The prayers of Bee-Line bus riders have been answered for now.

Westchester County lawmakers gave bus riders and drivers a reprieve last week when they decided to boost county property taxes 18.8 %, thus sparing 42 of the 44 bus lines that Westchester transportation officials had planned to cut or eliminate service.

Come 2005, however, Bee-Line buses may be back on the chopping block. Next year’s Bee-Line budget is already expected to be $5 million short. Now Bee-Line’s lifeline may have to come from increased funding from Albany. Westchester DOT Commissioner Larry Salley has strongly argued that Westchester gets less than its fare share of state transit funding compared to other smaller or mid-sized systems across New York, such as those on Long Island or in Buffalo.

The county legislature’s willingness to stave off bus cuts is commendable, yet long term budget problems remain. Last year, the county proposed a similar service reduction – of 41 routes – and enacted a 25-50 % fare hike. Next year’s deficit could lead to another round of proposed cuts. It should be noted that while the 55,000 people who use the Bee-Line system each day live in fear of one day losing their buses, investment in Metro-North and highways remains relatively stable. Many Bee-Line riders are low-income and have no alternative means to get to work and other important destinations.

Westchester County’s propensity to look to fare hikes and service cuts to keep Bee-Line operating could prove fatal. Farebox revenue makes up about 50 percent of its operating budget. If drastic service cuts are made, fare revenue will drop, creating a "death spiral" of budget shortfalls, service cuts and fare increases that eventually run the system into the ground.

At Tuesday’s hearings, bus riders and members of the Transport Workers Union pleaded for their livelihoods before the county transportation board, while representatives from big employers in the area, including IBM and Mastercard, said the cuts would remove a major incentive they had to locate in the region in the first place. The companies went so far as threatening to move if service is cut.

Salley said that in addition to more bus operating funds, the county also wants to find money for MetroCard equipment on Bee-Line buses. That would cost the system $3 million a year, but would allow riders to make free transfers to NYC subways.

Two bus lines that operate only during the summer were not restored. They bring Bronx residents to work at Playland Amusement Park in Rye. Salley said the county parks department would arrange other means for these trips.

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