Bee-Line Bus System
Encyclopedia
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 four 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 four routes not run by Liberty Lines: Routes 16, 18, and 31 are run by Peekskill
-based P.T.L.A. Enterprise and Route 76 run by Port Chester-Rye Transit in Rye
. 2009 ridership for Bee-Line buses was 32,166,260 million.
, 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.
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) and the 16 briefly enters Putnam County
to serve the Mahopac Village Centre. The entire fleet has been equipped with fareboxes accepting MetroCards.
vehicles are not listed. All buses are wheelchair accessible.
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. Since 2005, these buses each bore the name of a person, place, or thing that played a role in the development of Westchester County.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
system serving Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. The system is owned by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation and operated, on contract (except for four routes), by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc.
Liberty Lines Transit, Inc.
Liberty Lines Transit, Inc. is a contract operator of the Bee-Line Bus System of Westchester County, New York and a former operator of contract service to the New York City Department of Transportation. The company's headquarters are located in Yonkers, New York...
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 four routes not run by Liberty Lines: Routes 16, 18, and 31 are run by Peekskill
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
-based P.T.L.A. Enterprise and Route 76 run by Port Chester-Rye Transit in Rye
Rye (city), New York
Rye is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is separate from the town of Rye, which is larger than the city. Rye city, formerly the village of Rye, was part of the town until 1942, when it received its charter as a city, the most recent to be issued in New York...
. 2009 ridership for Bee-Line buses was 32,166,260 million.
Within Westchester
The system's 61 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, OssiningOssining (village), New York
Ossining is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining.-Geography:Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson River....
, or Mount Kisco, with paratransit service only in areas such as eastern Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem and Pound Ridge
Pound Ridge, New York
Pound Ridge is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 5,104 at the 2010 census.The town is located in the eastern corner of the county, bordered by New Canaan, Connecticut, to the east, Stamford, Connecticut, to the south, Bedford, New York, to the west and...
. White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, the county seat and most centrally located city, is a major transportation hub, with many routes converging on the city's TransCenter. Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, New Rochelle
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
and Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, 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
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
service.
Outside Westchester
Because Westchester County borders on the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, many of the Bee-Line's routes operate into the Bronx, offering Westchester residents connections to the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
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
Greenburgh, New York
Greenburgh is a town in the western part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 88,400 at the 2010 census. Paul J. Feiner has been the Town Supervisor since 1991.-History:...
, Hartsdale, Scarsdale and Yonkers along Central Park Avenue
New York State Route 100
New York State Route 100 is a major north–south state highway in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. It begins parallel to Interstate 87 at a junction with the Cross County Parkway in the city of Yonkers and runs through most of the length of the county via the city of...
to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
(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
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
along King Street
New York State Route 120A
New York State Route 120A is a state highway in southern Westchester County, New York, in the United States. It serves as an alternate route to the southern half of NY 120 running along the New York–Connecticut state line. The southern terminus of route is at NY 120 in Harrison. Its...
(though it doesn't have any stops within Connecticut) and the 16 briefly enters Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
to serve the Mahopac Village Centre. The entire fleet has been equipped with fareboxes accepting MetroCards.
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 |
|
$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 Unlimited-Ride MetroCards accepted | ||
| Notes:
Connecticut Transit Stamford Connecticut Transit Stamford is the division of Connecticut Transit for the Stamford, area. In Stamford it provides service on 18 routes around Stamford, Connecticut, with routes centered around downtown Stamford and providing local bus service to Norwalk, White Plains, New York via the I-Bus, and... , or Putnam Transit must ask for a paper transfer, even if paying with MetroCard.
|
||||||
Active fleet
This roster only lists buses and shuttle vans used in fixed route service. ParatransitParatransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
vehicles are not listed. All buses are wheelchair accessible.
| Year | Builder and model name |
Photo | Length | Width | Powertrain (Engine Engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion... and transmission Transmission (mechanics) A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a... or propulsion Vehicle propulsion Vehicle propulsion refers to the act of moving an artificial carrier of people or goods over any distance. The power plant used to drive the vehicles can vary widely. Originally, humans or animals would have provided the propulsion system, later being supplemented by wind power... ) |
Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002- 2003 |
Neoplan USA Neoplan USA Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary... AN460 (articulated) |
60 ft (18.29 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |
|
501-578 |
|
|
| 2002 | Orion Bus Industries Orion Bus Industries Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975... 05.505 |
32 ft (9.75 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |
Detroit Diesel 50 The Detroit Diesel Series 50 is an inline four-cylinder diesel engine, that was introduced in 1993 by Detroit Diesel. The Series 50 was developed from the existing block of its sister engine, the Series 60, which itself was initially designed by Detroit Diesel... |
101-115 |
|
|
| 2005 | Orion Bus Industries 05.505 |
32 ft (9.75 m) | 96 in (2.44 m) |
|
116-136 |
|
|
| 2006 | Orion Bus Industries 05.501 |
 |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |
Cummins M Series engine The Cummins M Series engine is a straight six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces . Introduced as the M11 in 1994, it was built on the previous L10 engine .In 1996, Cummins added electronic controls to improve efficiency... |
601-704 |
|
| 2006 | Orion Bus Industries 07.501 (semi low floor electric hybrid) |
 |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |
Cummins B Series engine The Cummins B Series is a family of straight-four and straight-6 diesel truck and industrial piston engines manufactured by Cummins. The B Series is known for displacing "one liter per cylinder" because of the popular straight-four and straight-six. A straight-four is also available... |
201-204 |
|
| 2008 | Orion Bus Industries 05.501 (single-door, commuter coach) |
 |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |
Cummins L Series engine The Cummins ISL is a straight-six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces , and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine.... |
801-830 |
|
| 2009 | North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 40LFW (semi low floor electric hybrid) |
.jpg) |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 102 in (2.59 m) |
|
205-299 |
|
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 |
|
| 1978 | General Motors Corporation RTS-03 TH-8603 |
40 | 96 | |
Detroit Diesel 8V71N | 107-188, 191-193 |
1996 |
|
| 1983 | MAN SG-310-16.5-2A (articulated) |
60 | 102 | |
MAN D2566 MLUM | 600-661 | 2002 |
|
| 1986- 1987 |
Motor Coach Industries Motor Coach Industries Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:... 102A2 |
40 | 102 | |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | 901-936 | 2009 | Last non-accessible Bee-Line buses on the active roster. |
| 1989 | Flxible Flxible The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F... Metro-B Flxible Metro The Flxible Metro is a transit bus that was manufactured by the Flxible Corporation from 1978 until 1996. From 1978 until 1983, when Flxible was owned by Grumman, the model was known as the Grumman 870, with a Grumman nameplate.-History:... 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 Navistar T444E engine The T444E is a Diesel V8 engine manufactured by Navistar International Corporation. It was used by Ford Motor Company, branded the Ford Power Stroke engine, from 1994 through 2003, replacing an earlier 7.3 L indirect-injection V8 from Navistar... |
301-310 | 1999 |
|
| 1994 | Orion Bus Industries Orion Bus Industries Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975... 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 |
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S... in 2009. |
| 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. |
| 2005- 2007 |
Coach and Equipment Phoenix |
25 | 91 | |
Navistar T444E | 301-320 | 2010 |
|
Historical Honors on Fleet
In October 2004, then-Westchester County ExecutiveWestchester County Executive
Westchester County Executive is the head of the executive branch of the Westchester County government. The county executive has power to veto acts of Westchester County Board of Legislators-History:...
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. Since 2005, 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 Rosa Parks Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement".... |
| 103 | Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean... |
| 104 | Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist... |
| 105 | Horace Greeley Horace Greeley Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery... |
| 106 | John Jay John Jay John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States .... |
| 107 | Old Bet Old Bet Old Bet was either the first or second elephant brought to the United States. There are reports of an elephant brought to the United States in 1796, but it is not known for certain that this was the elephant that was later named Old Bet.... |
| 108 | The Spy Catchers |
| 109 | Eliza A. Horton |
| 110 | General "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell |
| 111 | Michael Schwerner Michael Schwerner Michael Henry Schwerner , was one of three Congress of Racial Equality field workers killed in Philadelphia, Mississippi, by the Ku Klux Klan in response to their civil rights work, which included promoting voting registration among Mississippi African Americans... |
| 112 | Washington Irving Washington Irving Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works... |
| 113 | Chief Gramatan |
| 114 | The Dragon Coaster Dragon Coaster (Playland) The Dragon Coaster, Playland Amusement Park's iconic attraction, in Rye, New York, is a wooden roller coaster that was opened in 1929. It was designed and built by legendary amusement ride creator Frederick A. Church, who also was the co-inventor of the Racing Derby, another famous early 20th... |
| 115 | Elisha Graves Otis |