Bee-Line Buses To Be 'Fare Free' During Holidays

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Customers of the Bee-Line Bus system will be able to get where they are going for free during much of the holiday season.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced Monday that fares on Bee-Line buses will be suspended from Dec. 16 through Jan. 1.

The fare suspension will also apply to the county’s ParaTransit system.

This is the fourth time — and the second consecutive holiday season — that Latimer has taken this action, according to a county spokesman.

“In the spirit of the season, we are once again easing the financial strain on Westchester residents,” Latimer said. “Suspending Bee-Line Bus fares during the holidays is testament to our commitment to enhancing the lives of those we serve, made possible through responsible fiscal management.”

The county said that, during the summer’s fare-free program, average weekday ridership increased by about 22 percent compared to the weeks before that, while average ridership on weekends was closer to a 40 percent increase.

Bee-Line buses serve Westchester County and are the second largest bus fleet in the state of New York. It is operated by the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation.

The system has more than 3,300 bus stops on almost 60 routes. More than 65 percent of county residents are within walking distance of a bus stop, and all Bee-Line buses are accessible and designed with many accessibility features including “kneeling” buses, ramps and lifts.