Nassau's new on-demand minibus route part of 'microtransit' trend on Long Island

Nassau and Suffolk both have plans to expand the use of "on-demand transit," a measure they say will control costs while improving bus service, but in some cases will come at the expense of traditional bus routes that will be eliminated.

On Monday, the Nassau Inter-County Express will roll out its new "Mini MILE" service, which will operate between Bellmore and East Meadow using 18-seat passenger vans. Riders can either wait to be picked up at designated stops or request a pickup along the bus route using a mobile app. The service will be free through Oct. 31, and then cost $3, the same as a traditional fixed-route bus.

Jon Feldman, director of planning and scheduling for NICE, said the goal is to restore transit service to communities that have been without it since NICE eliminated some routes about 10 years ago.

"This is a way to test the waters and see if there’s demand. Our best scenario is that it is very popular and we can consider replacing it with a full-size bus," said Feldman, who noted that the new service is being funded in part by a $500,000 state grant.

The "Mini MILE" is the latest evolution of the "microtransit" trend, which uses smaller vehicles operating on more flexible routes and schedules to reduce costs for public transportation providers while providing more convenience to riders. Feldman said on-demand service costs about 40% less to operate than a traditional fixed bus route.

Both counties have, in recent years, introduced some microtransit service, including in Lynbrook, Elmont, Southampton and East Hampton.

Suffolk is now looking to introduce three more on-demand routes, both to add service in some communities with few transit options and to replace some routes with low ridership.

The 56 bus line, serving Kings Park, would be replaced by an "on-demand zone," in which riders could use an app to order up a ride. Similarly, a new "South Country On-Demand Zone" in the Town of Brookhaven would replace the existing 77 and 77Y routes.

A third on-demand zone would be created in Ronkonkoma, providing a new link between the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station and Long Island MacArthur Airport.

While acknowledging that smaller, 14-seat passenger vans are more efficient than a standard, 40-foot-long bus, Suffolk's chief transportation officer, Elisa Picca, said the changes will neither add nor reduce costs for Suffolk. The county is receiving some state aid for the transit service changes, which include the introduction of a new express bus service stretching from Riverhead to Hicksville.

Suffolk officials plan to start rolling out the new routes next month, and for them all to be in place by February. A trip on any of the routes will cost $2.25.

Picca said Suffolk County Transit, which carries about 12,000 passengers daily, has seen ridership climb about 40% since the county redesigned the system about three years ago, eliminating several routes but increasing service on its busiest lines.

"We've been very excited about seeing that growth and seeing more reliance on the bus system," Picca said in an interview. "These service enhancements are one way that we can continuously refine and improve the service."

Joe Sackman, executive director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, a nonprofit community activist group, said while he understood some of the benefits of on-demand bus service, he was also concerned about the potential for the changes to disrupt the lives of working-class riders losing the predictability of a bus schedule.

"If my bus is at 7, and I’ve got to get into work by 8:30, I know the bus is going to be there, or it comes every so-many minutes. Taking that away from people ... may not be a good thing," Sackman said.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.