LI Bus passengers hope for NICE transition
This is a scene from the Rosa Parks Transit Center in Hempstead. After four decades of service, Nassau County has agreed to pay $2.6 million to a private company to run the public-owned Long Island Bus. Illinois based Veolia Transporation will take over service beginning January 1st. The new service will be called the Nassau Inter-County Express or NICE for short. Fares will remain at $2.50 throughout 2012 however the fate of the metro card usage on the new service has yet to be determined. Credit: Photo by Steven Sunshine
Aboard a crowded bus bound for Jamaica, Queens, Paul Lee explained Saturday afternoon why it's so important that Nassau County's bus system changeover goes smoothly.
"Our people need the bus early in the morning," Lee said, gesturing to other passengers. They nodded in agreement.
On work days, Lee catches a bus from Jamaica around 5 a.m. to get to work near Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City by 6:30.
If the bus doesn't show up, he's stuck. He can't afford to take a cab -- and he's not alone.
"Most people who ride this bus are poor or lower-middle class," Lee said.
On Sunday, Veolia Transportation takes over management of the bus system in Nassau County, ending a 38-year relationship with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The name of the service has changed: from LI Bus to NICE Bus, or Nassau Inter-County Express.
Despite efforts to make information about the transition plainly available, there was a great deal of confusion Saturday on the Queens-bound bus about what will happen when Veolia takes over.
Many passengers hadn't heard about the transition altogether. One passenger said he had heard rumors that the bus fare would skyrocket to $5 in January and that the new company wouldn't accept MetroCard. Several working passengers who rely on the bus daily were anxious that their routes would be discontinued.
According to NICEBus.com, fares will stay at $2.25 and will still include transfers, MetroCards will still be accepted, and all routes will remain the same, except for the addition of an N-22L line, which will act as an express from Hicksville to Jamaica.
News of the transition and what it would entail has been public for months, NICE Bus spokesman Andy Kraus said Saturday. He added that Veolia personnel will be at a number of bus stops this week to answer passengers' questions.
Ingrid Adams of Queens isn't worried. "As long as it's efficient and can get to you on time, that's fine," she said.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano decided in June to end the relationship with the MTA and partner with Veolia, saying the switch would save county taxpayers $32 million a year.
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