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	1978
Headquarters	100 East 1 Street Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
Locale	Westchester County, New York
Service area	Westchester County and northern Bronx County
Service type	Local, express, bus-to-rail shuttle buses
Routes	60
Fleet	329 fixed route 83 paratransit
Daily ridership	110,880 (2010)
Fuel type	Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid
Operator	Liberty Lines Transit, Inc. (all fixed routes except 16, 18, and 31) P.T.L.A. Enterprise (16, 18 and 31) Suburban Paratransit Service, Inc. (paratransit)
Chief executive	John J. Hsu, P.E., Commissioner
Web site	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 and operated, on contract (except for three routes), by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc. The current existence of Bee-Line dates back to the late 1970s when thirteen private providers began running a unified system under the aegis of Westchester County with Liberty Lines either buying out or obtaining franchises for the other twelve. The three routes not run by Liberty Lines: Routes 16, 18, and 31 are run by Peekskill-based P.T.L.A. Enterprise. 2010 ridership for Bee-Line buses was 32,486,925.

Scope of service

Within Westchester

Main article: List of bus routes in Westchester County

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.

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 line 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). While Bee-Line service is largely used by Westchester residents, passengers are allowed to use buses for trips wholly within The Bronx for travel along Boston Road (and from Fordham to and from Boston Road).

In addition, the #12 line (Armonk-Purchase-White Plains) briefly enters Connecticut along King Street (though it doesn't have any stops within Connecticut). The 77 enters Putnam County to serve the Carmel Bowl, and the 16 briefly enters to serve the Mahopac Village Centre. The entire fleet has been equipped with fareboxes accepting MetroCards.

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.

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	$2.25	$1.10	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 $3.25 for transferring to an MTA Bus express route	$29.00 $17.50 with Reduced Fare ID	$104.00 $52.00 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: Customers wishing to transfer to Short Line's Tappan ZEExpress or Orange Westchester Link, CT Transit's I-Bus or Route 11, or Putnam Transit must ask for a paper transfer, even if paying with MetroCard. There is a $1.00 "step-up" charge for customers transferring from CT Transit Route 11 to Bee-Line buses in Port Chester. This charge must be paid in coins. For the BxM4C, off-peak is: Last two trips to Manhattan (10:30 AM and 12 PM departures from Central and Harding Avenues) First two departures from Manhattan (12 PM and 2 PM departures from Madison Square) Last two departures from Manhattan (7:15 PM and 8:15 PM departures from Madison Square)

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
2002- 2003	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	Orion Bus Industries 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	Orion Bus Industries 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	Orion Bus Industries 07.501 (semi low floor electric hybrid)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISB BAE HybriDrive	201-204	Used in southern Westchester County.
2008	Orion Bus Industries 05.501 (single-door, commuter coach)		40 ft (12.19 m)	102 in (2.59 m)	Cummins ISL Allison B-400R WTEC	801-827	Used on the BxM4C, 43, and 77 only. 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.
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- 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	Orion Bus Industries 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: 5 buses were sold to Bangor Area Transit. 4 buses were sold to ShuttleBus-Zoom. 4 buses were sold to Housatonic Area Regional Transit. 2 buses were sold to South Portland Bus Service.
2005- 2007	Coach and Equipment Phoenix	25	91		Navistar T444E	301-320	2010	Replacements for the Startrans vans. 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

External links

• Bee-Line Bus System
• Liberty Lines
• Bee-Line Roster as of 2002
• Westchester Bus and Bee-Line Yahoo Discussion Group