Westchester County has announced the completion of the 106 hybrid-electric 40-foot bus delivery. The delivery marks an important milestone for the system, with the fleet now 88 percent hybrid or electric. The new buses, Xcelsior® hybrid-electric heavy-duty transit buses built by New Flyer of America Inc., a leading bus manufacturer in North America, will provide passengers with a quieter and more comfortable ride while improving air quality for Westchester’s over one million residents.
The new bus seats 40 riders and includes amenities like a bike rack, USB charging ports at every seat, and a driver protective shield. Each bus had a cost of $715,721 and was approximately 70 percent federally funded. In addition to lowering emissions, they will provide the County with significant savings in fuel.
Latimer said: “My administration is committed to reducing pollution and providing a greener future for all residents. The completion of this delivery represents the latest step our County is taking to meet its sustainability goals. Many people rely on the Bee-Line to get them where they need to go and these buses are a safe, clean, and comfortable ride.”
Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation Hugh Greechan said: “As buses have aged out of the fleet, we have made it a priority to purchase more energy-efficient ones that are better for the environment. Of the total 325 bus fleet we have only 40 diesel buses remaining and either hybrid or electric buses will replace them within the next two years. We take great pride in being a leader of sustainable transportation.”
President, North American Bus and Coach, NFI Chris Stoddart said: "For nearly 15 years, New Flyer has been supporting the Bee-Line with our efficient and safe mobility solutions to move the Westchester County residents. New Flyer’s hybrid-electric buses reduce NOx emissions up to 50% and particulate matter levels up to 100%, bridging the gap between traditional diesel engines and zero-emission propulsion. These new Xcelsior buses will provide an improved passenger experience with lower vehicle emissions and will support the Bee-Line in its sustainability journey."
In 2021, the County added its first all-electric bus to the system. There are currently two 40-foot and four 35-foot all-electric buses that operate out of the Valhalla depot. The County has six electric vehicle chargers within the Valhalla facility and plans on expanding charging infrastructure in the coming years to include the central maintenance facility in Yonkers.
The Bee-Line is Westchester County's bus system, serving over 27 million passengers annually with convenient service connecting residents to jobs, recreation, shopping and other regional transportation services. It is the second largest transit bus fleet in New York State, operated by the County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T).
Over 65 percent of all Westchester County residents are within walking distance of a Bee-Line bus route, making the bus both close and convenient. The system has over 3,300 bus stops and almost 60 routes. All Bee-Line buses are accessible, and designed with many accessibility features, including “kneeling” buses, ramps and lifts.
New Flyer is North America’s heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE® brands. New Flyer actively supports over 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 8,600 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 are zero-emission.