Nassau County Democrat Legislature member Laura Curran made sense when placing Nassau Inter County Express Bus riders needs above partisan politics by crossing party lines and joining Republicans in supporting a $6 million dollar bond for purchase of badly needed replacement buses.
NICE Bus, along with predecessors Long Island Bus and Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, have benefited by over $500 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (previously known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration), going back to the 1970s. All of these grants were made possible by a 10 percent match from both Nassau County and the state Department of Transportation.
It is a four-way dance between fares paid by riders (know as farebox revenues) along with funding provided by Nassau County, New York State and the federal government in financing public bus transportation operated by NICE.
They operate a fleet of 308 buses out of the Rockville Center and Mitchell Field bus garages. NICE also operates a fleet of almost 122 Able Ride paratransit vehicles out of the Stewart Avenue facility.
All three facilities were constructed by federal capital grants with local matching funds provided by Nassau County and the state Department of Transportation.
It was the same funding sources for both construction of the Hempstead Multi-Modal Bus Terminal and Mineola Intermodal Bus Terminal/Commuter Parking Garage.
All five of these initial investments combined cost almost $100 million. In today’s dollars, it would be far higher.
NICE attempts to schedule bus replacements on a 500,000 mile or 12-year cycle, which ever comes first, is based upon Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration guidelines.
Since 1973, buses operated by NICE under contract to Nassau County are now on the fourth replacement cycle.
Most buses operated by NICE are several years under 12 years old. This was not the case decades earlier when the average age of the fleet was closer to 12 years and older.
Over time, there have been other capital investments, including compressed natural gas fueling stations, facility modifications to accommodate CNG buses inside garages, new fare collection equipment, automatic vehicle locator equipment, real time communications systems to notify riders for anticipated arrival of the next bus, shelters, bus stop signs and other support equipment necessary to run the system.
Just like a homeowner, what is new today requires constant maintenance, periodic upgrades and eventual replacement years later.
Capital physical assets of any bus system (including revenue vehicles along with bus facility components such as HVAC, bus washers, paint booths, engine shops, bays, pits, lifts, doors, fueling stations, lighting, security systems and many others) eventually reach the end of their useful life based upon straight line depreciation and/or manufactures warranty.
Significant changes in technology may also require replacement of outdated equipment.
Without providing 10 percent in matching funds, Nassau County would be unable to apply for $48 million in federal funding to pay for 28 replacement buses, replacement of underground CNG fueling storage tanks and other capital improvements. Albany matches Nassau County dollar for dollar.
Uncle Sam provides eight dollars for each Nassau County dollar. You can’t find a better return on these investments for public transportation.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate and historian who previously worked 31 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office.)
