Aug. 11, 2009

The first of 95 newly purchased hybrid buses have hit the streets in Westchester County. 

The new Bee-Line buses will replace nearly a third of the county’s entire bus fleet by the end of the year – a step designed to reduce the carbon footprint and promote its climate change strategy.  

“These new buses will not only help to reduce carbon emissions and move us closer to our climate change goals, but will help put Americans who are building them back to work,” said County Executive Andy Spano.  “As an added bonus, these buses with their low floors will be so much more accessible to the handicapped and seniors. I want to thank our state and federal officials for their help in obtaining the funds to purchases these buses.”

Spano was joined by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Congressmen Eliot L. Engel, FTA Regional Director Brigid Hynes-Chernin and other officials at a press conference showcasing the new buses at the county’s bus garage in Valhalla.

Lowey, who has helped to secure $14.8 million in federal funds for the buses and station since 2001, said, “This fleet of Bee-Line buses will make public transportation quicker, more convenient, and more comfortable for riders in Westchester County The hybrid diesel electric technology will also make this service friendlier to our environment.  I am particularly pleased 11 of the buses will be financed through federal stimulus funding and will create jobs in our community.”

The 95 buses, costing an average of $587,134 each, were paid for with a combination of federal (75 percent), state (15 percent) and county (10 percent) funds.  An additional 11 buses have also been ordered for delivery next year using 100 percent federal stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  With the addition of these new buses, 110 of the Bee-Line’s total 358 buses will be hybrids.

Engel said, “As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chair of the Oil and National Security Caucus in Congress, I have long advocated breaking our addiction to foreign oil. These buses, and the 11 more coming thanks to funding by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are a significant step in that direction by Westchester County. The Democratic Congress and the Obama Administration have shown a strong commitment to investing in energy-efficient technologies.  Putting these buses on the road is yet another example.  These buses will help provide a fuel-efficient, low-emission solution to Westchester’s public transportation needs, and move us all closer to building a better, greener future.  I see a tremendous opportunity to reduce our nation’s carbon footprint, while simultaneously creating new clean energy jobs.”

Congressman John Hall said, “Westchester’s integration of new hybrid buses is an important step toward creating a better environment and energy independence for our country.  It is also a testament to Westchester County’s willingness to remain on the technological forefront, leading to job creation and a more pleasurable travel experience for its citizens.  I am honored to be part of this effort.”

The reduction of carbon emissions that will result from the new buses is part of a larger strategy directed by Spano, who appointed a Global Warming Task Force, which in 2008 outlined a comprehensive strategy for reducing the county’s carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2015 and 80 percent by 2050.

In 2006, the county began its pilot hybrid bus project using four test buses. The following year, a West Virginia University testing team determined that the Bee-Line’s hybrid buses increased fuel efficiency by 26 percent and reduced soot and carbon monoxide emissions by 94 percent.  The buses were able to handle Westchester’s steep hills, densely populated areas and in no way reduced reliability, the county’s DOT concluded in its test study. 

In 2008 Westchester County entered into a contract with North American Bus Industries, Inc. of Anniston, Alabama for 95 low floor hybrid buses to be delivered in 2009.  The first 12 of the 95 went into service on July 24; 25 buses have so far been delivered and the remaining 70 are expected by the end of this year.

The buses eliminate the need for complicated wheelchair lifts as they have simple swinging ramps for wheelchair-using passengers to roll on board.  This also means passengers enter the new buses with one step at curb level, making it easier to board – an attractive feature especially for the Bee-Line’s senior and disabled passengers, whose ridership has tripled since the Bee-Line System started accepting MetroCard in 2007.  The buses will run on soot-reducing ultra-low sulfur fuel which has been the Bee-Line standard fuel for all buses since 2002.