Broome County Transit (BC Transit) (Tri-City Binghamton, Johnson City, Endwell, Vestal, Kirkwood NY)
BC Transit buses on the Binghamton University campus, May 2008.
Headquarters413 Old Mill Road, Vestal
Service areaBroome County, New York
Service typebus service, paratransit
Routes21
Stops900+
Fuel typeDiesel, Diesel-electric hybrid
Websiteridebctransit.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).

Logo for Broome Transit, 1968, by Swiss–Canadian designer Fritz Gottschalk
BC Transit logo on bus with black ribbon mourning the death of "B.C." cartoonist Johnny Hart.

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

  • 3 Park Ave
  • 5 Vestal Ave
  • 7 Clinton St
  • 8 Front St
  • 9 BU Advantage
  • 12 Conklin Ave
  • 15 Leroy St
  • 17 Johnson City
  • 28 Robinson St

Other Triple Cities

  • 35M Endicott (Binghamton to Endicott via Main St)
  • 35W Endicott (Binghamton to Endicott via Watson Boulevard)
  • 35x Express (Binghamton to Endicott via Main St But bypasses Oakdale Mall)
  • 40 Chenango St
  • 47 Vestal-Endicott
  • 57 Shoppers Special

Rural

  • 51 Kirkwood Commuter
  • 53 Corporate Park
  • 55 Endwell Shuttle
  • 59 West Corners Shuttle

15 Leroy turns into the 5 Vestal at the Junction.

  • 17 Legacy Bay and 47 Vestal

Paratransit and other services

  • B.C. Lift: Americans with Disabilities Act mandated service for those who are physically unable to ride regular fixed-route services and live within the B.C. Transit fixed-route area.
  • OFA Mini-Bus: Similar to B.C. Lift, but intended for persons age 65 and over, physical disability is not required. Service paid for by Broome County Office for Aging and operated by BC Transit.
  • B.C. Country: Dial-a-ride service for those who live in areas of Broome County not served by fixed-route transit service and meet certain other criteria.

Fleet

Current fleet

An Interior View of a B.C. Transit Bus

(All buses are Wheelchair-accessible Disabled access)





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.

Past fleet

701-707 GMC TDH-3502 1968 064-080 801-814(I) GMC T6H-4521 1968 114-127 101-106 GMC T8W-603 1979 001-006 201-217 Grumman 40096-6-T 1982 CD094396-CD094412 601-617 Orion 01.508 1987 H6001587-H6001603 900-902 Orion 01.508 1992 N6003097-N6003099 501-515 Orion 05.501 1996 T6032639-T6032653 720 Orion 01.508 [1997] G6001400 Ex-NFTA 720 (built 1986) 729 Orion 01.508 [1997] G6001411 Ex-NFTA 729 (built 1986) 741 Orion 01.508 [1997] G6001426 Ex-NFTA 741 (built 1986) 757 Orion 01.508 [1997] G6001445 Ex-NFTA 757 (built 1986) 801-814(II) Orion 06.501 2000 Y6600213-Y6000237 815-823 Orion 06.501 2000 Y6600213-Y6000237

References

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