(Contact: Epoch 5 Public Relations)

Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) will host three community information sessions designed to educate riders and others — and get their feedback — on enhancements and improvements to NICE fixed-route bus service that are scheduled to take place in September.

The three sessions will be held from 2 – 9 p.m. on July 23 in Garden City at the NICE Norman J. Levy Transit Facility at 700 Commercial Avenue; July 24 in Hicksville at VFW Post, 320 South Broadway; and on July 25 in Garden City at Nassau Community College, One Education Drive, CCB Building 2nd Floor.

Each will be “drop-in” open houses with numerous displays and NICE staff members available to discuss changes to individual routes, address customer questions and record their input.  ASL and Spanish translators will be available at the meetings.

September’s enhancement will include additional bus frequency on the highest volume routes; restoration of some midday and Saturday service; new express routes; and extended express service to the colleges near the Nassau Hub.  There will be no changes to Able-Ride service or to fares.  This is part of a three-part service enhancement that began in April with efforts to relieve overloading and late buses, to provide more convenient schedules and to restore summer service to Jones Beach State Park.

Complete information is available at www.nicebus.com by clicking “Service Adjustments Effective September 1, 2013.”  Both current schedules and new schedules that will be displayed in advance of the changes.

While NICE is not required to hold information sessions on service enhancements, NICE believes it’s important to discuss these changes directly with riders and to hear, record and review their input. NICE is offering customers three options to do that:

·        Call NICE’s customer service department at 516-228-4000

·        Submit comments through the Contact section of the NICE website, www.nicebus.com

·        Attend one of the information sessions:

July 23:  2-9 p.m., Garden City, NICE’s Levy Transit Facility, 700 Commercial Avenue

July 24:  2-9 p.m., Hicksville, VFW Post 3211, 320 South Broadway

July 25:  2-9 p.m., Garden City, Nassau Community College, One Education Drive, CCB Building 2nd floor

More information about the community meetings is also available by calling the NICE Customer Service Center at 516-228-4000, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.