Westchester County Gets Millions To Replace Aging Bee-Line Buses

WESTCHESTER COUNTY — Westchester County has been awarded $3.6 million in federal money to buy new buses for the Bee-Line. The money, given as part of the Bus and Bus Facilities Competitive Grant Program, will help the county repair and replace buses that have gotten long in the tooth, lawmakers said in a joint statement Tuesday.

“The idea is to improve public service by helping to ensure that transit riders have access to the safest, most reliable and most efficient modes of transportation possible.," said Democratic state Rep. Eliot Engel. "I am pleased that these funds have been awarded to Westchester and I am confident that they will be put to good use.”

The Bee-Line bus system has a web of bus routes throughout Westchester County. It transports customers throughout much of the county, as well as parts of The Bronx and Manhattan.

The money comes from the federal Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration. The agency's bus investment program gives money to both states and direct recipients to replace, restore and buy buses and related equipment.

Thousands of residents in the county rely on public transit every day, said Democratic state Rep. Nita Lowey.She and fellow Democrat George Latimer, the county executive, praised the federal delegation for helping the county address its aging fleet.

Lowey, the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal money allocations, said she'll continue to ensure the Lower Hudson Valley has enough resources to serve its residents, foster economic growth and prosper.

Fellow Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney echoed his colleagues sentiments.

“I hear how valuable the Bee-Line service is from folks in Westchester all the time, so I’m glad we could secure this federal investment to put even more buses on the street,” he said. “Buses in Westchester serve millions of people every year, and give residents more choices on how to get around – investing in systems that are already popular and working well is common sense.”

Photo credit: Westchester County