Mangano Announces Agreement To Allow MTA And Nassau County To Allow MetroCard Use On NICE Bus

NICE Bus Riders to Continue Use of MetroCard for Fares and Transfers Without Interruption

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has announced that the County and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) have reached an agreement to allow usage of the MetroCard for riders who are transferring between Nassau Inter-County Express buses and MTA buses, or between a NICE bus and the subway.

The agreement has designated Veolia Transportation, which is managing the County’s bus and paratransit system under a public-private operating partnership, to assume all the County’s rights and responsibilities for use of the swipe MetroCards, the farebox equipment on NICE Buses and transfer policies.

“It is vital that there be a smooth transition between the Nassau County transit system and the MTA. NICE bus riders will now have all the benefits of our public-private operating partnership with Veolia with the convenience of the continued use of the MetroCard,” said Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.

Beginning January 1st, NICE Buses will no longer be operated by the MTA as Long Island Bus.

“The MetroCard agreement is a big win for both MTA and NICE riders because we share so many customers” said Mike Setzer, Vice President of Veolia Transportation and CEO of NICE. “For all the Nassau County residents heading into thecity to work, there's an earlyequal number ofcity residents heading to Nassau County – this is anexample oftwotransit systems collaborating to serve shared customers.”

The MetroCard will continue to be available through vending machines, at subway stations, and through designated neighborhood merchants. It offers reduced fares as well as free transfer between subway and bus, or between buses.