NICE bus routes are coming back

The N51, which originated at the intersection of Hewlett Avenue and Merrick Road in Merrick and ran along Merrick Avenue through East Meadow, is being fully restored.

Julie Mansmann/Herald

County Executive Ed Mangano announced at a press conference on Feb. 10 that Nassau leaders had designated an additional $3 million for the NICE bus system.

Julie Mansmann/Herald

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County lawmakers finalized a $3 million plan for the Nassau Inter-County Express bus system last week, using the money to restore nearly all of the routes that were eliminated in January.

In an effort to reduce a $7.5 million budget deficit, NICE spokesman Andy Kraus said, officials eliminated several “low demand” bus lines — the N2/8, N14/17, N46/50, N51, N62, N73/74 and N80/81— on Jan. 17.

Kraus said that the cuts affected roughly 2 percent of NICE’s 100,000 daily commuters, but NICE and county leaders alike said they were inundated with phone calls from residents of communities like Baldwin, East Meadow, Elmont, Franklin Square, Merrick, Rockville Centre and Valley Stream when the routes were eliminated. The complaints prompted County Executive Ed Mangano and legislators on both sides of the aisle to take action, as they announced on Feb. 10 that they intended to spend $3 million of what Mangano described as a $45 million county surplus from 2015 to restore the cuts.

Brian Nevin, a spokesman for Mangano, said that Republicans and Democrats alike approved of the plan on March 23. It calls for restorations to begin in June, with the return of the N80/81 and N14/17. The N2/8, N62, N51 and N73/74 will be restored by September or sooner, Nevin added.

“These restored routes will help thousands of residents who rely on NICE bus for rides to work, school and medical appointments,” Mangano said in a statement.