Burrstone

NICE and most operators don't care about being green, it's about saving $$$, wich CNG does. I highly doubt NICE will order from DesinLine (if they're even still taking orders with the bankruptcy) after the mess with the NJT order. In any event, I believe you are right it appears technology is not their yet for CNG hybrid, especially not for a large order. It seems the technology is in a testing faze, the question people have to ask is if an operator wants a big order where they have 40-80 buses they (or the manufacturer) keeps having to take out of service to fix (or update) over 10-12 years, when the idea is to save money, investing in a technology that is not there yet is ironic to say the least. It would be cool to get some CNG hybrid test buses to test and help the technology with that, but an order? Not unless the manufacturer is paying NICE to test the technology, IMO. They're talking about hybrid CNG not hybrid diesel buses... Considering NICE has CNG fueling facilities at MF and RVC, are not gonna pay to convert them to diesel with a fleet of current CNG buses, , and that they put out a bid for a new CNG fueling facility at MF, combined with the lower of CNG over diesel I say it;'s safe to bet it will stay that way (CNG). As Vistausss pointed out there is not as much of a demand needing the vans/buses on the International truck chassy, it will be a smother ride for the passengers, feul costs will be lower, maintenance will be lower, and mini vans can be used on the highway (saving time). So you voted for Mangano bc Suozzi didn't mention transit funding even all you know/bitched about Mangano's lack of funding for the past couple of years? Interesting.. As far as the debate, buses aren't winning them the vote, it's all about taxes in Nassau. Who's gonna offer the lower the taxes to the NIMBY'ers who .only give a shit about lowering taxes and paying as little as possible for their piece of pie (and less every year as they don't need the services aks "f*ck everyone else"), how would've it went for Suozzi to talk about increasing funding for bus service? Pay more taxes? I wasn't expecting it even if Suozzi was voted in, so... lol

Is 1833 still in LIB livery?

I had to go back and read that to see what was going on to refresh my memory as it was four months ago... I posted that because it was the directly below my post about an able ride bus, that's all I read is that directly under my post... Why would I not assume you were talking about my post? You gave me no indication that it had to do with anything else. I'm not a physic, I'm not in your head, I don't know what you meant.... And then you post this four months later telling me to chill. Really? Why couldn't you just have let it go?

I'm surprised there hasn't been a bigger announcement with more media covering it. I wonder what the delay in rolling out the service is, giving contractors time to hire/train the additional drivers or actually the funding in hand later than expected. This is a big thing for the economy for Suffolk County with the added jobs and the ability for those who rely on buses to be able to go out and spend money shopping on Sunday's! I wish instead of just Sunday service SCT would expand service beyond the usal 8-9pm and add more frequent service to some of the routes.

Suffolk County Budget Expands Bus Service and Creates Jobs http://blog.tstc.org/2013/10/01/suffolk-county-budget-expands-bus-service-and-creates-jobs/ by Ryan Lynch Source: Suffolk County Transit. Sunday bus expansion will not only add service, but create jobs. Last month Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone released his proposed operating budget for 2014. As expected, the budget included a $2 million increase in funding from New York State over last year’s budget-$24.1 million in 2014 versus $22 million in 2013-which, with the help of a Federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant, will be used for the expansion of Sunday bus service throughout Suffolk County. This is the first time Sunday bus service will be provided throughout the County, though a successful pilot summer program was implemented on two east end routes beginning in 2011. County Executive Bellone touts this unprecedented service expansion as one of the County’s “Key Recommendations” for the Department of Public Works, while including approximately $5 million more in County funds to the bus system as well. Sunday service, initially expected to be rolled-out this fall, is likely to be pushed back to January 2014, however. While the delay will no doubt disappoint riders, Suffolk County Transit explains that additional drivers and mechanics must be hired in order to accommodate the service expansion. According to Suffolk Bus Corporation, which is contracted by Suffolk County to run bus service and is the largest transit provider for the County, and data from the National Transit Database, the additional $2 million in funding could provide approximately 18,400 more hours of service, and also create roughly 30 jobs through the hiring of new drivers and mechanics. With this additional funding injection into the bus system, County Executive Bellone is showing what happens when dedicated transit funding goes towards its intended purpose: more service is provided and jobs are created.

I see. Are they marked in SCAT livery? Interesting that SCT gives the operator buses to transport relief drivers and this is something that is not the operators responsibility (unless the operator buys these buses from Suffolk County when they are about to retire them).

What does EBT do with the Coach and Equipment Metrolites? Kind of odd they have 3 vans there, as para buses are based out of SBC and I have never seen a van on any of the routes operated by EBT....

The rate of pay and benefits is a direct quote from Setzer when they were gearing up to hire many new FT'ers for the big service increase. I don't think Setzer has a reason to lie to the news regarding pay and benefits and if he did I'm sure the union would've called him on it. There are many posts here (that I'm sure you've seen) linking to news articles that state that NICE gave drivers the first raise they've had in 3 years, which included a higher starting rate for new drivers (which we found out a from the Newsday articicle quoting Setzer is $18.56 an hour). New drivers at LIB started at about $15/$16 an hour... ...so yea, NICE pays more than LIB. I think you are right that they are probably back to hiring PT'ers as they did hire a big chunk to get ready for the new service change. In comparison LIB hired LABO (PT) drivers, so what's the difference? Are you sure PT got more than Veolia PT? Either way, it was and still is a foot in the door? But Burrstone, they can't feed a family of four on PT at NICE! But I suppose they could at LIB?! Why is it you assume Veolia brought over drivers from Supershuttle? We've already been over the fact that Supershuttle drivers don't need a CDL, so most of the workforce couldn't just "come over." If someone had a CDL they're not going to waste their time driving a van for supershuttle as they could make more elsewhere. I've traveled around the Country relying on supershuttle about half the time at airports, I don't need to go on yelp to read their reviews. lol There are better and worse shuttles out there, the same with hotels but I don't see how hotels or shuttles fit in here? Besides your fascination with the assumption that you think Veolia is bringing in supershuttle drivers to drive transit buses. Oops I didn't see there were two facebook signs :embarrassed: Yes I was talking about the one to the left of the pic....

What's on the table (just to the right of the facebook sign)? A new schedule? System map?

I think it is more to do with the unions, if someone is facing any type of meeting that could result in disciplinary action most union employees are allowed a union rep. Unless their is hard proof a driver did something wrong management can't really do anything, unless you had a supervisor following each bus to catch the wrong doing. My suggestion would be to follow certain drivers (or drivers with many complaints) more often than other drivers but once a driver knows they are being watched they will be on their best behavior, so nothing will happen. Amen! This has been going on forever. But this has been going on with the as well as drivers thought they were untouchable. You've always had drivers who couldn't care less about the passenger and thought the system was there to give them a paycheck and not to give the community a ride. You want to explain your theory on that? Considering NICE starts out more per hour than LIB did, and top pay is higher now than it was under LIB (as the didn't give drivers a raise in 3 years). Top pay is about $20. hour, medical dental, vision, etc.. So what do you feel makes it not a career? The starting pay (even all it is higher than LIB was)? Most college graduates start out in their industry with the same or less salary than a new NICE driver ($38,604.80)? Is it the lack of a pension? Most careers don't offer a pension. So what makes this not a career, besides you saying less benefits with the is a career, but more is not a career because it's Veolia? I'm sorry but that's stupid and you are disrespecting everyone who works for NICE who has a CDL driving a 40' transit bus and saying they are just a step up from a van driver without a CDL. ...and what benefits and salary does Super Shuttle offer to compare them just a step under a "real bus driver" (to quote Hound)? What do you do for a living again? Sounds like NICE needs drivers, do you make more than $18.56 an hour with full benefits? I know you view this as "not a career" and just a job, so your career must be pretty great!

"There would be a huge uproar if this was happening on the Long Island Rail Road, and it would be fixed pretty quickly," Obernauer said. The LIRR doesn't read cards and the LIRR (or ) isn't quick to fix ANYTHING. Another useless quote to stir the pot by a useless bus riders union!

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/nice-bus-fare-boxes-wipe-cash-value-off-some-metrocards-say-passengers-advocates-1.6249437 NICE bus fare boxes wipe cash value off some MetroCards, say passengers, advocatesOriginally published: October 13, 2013 7:49 PM Updated: October 13, 2013 10:21 PM By ALFONSO A. CASTILLO alfonso.castillo@newsday.com Some Nassau County bus passengers and advocates say fare boxes are increasingly corrupting MTA MetroCards and wiping out their cash value, costing them money and rides. Nassau Inter County Express riders have been getting "read errors" when dipping their MetroCards into NICE Bus fare boxes, according to the Long Island Bus Riders Union. The cards, used by two-thirds of NICE's 100,000 daily customers, are then made useless. Cash balances on the cards can only be recovered through an MTA refund process that can take six weeks or longer. NICE chief executive Michael Setzer said although he has seen no evidence indicating a growing problem with MetroCard errors, the company will assign six electronic technicians to check the fare boxes for problems, provide drivers with special devices to regularly clean the card readers and develop a payment app for smartphones. Card error, out of luckAnthony Dixon, 25, said he has lost several MetroCards in recent months to read errors, including one with a balance of $50. Without a way to pay his fare, drivers wouldn't let him on the bus, he said at the Mineola bus center. Generally, if a driver determines a MetroCard is malfunctioning, the passenger can still board the bus. "I don't know what is the problem. The card is like brand new," said Dixon, a janitor, who added he recently had to walk from Mineola to his home in Roosevelt because his MetroCard malfunctioned and he didn't have cash to pay the $2.25 fare. "I definitely think that the problem has gotten worse. We've seen that just from talking to riders," said Long Island Bus Riders Union founder Charlene Obernauer, who brought the problem to NICE's attention in February. Riders have also complained to NICE about the issue at public meetings as recently as last month. "There would be a huge uproar if this was happening on the Long Island Rail Road, and it would be fixed pretty quickly," Obernauer said. Setzer said there has not been an increase in the number of customer complaints about the issue over the last year, nor has NICE seen any drop in fare revenue, which would be the case if scores of regular customers were not paying for their rides. "Not that we're keeping data on it, but nobody has noticed a higher incidence of read errors, so I think it may be more just greater awareness, because people are talking about it," he said. "But we're starting to pay attention because fare box is $45 million a year. It's 40 percent of our total revenue picture. So even if it's a small amount, we want to be sure it's covered." Bus drivers are not given special instructions on how to address MetroCard errors other than to "handle it the best way possible," Setzer said. "They have to make a judgment on whether this is a malfunctioning card and allow the passenger to ride or whether this is an attempt to evade a fare," he said. Origin of errors unknownNICE officials said they don't know whether the errors are originating in the fare boxes or the MetroCards, but noted that the fact that other riders are able to use their MetroCards after one has a reader error would suggest a problem with a card. MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz cited several kinds of possible reader errors, ranging from a damaged card to a dirty card reader. Ortiz added that the MTA, which issues MetroCards, provided NICE officials, at their request, with an explanation of the various reader error codes. Ortiz added that while reader errors happen from time to time on MTA buses, "it's not really a prevailing problem on this end." Setzer said maintenance of the boxes has remained steady since NICE's operator, Veolia Transportation, took over the Nassau system from the MTA in January 2012, and that most of the MTA's mechanics were kept on their jobs. As a remedy for some riders, NICE is developing a mobile application that will allow fares to be paid using a smartphone instead of a MetroCard. The app would let users pre-load their accounts with money and pay by displaying their phones as they board. Passengers would show a flashing phone screen to a bus operator to indicate they had paid their fare. Setzer said the app should be rolled out some time in 2014. But Setzer acknowledged the app wouldn't be much of an option for about 15 percent of NICE's riders who count on the MetroCard's free transfers to and from MTA buses and subways. "For those people for whom it works, it's a nice alternative to having to carry a bunch of change or relying on the MetroCard," Setzer said.

I really don't know what Suozzi's position will be on NICE... He once loved the and wanted a regional transit system and he once hated the because he thought they were ripping off Nassau. Will be favor NICE because it can do more with less money than the could or will he hate NICE because it;s not the (and he's and guy)? I really don't know...

Wow! Almost half the bus riders (polled) don't vote but probably all bitched about Mangano and/or his "NICE" deal. Not for or against Mangano, just stating the irony.

Good point, perhaps when they know of a detour well in advance NICE can list stops they feel are appropriate along a detour, maybe even put up temporary paper or cardboard signs at the designated stop. It could even be a prefabricated sign where the supervisors could right in the date and route and zip toe it to a pole (the day or night before) NASSAU INTER COUNTY EXPRESS OFFICIAL DETOUR STOP ROUTE n____ DATE __/__/__ Please be advised this bus will only pick up/drop off at this location on the dates above. Something like ^^^ that. Even a small detour where buses will not p/u and/or d/o is long walk for the passenger!

A) Many companies "made" Bus time. B) If Clever Devices was too expensive for the budget inflated there goes any shot in hell of NICE using Clever Devices. lol

BWAHAHAHAHAHA What did Veolia do before they met the ? BTW... Did the develop bustime or did private companies develop it? http://bustime.mta.info/wiki/Main/Technology

I'm not certain about Orion or NICE/LIB specs but the way the interlock works is it pretty much turns off the brake pedal (operator doesn't have to keep their foot on the brake the brake is automatically applied), and opens the backdoor. To turn off the interlock the operator steps on the brake pedal, the interlock is disengaged and the back door closes. Hound or LI Operator can comment if the system is different for LIB/NICE buses...

Damn, how did I not know about this?! Were there buses from around the state there? Congrats to the NICE operator! Kind of ironic because the story some have wanted us to believe for almost 21 months (to grind the ax of their personal agenda) is that NICE has the worst drivers and that all the good ones are leaving or being driven away, but a NICE driver is being recognized as the best in the state.

Yep. I was curious how much people would pay if nice used commuter coaches on the n4x and n6x.

Great, hipsters and/or the new "wanna" be green yuppies clogging up public transit for a day for those who have no other option. Awesome.

No, I haven't seen the news story you are speaking of but assume you are talking about a private bus operator "renting" a party bus to an a private party and then not producing/(showing up) with the bus or a replacement bus. The bus company broke their contract with their customer by not providing the service or defrauded the customer by taking their money with no intention of producing the service later. You do bring up an interesting topic that Veolia may be violating their contract with the County by not producing the service the County is paying for. However, I think I remember seeing a part of the contract talking about this topic and how Veolia couldn't be held liable for buses not showing up (I'm not reading the contract again though, and the PDF they offer is unsearchable). Veolia has very smart lawyers so i don't think they are going to enter into a situation where they could face legal action or violate the contract because of buses not showing up. This is a contract between Veolia and the County so the only ones who could really bring up a contract is violated is the two parties that entered into it. Veolia or the County, not a third party like the LIBRU (in case you or your buddies get any ideas lol) or the bus riders relying on the service. Both parties would have to go to court or a judge or jury would have to determine if the contract was violated and who violated it. if the County said Veolia violated the contract they could say they did the best with the equipment they got which is owned by the county, how could be Veolia be accused of providing bad service because the county gave Veolia equipment in poor shape that frequently broke down and didn't give Veolia enough money to properly fix the equipment? Or Veolia could say they can't be held responsible for something that is standard in the industry, even when Nassau under the contract. It would be interesting though...

Wouldn't it be easier (maybe not cheaper) to send a direct mailing to every business than trying to find the email address for every business along the n27 route? lol That is going to take a lot of time to find all of those emails, with a direct mailing you can just go to any company that does that and say "send it to every address (whether you want commercial, residential, or both) on this road, this road, and that road." And why does it seem like you are always doing all the grunt work for the LIBRU? What do the other members do, besides show up to bitch and tell you to do something? lol

I'd pay $5 for a nice coach seat (instead of sitting on a hard seat for an hour), wifi, and outlets.... Assuming someone still had to transfer to the or it's still a better value than the LIRR considering the transfer to the subway is free.

I was wondering how much people would be willing to spend each way IF nice used coach buses on the n6x and n4x (maybe with wifi and outlets)?