Broome County Transit Explained

Broome County Transit (BC Transit) (Tri-City Binghamton, Johnson City, Endwell, Vestal, Kirkwood NY)
Headquarters:413 Old Mill Road, Vestal
Service Area:Broome County, New York
Service Type:bus service, paratransit
Routes:19
Stops:900+
Fuel Type:Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid
Website:ridebctransit.com

Broome County Transit, popularly branded as B.C. Transit, is the public transportation system serving Broome County, New York, which includes the city of Binghamton and surrounding communities.

History

B.C. Transit was founded in 1968 when Broome County took over the assets of the private Triple Cities Traction Corporation, a takeover similar to those that took place in Rochester and Schenectady years prior. Unlike those city's transit systems, which became part of public benefit corporations, B.C. Transit is still owned and operated by the county (Department of Public Transportation) and is the largest such operator in Upstate New York (third largest overall in the state).

Broome Transit originally used a logo designed by renowned Swiss–Canadian designer Fritz Gottschalk. At a later date, it rebranded as "B.C. Transit" and adopted the character Thor from the comic strip B.C., drawn by Endicott, New York native Johnny Hart.[1] The "B.C." is also based (very) loosely on one of the logos from that comic strip as well.

At the time of B.C. Transit's formation, they inherited the token stock of Triple Cities Traction Corporation and that company's predecessor, the Binghamton Railway Company. These same tokens, some dating back to the turn of the 20th century, circulated until B.C. Transit phased out the token at the end of 2005 when they went to electronic fare collection.

Routes and services

City of Binghamton

Other Triple Cities

Rural

15 Leroy turns into the 5 Vestal at the Junction.

Paratransit and other services

Fleet

Current fleet

(All buses are Wheelchair-accessible)

YearManufacturerModelFleet NumbersEngineTransmissionNotes
2009Daimler Buses North AmericaOrion VII NG HEV101-106Cummins ISBBAE Systems Hybridrive105, 106 are Retired.
2010Daimler Buses North AmericaOrion VII EPA10 HEV601-606Cummins ISB6.7BAE Systems Hybridrive
2014GilligLow Floor 40'701-707Cummins ISL9Voith D864.5
2017GilligLow Floor 40'721-727Cummins L9Voith D864.6
2018-19GilligLow Floor 40'741-748Cummins L9Voith D864.6741-747 are 2018 Models and 748 is a 2019 Model.
2019GilligLow Floor HEV 40'621-623Cummins B6.7BAE Systems HDS 200
2019GilligLow Floor 40'761-765Cummins L9Voith D864.6
2021GilligLow Floor HEV 40'641, 642Cummins B6.7BAE Systems HDS 200
2021GilligLow Floor 40'781-783Cummins L9Allson B3400xFE

Future fleet

BC Transit has signed a contract to purchase 6 Novabus LFSe+ Battery Electric Buses, expected to be in service by 2024.

Pending the announcement of Novabus departing the US market, these plans are in the air and in all likelihood Broome County Transit will aim to receive Gillig Low Floor Electric's instead.

BC Transit is anticipated to receive up to 4-6 Gillig Low Floor Hybrids in the summer of 2024.

Past fleet

YearBuilderModelFleet NumbersRetired year & notes
1979GMCRTS-03101-106 (1st)
1982Grumman Flxible870201-217 (1st)Retired in 1996-1997. 205, 216 sold to Oneonta Public Transit.
1997-1998OBIOrion VI201-212 (2nd)Retired in 2015-2017. Ex-CDTA buses purchased in 2008, 2070 and 2099 also purchased for use as a parts bus
1996OBIOrion V501-515
1987OBI Orion I 01.508601-617 (1st)602, 607, 608, 610, 612 sold to Private Transportation
1968GMCTDH-3502701-707 (1st)
1986OBIOrion I 01.508720, 729, 741, 757Ex-NFTA buses purchased in 1997
1968GMCT6H-4521801-814 (1st)802, 804, 807, 809-812 sold to NFTA in 1987
2000OBIOrion VI801-823Retired in 2017
1992OBIOrion I CNG 01.508900-902
2003GilligPhantom 30'2001, 2006, 2007Retired in 2019. Ex-HART buses purchased in 2015
1999NovaBus LFS Suburban3003-3005, 3010Retired in 2020. Ex-CDTA buses purchased in 2015
1999NovaBusLFS3022, 3025, 3030, 9915, 9918, 9927, 9930, 9932Retired in 2020. Ex-CDTA buses purchased in 2015, 9901 and 9925 were also purchased from CDTA to be use as a parts bus
1997GilligPhantom 30'??Retired in 2018. Ex-HART buses purchased in 2015
2007OBIOrion VII NG HEVN/AEx-MTA NYCT 1292, acquired from BAE Systems. Never entered service

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.gobroomecounty.com/transit/TransitAboutUs.php About Us | Broome County, NY