains) briefly enters Greenwich, Connecticut along King Street, in which it makes stops in Greenwich, CT and Rye Brook, CT (along the NY-CT State Border). Route 77 enters Putnam County to serve the US Route 6 corridor between Baldwin Place and Carmel. Route 16 briefly enters Putnam to serve the Mahopac Village Centre.^[3]

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, the Tappan ZEE Express, Orange Westchester Link, 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	$31.00 $15.50 with Reduced Fare ID	$116.50 $58.25 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, Orange Westchester Link or the Tappan ZEE Express. MetroCard: Valid on MTA buses and subways, other Bee-Line buses, Orange Westchester Link or the Tappan ZEE Express.	No Unlimited-Ride MetroCards accepted
Notes: All customers transferring to Short Line's Tappan ZEExpress or Orange Westchester Link, CT Transit's I-Bus or Route 11, or Putnam Transit must use a paper transfer. There is a $1.25 "step-up" charge for customers transferring from CT Transit Route 11 to Bee-Line buses in Port Cheste For the BxM4C, off-peak is: Last two trips to Manhattan First two departures from Manhattan Last two departures from Manhattan

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	Notes
2001- 2002	Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated)		60 ft (18.29 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Detroit Diesel series 60 Allison World B-500R	501-578	Used on heavier-use routes in southern and central Westchester County. Replaced the MAN SG310 fleet.
2005	DaimlerChrysler Orion 05.505		32 ft (9.75 m)	96 in (2.44 m)	Detroit Diesel series 50 Allison World B-400R	116-136	Used on Shuttle Loop routes, bus-to-rail shuttles, and lower-use routes. Replaced older shuttle vans.
2006	DaimlerChrysler Orion 05.501		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISM Allison World B-400R	601-704	Used county-wide. Replaced the 1989 Flxible Metro-B stock.
2006	DaimlerChrysler Orion 07.501 (semi low floor electric hybrid)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISB BAE HybriDrive	201-204	Used county-wide.
2008	Daimler Buses North America Orion 05.501 (single-door, commuter coach)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISL Allison B-400R WTEC	801-830	Used on Shuttle Loop routes, bus-to-rail shuttles, BxM4C, 11, 17, 43, and 77. Replaced the MCI 102A2s. Last diesel Orion V buses produced. 828-830 retired from service in 2012 due to budget cuts in maintaining the fleet. These buses were sold to ShuttleBus-Zoom and Downeast Transportation.[5]
2009	North American Bus Industries 40LFW (semi low floor electric hybrid)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISL Allison EP-40 Hybrid	205-299	Used county-wide. Replaced the 1995-1996 Orion Vs, with 7 buses for service increases.

Past fleet

Year	Builder and model name	Length (feet)	Width (inches)		Engine	Numbers	Retired	Notes
1978	General Motors Corporation RTS-03 TH-7603	35	96		Detroit Diesel 8V71N	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	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	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	901-936	2009	Last non-accessible Bee-Line buses on the active roster.
1989	Flxible Metro-B 40102-6T	40	102		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA	760-874	2007	These were Bee Line's last buses without wheelchair lifts.
1989	Flxible Metro-B 40102-6C	40	102		Cummins L10	875-879	2001	These were Bee Line's first buses with four-cycle engines.
1994	Startrans Supreme Senator	25	96		Navistar T444E	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	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	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	313-332	2004	These buses expanded the shuttle fleet.
1999	Startrans Supreme Senator	25	96		Navistar T444E	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	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.[5] 102-103, 107, 109-110 to BAT Community Connector.[5] 104 and 108 to South Portland Bus Service.[5] 112-115 to Housatonic Area Regional Transit.[6]
2005	Coach and Equipment Phoenix	25	91		Navistar VT365	301-318	2010	Replacements for the Startrans vans. Retired without replacement with 2010 service cuts.
2007	Coach and Equipment Phoenix	25	91		MaxxForce 7	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

References

1. National Transit Database Program filing for The Bee-Line System, 2013 PDF (139 KB)
2. Variable Fares for Elderly & Handicapped Transit Riders: An Analysis of Westchester County PDF (1.25 MB)
3. 2011 Bee-Line System map PDF (4.64 MB)
4. Fares and MetroCard
5. "Community Buses Roll Into Maine". MaineDOT. January 24, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
6. Connecticut Public Transportation Commission PDF (97.9 KB)

External links

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