Nassau Inter-County Express

Nassau Inter-County Express
Parent Nassau County, New York (fleet ownership)
Founded 1973 (MSBA)
2012 (NICE)
Defunct 2011 (MSBA)
Headquarters 700 Commercial Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530-6410
Locale Nassau County, New York
Service area Most of Nassau County, except for northeastern part
Service type Local bus
Routes 48
Hubs 5 major bus hubs, 48 LIRR stations, and 5 New York City Subway stations
Fleet 325 fixed-route, 94 Able Ride[1]
(2009 figures)
Daily ridership 104,036 (weekday, 2009)[1]
Fuel type CNG (fixed-route)
Diesel (Able-Ride)
Operator Veolia Transportation
Web site NICE

Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) is the the local bus system serving Nassau County, New York. It also serves parts of western Suffolk County, New York as well as eastern portions of the New York City borough of Queens. It was formerly operated under the name of MTA Long Island Bus, the trading name of the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, a division of MTA Regional Bus Operations. In 2011, the owner, Nassau County, decided to switch the system over to a private operator, Veolia Transportation, due to a funding dispute with the MTA.[2]

Contents

History

Before 1973

The MTA began operating Nassau County bus service in 1973 under the name Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, through the merging of 11 private operators:

1973–2010

In the 1980s, the N28 (now discontinued), N46, N50, and N70 (as an N72 branch) were instituted as new routes, with the N20 extended to Hicksville. The 1990s saw the creation of a shuttle around Roosevelt Field (N93, now discontinued), two shuttles designed to take customers from train stations to work sites (the N94 and N95, both discontinued), and a service connecting Nassau County to JFK Airport (the N91, now discontinued), with the 2000s seeing a Merrick shuttle (now discontinued) and the N8 and N43 routes being created.

In 2007, Long Island Bus averaged over 109,000 weekday riders, many of which include customers connecting to other MTA services in the region.

2010–present

Further information: Ed Mangano#Long Island Bus controversy

In 2010, the future of MTA Long Island Bus became uncertain, as the MTA threatened drastic cuts due to Nassau County's disproportionately small contributions to the operation. By March 2011, the MTA proposed a set of major service reductions which will eliminate over half of the routes, with the greatest impact on southeastern Nassau County, eliminating all routes operating south of Hempstead Turnpike and east of the Meadowbrook State Parkway (except for the n71), citing Nassau's refusal to pay its contracted amount.[3] After reviewing the service cut plans, County Executive Ed Mangano considered severing ties with the MTA and privatizing the Long Island Bus system.[4]. A temporary reprieve, via additional state funding, would sustain service through the end of 2011.[5] However, on April 27, 2011, the MTA voted to cease all bus service in Nassau County after the end of 2011, at which point the system will be operated by Veolia Transportation in a public-private partnership pending legislative approval. [6][7] On 10 November, 2011, Veolia and Mangano announced that the service was going to be renamed "NICE", an acronym for "Nassau Inter-County Express", when Veolia takes over the system. All buses, including Able-Ride vehicles, will be painted into a new paint scheme to reflect the change.[2] On December 12, 2011, the legislature unanimously approved the Veolia contract, which was subsequently approved by the state-controlled Nassau County Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) on December 22, 2011. Veolia began operations January 1, 2012.

Fare

The current fare is $2.25 (US$1.10 for seniors and disabled customers). Students with ID receive a discount of $0.25 from the base fare. Dollar bills are not accepted on any NICE fixed-route buses. Transfers are available upon request with coins, and are included automatically with MetroCard. The transfers are valid for two hours and can be used on two connecting NICE routes. They are also valid on Suffolk County Transit, Long Beach Bus, or Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) with the following restrictions:

The Able-Ride paratransit fare is $3.75, payable in Able-Ride tickets or exact fare.

Bus depots

Nassau Inter-County Express operates from three garages in Nassau County, as listed below. Also below are the former depot logos that were used by the MTA.

Rockville Centre Depot

The Rockville Centre Bus Depot is located on 50 Banks Avenue in Rockville Centre.[8] This garage, originally the home of Bee Line, Inc., houses the following routes: N1, N2, N4, N8, N14, N15, N19, N25, N31, N32, N33, N35 (some service), N36, N40 (some service), N41 (some service), N62, and N88 Jones Beach(summer service only).

Mitchel Field Depot

The Mitchel Field Depot (marked Senator Norman J. Levy Transit Facility on older buses and on the building itself, pictured in the background at the top of this page) is located on 700 Commercial Avenue in Garden City, and is the headquarters and central garage for Nassau Inter-County Express. The garage is named after the Mitchel Air Force Base that operated there from 1918 until 1961. All routes not operated from the Rockville Centre garage are dispatched from this garage.[8]

Stewart Avenue Depot (Able-Ride)

The Stewart Avenue Depot is located on 947 Stewart Avenue in Garden City. All Able-Ride Nassau County shared-ride ADA paratransit service is dispatched from this garage.

Bus stop signage

NICE stops are signed as follows.

Sign color Type of service
Blue
  • Pick-up points in Queens (pickup and drop-off within Far Rockaway).
Purple
  • N6 Limited pickup points in Queens.
Black
  • Late night NICE pickup points in Queens.
Orange
  • N6 Limited stops within Nassau County.
White
  • All other NICE stops in Nassau County.

Fleet

Current

Nassau Inter-County Express runs a 100% Orion CNG bus fleet for fixed route service. All of the buses below are 102 inches (2.59 meters) wide and are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Pictures shown are of the fleet in the Long Island Bus livery; repainting into the NICE livery will occur during 2012.

Photo Builder and
model name		 Year Length Numbers
(Total ordered)		 Powertrain
(Engine and transmission
or propulsion system)		 Notes
Orion Bus Industries
Orion V (05.501 CNG)		 2000 40 ft (12.19 m) 1526-1632
(107 buses)
  • 91 buses active from this fleet.
DaimlerChrysler
Commercial Buses
Orion V (05.501 CNG)		 2004 1633–1635,
1637-1699
(66 buses)
  • Detroit Diesel series
    50G EGR (CNG fuel)
  • Allison B-400R WTEC
  • As delivered, all buses had a Detroit Diesel series 50G EGR engines;
    1636 was repowered with a Deere engine in 2007.
  • All 67 buses from this fleet are active.
1636
(1 bus)
  • Deere 6081 (CNG fuel)
  • Allison B-400R WTEC

Daimler Commercial Buses[9]
Orion VII Next Generation (07.501)
(semi-low floor, CNG)		 2008 41.2 ft (12.56 m) 1700
(1 bus)
  • All of the 1700s are active.
  • 38 of the 40 1800s are active.
2009 1701-1799
(99 buses)
2010-
2011		 1800-1839
(40 buses)

Retired

Built before 1966

Year Builder and
model name		 Length and Width Numbers Previous operator(s)
1960 General Motors
New Look TDH-4517		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.4 m) 306, 316, 565
  • 306: Schenck Transportation
  • 316: Utility Lines
  • 565: Bee Line
1960 General Motors
New Look TDH-5302		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 457-466
  • Schenck Transportation
    (originally 410-419)
1961 General Motors
New Look TDH-4517		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 123-126, 207-211, 307, 318, 408-411, 566-570
  • 123-126: Rockville Centre
  • 207-211: Stage Coach
  • 307: Schenck Transportation
  • 318: Utility Lines
  • 408-411: Hempstead Transportation
  • 566-570: Bee Line
1961 General Motors
New Look TDH-5301		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 571-580
  • NYC Transit
    (formerly 1093, 1059, 1086, 1017, 1057, 1070, 1081, 1055, 1023, and 1108)
1961 General Motors
New Look TDH-5302		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 150, 404-407, 467-470, 626-634
  • 150: Rockville Centre
  • 404-407: Hempstead Transportation
  • 467-470: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 420-423)
  • 626-634: Bee Line
1962 General Motors
New Look TDH-4517		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 322-323
  • Utility Lines
1962 General Motors
New Look TDH-5302		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 72-74, 321, 414-415, 456, 471-474, 600-602, 635-644
  • 72-74: Jerusalem Avenue Bus
  • 321: Utility Lines
  • 414-415: Hempstead Transportation
  • 456, 471-474, 600-602: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 408, 424, and 426-428)
    • NOTE: 474 became 1000 after cut down to 30 feet.
  • 635-644: Bee Line
1963 General Motors
New Look TDH-4519		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 325
  • Utility Lines
1963 General Motors
New Look TDH-5302		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 158-159
  • Schenck Transportation
    (originally 150 and 152)
1963 General Motors
New Look TDH-5304		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 75-78, 416-419, 475-478, 496, 645-649
  • 75-78: Jerusalem Avenue Bus
  • 416-419: Hempstead Transportation
  • 475-478, 496: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 429-432 and 151)
  • 645-649: Bee Line
1964 Flxible
New Look FD6V-401-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 700-701
  • Bee-Line
1964 General Motors
New Look TDH-4519		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 300-305
  • Schenck Transportation
1964 General Motors
New Look TDH-5304		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 420-423, 494-495, 603-605, 620-621, 650-659
  • 420-423: Hempstead Transportation
  • 494-495, 603-605, 620-621: Schenck Transportation
    (494-495 originally 409 and 606; 620-621 originally 607-608)
  • 650-659: Bee Line
1965 General Motors
New Look TDH-4519		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 127-128, 327
  • 127-128: Rockville Centre
  • 327: Utility Lines
1965 General Motors
New Look TDH-5303		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 500-506
  • MaBSTOA
    (originally 6483, 6485-6486, 6493, 6582, and 6688-6689)
1965 General Motors
New Look TDH-5304		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 660-668
  • Bee Line

Built between 1966-1979

Year Builder and
model name		 Length and Width Numbers Previous operator(s)
(if not MSBA/Long Island Bus)
1966 General Motors
New Look TDH-5304		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 151-154, 157, 160-162, 424-427, 670-674
  • 151-154, 157: Rockville Centre
  • 160-162: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 153-155)
  • 424-427: Hempstead Transportation
  • 670-674: Bee Line
1966 General Motors
New Look SDM-5302 suburban		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 703
  • Bee Line
1967 General Motors
New Look TDH-5304		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 82-83, 479-488, 675-684
  • 82-83: Jerusalem Avenue Bus
  • 479-488: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 433-442)
  • 675-684: Bee Line
1967 General Motors
New Look SDM-5302 suburban		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 702
  • Bee Line
1968 General Motors
New Look T6H-5306A		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 100-102, 428-431, 622-625, 694-698
  • 100-102, 622-625: Schenck Transportation
    (622-625 originally 609-612)
  • 428-431: Hempstead Transportation
  • 694-698: Bee Line
1968 General Motors
New Look T6H-5306N		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 214, 328-329, 685-693
  • 214: Stage Coach
  • 328-329: Utility Lines
  • 685-693: Bee Line
1969 General Motors
New Look T6H-5306N		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 215, 330-331, 489-493
  • 215: Stage Coach
  • 330-331: Utility Lines
  • 489-493: Schenck Transportation
    (originally 443-447)
1970 Flxible
New Look 111CC-D5-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 507-511
  • MaBSTOA
    (originally 4600, 4688, 4670, 4606-4607)
1970 Flxible
New Look 111CD-D5-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 432-451, 669, 699, 704-705, 712-718
  • 432-451: Hempstead Transportation
  • 669, 699, 704-705: Stage Coach
    (originally 665-668)
  • 712-718: Schenck Transportation
    (718 originally 711)
1969 General Motors
New Look T6H-5308A		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 155-156, 332-333
  • 155-156: Rockville Centre
  • 332-333: Utility Lines
1973 General Motors
New Look T6H-5310A		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 105-112
1973 General Motors
New Look S8H-5304A suburban		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 113-120
1973 General Motors
New Look S8M-5304A suburban		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 121-122
1973–1977 Flxible
New Look 53102-6-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 350-399
  • NYC Transit
    (see note 1 below)
1974 General Motors
New Look T6H-5308A		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 800-849
1978 Flxible
New Look 53096-8-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 850-902
NOTE:
  1. The original numbers for this order were (in order): 7325, 7188, 7160, 7036, 7914, 7707, 7314, 7358, 7313, 7173, 7030, 7130, 7789, 7348, 7844, 7026, 7830, 7193, 7861, 7328, 7137, 7187, 7886, 7151, 7194, 7733, 7902, 7903, 7712, 7872, 7883, 7538, 7593, 7882, 7574, 7888, 7524, 7038, 7881, 7916, 7934, 7318, 7168, 7892, 7190, 7104, 7066, 7890, 7569, and 7062.

Built 1980 and later

From 1981 on, all buses for Long Island Bus were equipped with wheelchair lifts.

Year Builder and
model name		 Length and Width Numbers Original operators
(if not MSBA/Long Island Bus)
1981 Grumman Flxible
870-A 53102-8-1		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 750-799, 925-999
1984 Flxible
Metro-A 40102-6T		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) PA1000-PA1033
1985–1986 Neoplan USA
Lit'l Bus		 30 ft (9.14 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 300-305
  • Avis Rent-a-Car
1988 Gillig
Phantom 35TB102		 35 ft (10.67 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 500-519
1988 Gillig
Phantom 40TB102		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 520-561
1990 Ontario Bus Industries
Orion V 05.501		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 579-599
1991 Ontario Bus Industries
Orion V 05.501		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 600-655
(see note 1 below)
1992 Bus Industries of America
Orion V 05.501 CNG		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 656-666 (retired in 2004)
1995–1996 Orion Bus Industries
Orion II 02.501 CNG		 25.92 ft (7.90 m) • 96 in (2.44 m) 701, 704-706, 711
1995–1996 Thomas
school bus		 Unknown 707-710, 713
1996 Orion Bus Industries
Orion V 05.501 CNG		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 100-105, 109-113, 115-117, and 121-141
(see note 2 below)
1997-1998 Orion Bus Industries
Orion V 05.501 CNG		 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 1405-1525
(see note 3 below)
2002 Coach and Equipment
Phoenix (Ford E450 chassis)		 25 ft (7.62 m) • 91 in (2.31 m) 1800-1801
(see note 4 below)
2004 Coach and Equipment
Condor (International 3200 chassis)		 25 ft (7.62 m) • 91 in (2.31 m) 1800-1801
(see note 5 below)
Notes:
  1. Four units (601, 607, 617, and 653) were renumbered 1802-1805 in March 2009, but were retired soon after.
  2. 21 units were renumbered 1400-1404 and 1806-1821 in March 2009, but were retired following the delivery of newer buses.
  3. All units except for 221 were renumbered to 1405-1525 in March 2009 and were retired following the delivery of newer buses.
  4. These buses were renumbered 1800-1801 in March 2009, but were retired early in 2010. The replacement buses for these two units also carried the same numbers.
  5. Purchased used to replace the Phoenix vans. Removed from fixed-route service following the discontinuation of the N53.

Also, a few models were used as demonstrators for future purchases:

Year Builder and model name Length
(feet)		 Powertrain
(Engine and transmission or propulsion system)		 Numbers Total
1982 DAC
117 UD (articulated)		 55.77 ft (17.00 m) N/A 1301 1
2006 ElDorado National
Transmark RE PHEV		 30 ft (9.14 m) Unknown powertrain systems 1822 1

Routes

Main article: List of bus routes in Nassau County, New York

NICE runs fixed-route service on 48 routes, servicing the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, and the southern part of Oyster Bay, along with parts of the cities of Long Beach and Glen Cove. Routes are designated "n" for Nassau County, with service provided daily (although not all routes operate 7 days a week), and 24-hour service provided on the N4 Merrick Road and N6 Hempstead Turnpike routes.

NICE routes operating to Jamaica and Flushing, Queens operate closed-door service in Queens (that is, local service is not provided solely for travel within Queens; appropriate NYC Transit or MTA Bus services must be used instead). The exception is the N24, where one side of Jericho Turnpike/Jamaica Avenue is in New York City, but the other side of the street is in the Town of Hempstead. Eastbound drop-off begins at 225 Street, where state maintenance of Jamaica Avenue begins, and westbound pickups occur as far west as 239 Street. In addition, the N33 operates closed-door within the City of Long Beach, where local service is provided by Long Beach Bus.

References

  1. ^ a b NTD Program filing for MTA Long Island Bus, 2009
  2. ^ a b Castillo, Alfonso (November 9, 2011). "LI Bus gets new name, look, operator says". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/li-bus-gets-new-name-look-operator-says-1.3309573. Retrieved November 10, 2011. (subscription required)
  3. ^ Castillo, Alfonso (March 2, 2011). "MTA Long Island bus faces deepest cuts". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/mta-plans-to-cut-most-of-li-bus-routes-1.2723257. Retrieved April 20, 2011. (subscription required)
  4. ^ Castillo, Alfonso (March 16, 2011). "Nassau: Private company to run LI Bus". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/nassau-private-company-to-run-li-bus-1.2764369. Retrieved March 20, 2011. (subscription required)
  5. ^ Maloney, Jennifer (April 1, 2011). "LI Bus saved for 2011 by $8.6M from state". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/li-bus-saved-for-2011-by-8-6m-from-state-1.2795445. Retrieved April 20, 2011. (subscription required)
  6. ^ Castillo, Alfonso (April 27, 2011). "MTA vote ends contract to run LI Bus". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/mta-vote-ends-contract-to-run-li-bus-1.2841876. Retrieved April 27, 2011. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Castillo, Alfonso (June 10, 2011). "Pick to run LI Bus has D'Amato tie". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/pick-to-run-li-bus-has-d-amato-tie-1.2947117. Retrieved June 10, 2011. (subscription required)
  8. ^ a b Long Island Bus garages - EPA.gov
  9. ^ MTA Long Island Bus orders Orion VII NG (CNG) buses

External links

Operators
NY
NJ/
PA
CT




Routes
NY
NJ
CT
Defunct
operators
NY
NJ