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Levy: Four Hybrid Buses Hit the Road in Suffolk
Steve Levy
County Executive

Jim Morgo
Chief Deputy
Contact Us: county.executive@suffolkcountyny.gov
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Levy: Four Hybrid Buses Hit the Road in Suffolk

New ‘Clean Machines’ Bolster County’s Coverage of Busy Route 110 Corridor


HAUPPAUGE – County Executive Steve Levy has announced that four new hybrid/electric buses that reduce fuel consumption by 35 percent have hit the road on Suffolk’s busy Route 110 traffic corridor.

One of the sleek, modern-looking buses was displayed at a press conference. The vehicles are distinguished by their smooth takeoff and acceleration, due in part to the absence of a transmission. Emissions reductions for particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide range from 90% - 95%, and each vehicle is expected to save 33,000 gallons of diesel fuel as compared to standard buses over an anticipated 12-year life.

“Cleaner-burning, more fuel efficient vehicles help reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere,” said Steve Levy. “Every step we take to produce a cleaner, healthier environment will benefit this and future generations.”

Additional features on the buses include a GPS activated “next stop” passenger notification system that includes visual signs on the inside and outside of the bus as an aid to persons who are hearing impaired. Also, a low floor design eliminates the need for steps, and an electronically activated wheelchair ramp provides smooth and safe access to and from the vehicle. Each of the four new buses is 40’ long, which is 5’ longer than Suffolk transit buses, and each hybrid vehicle is equipped with an eight-camera video surveillance system. Each bus has 38 seats and accommodates 28 standees.

The buses will be utilized within the 12-vehicle mini-fleet that services Route 110 from the Amityville Train Station in the south to the Halesite Fire Department in the north, a 17-mile stretch. The four hybrid buses were purchased as part of a pilot program, through a shared federal-state-county funding formula contributing 80%, 10% and 10%, respectively. The pilot program is part of Suffolk’s Clean Energy Action Plan, developed by Levy in 2005, through which the county has been revamping its 162-vehicle bus fleet to dramatically reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The multi-year program will be completed in 2009 and includes:

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59 clean diesel technology buses purchased in 2005 which reduce emissions by 90 percent
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Purchase of additional 55 clean diesel technology buses for 2009
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Use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel throughout the entire fleet, which provides for 25% fewer particle emissions
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Emission retrofits and use of particulate filters on 107 buses
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Purchase and deployment of the four hybrid buses.


Michael Seilback, vice president of Public Policy & Communications for the American Lung Association of New York, attended the press conference and praised the county for its leadership. “Once again, Suffolk County is taking proactive steps to limit pollution from traditional diesel engines, which are the dirty dinosaurs of transportation,” said Seilback. “Today’s addition of more hybrid buses to Suffolk County's fleet means less harmful diesel emissions and healthier air.”
Jane Fasullo, outreach chair for the Sierra Club Long Island Group, pointed out that the hybrid buses are just one example of the Levy administration’s commitment to environmental protection. “Together with his Department of Environment & Energy,” she said, “Mr. Levy has retrofitted buildings, increased efficiency standards for new buildings, preserved open land, and pushed for improvements in sewage treatment, an often neglected source of air pollution.”
Rita Ebert of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition was also supportive of the hybrid bus initiative.
In addition to launching the hybrid bus pilot program, Levy has taken additional steps to improve Suffolk’s bus coverage, including expanding the S92 Suffolk County Transit bus route to serve the north and south forks each summer for the past three years. This highly traveled bus line now has an extra bus each morning and afternoon during weekdays during the summer. A new route also was added in 2006, providing access from Port Jefferson into Stony Brook, and the county is currently conducting a comprehensive bus route analysis to determine if and how services can be expanded in additional areas.