Bx23 and Q50 buses

(Redirected from Q50 (New York City bus))

The Bx23 and Q50 bus routes constitute a public transit corridor in New York City, running from the Flushing neighborhood in Queens to the Pelham Bay and Co-op City neighborhoods in the Bronx. The Bx23 provides local service in Pelham Bay and Co-op City, while the Q50 provides limited-stop service between Co-op City and subway hubs in Pelham Bay and Flushing. Both routes are city-operated under the MTA Bus Company brand of MTA Regional Bus Operations, and are the only two local routes in the Bronx to operate under the MTA Bus brand, rather than under the MaBSOTA brand that all other Bronx bus routes operate under.

bx23
q50
Pelham Bay−Co-op City
Flushing–Bronx
Former QBx1
A 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4033) on the Bx23 in Co-Op City and a 2023 XD40 (9361) on the Q50 Limited in Flushing.
Overview
SystemMTA Regional Bus Operations
OperatorMTA Bus Company
GarageEastchester Depot[1]
VehicleNew Flyer Xcelsior XD40
OBI Orion VII NG HEV
Began serviceSeptember 12, 2010 (Bx23 & Q50)[2]: 4 [3][4][5]
Route
LocaleThe Bronx and Queens, New York, U.S.
StartQ50: Flushing, Queens – 39th Avenue / Main Street station
Bx23: Pelham Bay, Bronx – Pelham Bay Park station
ViaCo-op City Boulevard
Q50: Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx–Whitestone Bridge
EndCo-op City, Bronx
Bx23: Via Sections 1-2-3-4-5 or 5-4-3-2-1,[a] then returns to Pelham Bay
Q50: Section 5[a] – Earhart Lane and Erskine Place (Rush Hours)
  • Q50 off-peak terminates at Pelham Bay Park station
LengthQ50: 12.2 miles (19.6 km)
Bx23: 6.3 miles (10.1 km)
Service
OperatesAll times except late nights[6][7]
Annual patronageQ50: 837,290 (2023)
Bx23: 841,682 (2023)[8]
TransfersYes
TimetableBx23 Q50
← Bx22
Q49
 {{{system_nav}}}  Bx24
Q52 SBS →

The two routes are the successor to the QBx1 route, privately operated by the Queens Surface Corporation until 2005, when the route was taken over by the MTA. This route ran several confusing service patterns between Co-op City and Pelham Bay, with only select runs continuing to Flushing. In September 2010, to simplify service in the Bronx and to provide full-time service between Queens and the Bronx, the QBx1 was split into the Bx23 and Q50.

Route description and service

edit

Former QBx1

edit
Two 1999 Nova Bus RTS-06s on the Bx23; one running in the 5-4-3-2-1 pattern (5195; top) and one running in the 1-2-3-4-5 pattern (5189; bottom) in Co-Op City, at Bruckner Blvd/Pelham Bay Park.

The original QBx1 service began at the Flushing–Main Street subway station in Downtown Flushing, Queens (within a section of Flushing also known as Flushing Chinatown). It ran north on Main Street to Northern Boulevard, then east to Linden Place. It then ran north on Linden Place to the Whitestone Expressway, sharing the street with the Q25 and Q34. The QBx1 proceeded north on the Whitestone Expressway service road and then onto the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge crossing into the Bronx, and then onto the Hutchinson River Parkway service road to Lafayette Avenue. This portion of the route across the bridge to Bruckner Boulevard was shared with the Q44, the only other local bus between the Bronx and Queens. At the Bruckner Interchange, the QBx1 turned onto Bruckner Boulevard (the Bruckner Expressway service road), traveling east then north to the Pelham Bay Park subway station. This section is shared with the Bx5. Only selected buses ran between Flushing and Pelham Bay; most QBx1 runs remained in the Bronx.[2]: 11, 14 [3][9][10]

North of Pelham Bay Park, the QBx1 ran several different services to different parts of Co-op City. The full route circumscribed the entire development, running (clockwise) north along the New England Thruway service road to Bartow Avenue (near the current Bay Plaza Shopping Center), through Section 1, via the Dreiser Loop, through Sections 2 and 3, via the Asch Loop in Section 4, and through Section 5 before returning to Pelham Bay. This pattern operated clockwise (sections 1-2-3-4-5) or counterclockwise (sections 5-4-3-2-1).[a] The full Flushing−Co-op City service either ran clockwise from Flushing or counterclockwise to Flushing.[2]: 11, 14 [9][10]

The QBx1 operated a total of ten service patterns, varying on the time of day.[2]: 5  During weekday off-peak hours and weekends, the route operated either between Flushing and all five sections of Co-op City, or as a circulatory shuttle service between Pelham Bay and the five sections. During the AM peak a total of five service patterns were used. The three primary AM patterns were Pelham Bay to Bellamy Loop, serving Section 3 via sections 1-2-3; Pelham Bay to Asch Loop, serving Section 4 only; and Pelham Bay running clockwise via Bartow Avenue, serving Sections 4 and 5 before returning to Pelham Bay. The intermittent service to and from Flushing ran via the Bellamy Loop route. The three PM peak hour services were Flushing to Pelham Bay and Bellamy Loop; Pelham Bay to Bellamy Loop; and Pelham Bay running counterclockwise to Sections 5 and 4, Asch Loop, and back to Pelham Bay.[a][2]: 5 [9][10] While this structure provided direct service to individual sections of Co-op City, the structure was considered confusing and inconvenient due to the many different service patterns under one route designation, and the lack of service between Queens and the Bronx.[2]: 5 [3][10]

The following table shows the variants of the QBx1:[2]: 5 [9][10]

Variant Flushing Pelham Bay Park (CW) Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Pelham Bay Park (CCW)
Off-peak  
Off-peak  
AM peak  
AM peak   Skipped  
AM peak Skipped
AM peak   Skipped  
AM peak  
PM peak   Skipped  
PM peak  
PM peak Skipped ← 

Current bus service

edit
 
A 2023 XD40 (9355) on the Co-Op City-bound Bx23

The Bx23 constitutes a simplified version of the former QBx1 route between Pelham Bay Park and Co-op City, running either clockwise (1-2-3-4-5) or counterclockwise (5-4-3-2-1) before returning to Pelham Bay.[6][11] The Q50, meanwhile, runs primarily between Flushing and Pelham Bay Park; there is no direct Co-op City-to-Queens service except during rush hours.[12] During rush hours, Q50 buses are extended north to Erskine Place and Earhart Lane in Section 5, traveling clockwise in Co-op City northbound and counterclockwise southbound. The Q50 employs limited-stop service, making fewer stops in Queens and bypassing the individual loops of Co-op City served by the Bx23.[7][13] The routes run at all times except late nights;[6][7] at these times, Co-op City service is replaced by the Bx28.[14][15]

At Pelham Bay Park, both directions of Bx23 and Q50 service share three adjacent bus stops on the southbound Bruckner Boulevard to the south of the subway station. The southernmost stop at the intersection of Bruckner and Amendola Place is used by Flushing-bound Q50 service. The middle stop is used by all clockwise Co-Op City service (Q50 buses to Section 5 and Bx23 buses via 1-2-3-4-5). The northernmost stop is used by Bx23 buses operating the counterclockwise loop. Because of this setup, Bronx-bound Q50 buses must U-turn at Westchester Avenue to stop at Pelham Bay, then U-turn again towards Co-op City.[11][13]

Prior to 2014, the Bx23 employed additional service patterns during rush hours, similar to its predecessor route. Buses would travel via 1-2-3-4 (AM rush) or 4-3-2-1 (PM rush) and return to Pelham Bay, or directly to Section 5 via Bartow Avenue/Bay Plaza/Section 4 (clockwise AM; counterclockwise PM) and return to Pelham Bay. This was eliminated to maintain one consistent service pattern at all times, and allow service between all sections of Co-op City at all times.[2]: 11–12 [16]

The Bx23 and Q50 are two of the several local bus routes to serve Co-op City, which is heavily dependent on bus service. They are among four routes (along with the Bx5 on weekends, and the Bx12 SBS) to feed into Pelham Bay Park station from the neighborhood, and the only two to serve all five sections of the development (except for the late night Bx28 service).[2]: 10–11 [15]

History

edit
Two 1999 Orion V CNGs from the former Queens Surface on the QBx1 under MTA operations before (9891; left) and after (9927; right) repainting into MTA colors.

The QBx1 was in operation since at least the mid-1960s under the Queens Transit Corporation, labeled the "Bx1" on Queens bus maps.[17] The route originally operated between Flushing and Pelham Bay Park.[18] By 1968, the QBx1 was extended to Co-op City.[19] The bus company would become Queens-Steinway Transit Corporation in 1986, and Queens Surface Corporation in 1988.[20]

On February 27, 2005, the MTA Bus Company took over the operations of the Queens Surface routes as part of the city's takeover of all the remaining privately operated bus routes.[21][22]

In 2009, ten buses from the Eastchester Depot near Co-op City (the former New York Bus Service depot) began to operate on QBx1 service.[23] Two additional stops in the Bronx were added to the route in June 2010, at Baisley Avenue (southbound) and Kearny Avenue (northbound) both at Bruckner Boulevard, to connect with a pedestrian overpass to the Country Club neighborhood.[24]

QBx1 split

edit
Two 1999 Orion Vs on the Q50 Limited: 6025 near the Flushing-Main St station (top), and 6012 bound for Flushing at Co-Op City Boulevard/Peartree Avenue (bottom).

On September 12, 2010, the QBx1 was split into the Q50 Limited and Bx23 routes, simplifying the many service patterns of the former QBx1 route, but eliminating direct service between Pelham Bay and the individual sections of Co-op City.[2]: 4 [3][4][5] In addition, the changes were made in conjunction with controversial cuts in service to other Co-op City routes during the MTA's 2010 budget crisis,[25] and received negative input from the community.[2]: 4 [4][26][27]

On June 29, 2014, the rush hour service pattern of the Bx23 was eliminated, with the off-peak pattern going into effect at all times. In addition, a stop on the Bx23 was added at Adler Place in the Asch Loop. A stop for the Q50 was also added outside the Dreiser Loop.[28][29] These changes were the result of a study of bus routes in Co-op City.[2]: 8 [26]

Bus redesigns

edit

As part of the MTA's 2017 Fast Forward Plan to speed up mass transit service, a draft plan for a reorganization of Bronx bus routes was proposed in draft format in June 2019, with a final version published in October 2019. The Bronx draft plan called for the Bx23 to be the sole route serving Co-op City; many of the draft proposals were not included in the final version. These changes were set to take effect in mid-2020.[30][31] The final Bronx bus plan did not modify the Bx23's routing or stop locations, though the frequency of the route was to be increased.[32]: 91  Additionally, in December 2019, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Queens bus network.[33][34] As part of the Queens redesign, the Q50 would have become the QT50, extended to LaGuardia Airport; the northern section in Co-op City would have been truncated.[35]

Both redesigns were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City in 2020.[36][37] The original Queens draft plan was dropped due to negative feedback,[38] while the implementation of the Bronx redesign was postponed to mid-2022.[39][40] A revised Queens draft plan was released in March 2022.[41] The plan for the Q50 is similar to that in the 2019 redesign and would still serve LaGuardia Airport.[42] The Bronx bus redesign took effect on June 26, 2022;[43][44] as part of the Bronx redesign, the Q50 only served Co-op City during rush hours, terminating at Pelham Bay Park during all other times.[12] A final bus redesign plan was released in December 2023.[45][46] The Q50 would still be extended to LaGuardia Airport but would use Roosevelt Avenue instead, taking over the routing of the previous Q48 route. The Q50 would also start running 24/7.[47]

Bike racks

edit
 
Bike racks installed on a 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4488) for the Q50 in Flushing, at Main St/39th Ave in July 2018

In April 1994, bike racks were installed onto QBx1 buses to carry bicycles over the Whitestone Bridge. This was the first bike-on-bus program in the city.[48] The service was offered on a seasonal basis (April to September), with pick-up/drop-off points at 20th Avenue in Whitestone, Queens and Lafayette Avenue near Ferry Point Park in the Bronx.[49] However, the bike-on-bus program was eliminated on February 27, 2005, the same day as the MTA takeover.[50]

In 2017, it was announced that bike racks would be installed on the fronts of Bx23 and Q50 buses by spring 2018. Each rack, mounted on the front of each bus, would be able to carry two bicycles.[51][52] This was part of the MTA's ongoing pilot program to mount bike racks on several bus routes.[52] In September 2015, the S53 and S93 routes in Staten Island had been the first routes to receive the racks.[3][53] The expanded program restored bike racks on the Flushing to Co-op City bus corridor for the first time since 2005.[52] On July 1, 2018, bike rack service was inaugurated on the Bx23 and Q50 routes.[54][55]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b c d The sections are:[2]: A III 
    • Section 1 is the northwestern section, north of Harry Truman High School.
    • Section 2 is the northeastern section, east of Harry Truman High School.
    • Section 3 is the western section, west of Bartow Mall Shopping Center.
    • Section 4 is the eastern section, east of Bartow Mall Shopping Center.
    • Section 5 is the southeastern section, east and south of the Hutchinson River Parkway.

References

edit
  1. ^ "MTA Bus: Eastchester Depot Pick Glossary; Effective: 09/04/2016". MTA Bus Company. 2016. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Review of Bus Service & Performance in Co-op City with Recommendations for Service Enhancements" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Northeast Queens Bus Study" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Reyes, Lennin (November 24, 2011). "Confusing Bus Riders One Cut at a Time". The Bronx Journal. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "MTA Bus Service Changes". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 2010. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c MTA Regional Bus Operations. "Bx23 bus schedule".
  7. ^ a b c MTA Regional Bus Operations. "Q50 bus schedule".
  8. ^ "Subway and bus ridership for 2023". mta.info. April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d * "QBx1 Bus Timetable: Effective Fall 2009" (PDF). MTA Bus Company. 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d e * Urbitran Associates, Inc (May 2004). "NYCDOT Bus Ridership Survey and Route Analysis Final Report: Chapter 3 Transit System Characteristics" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Transportation. pp. 72–73. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "MTA Bus Time: Bx23 Pelham Bay – Co-Op City". mta.info. MTA Bus Time. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign: Q50 LTD". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 26, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "MTA Bus Time: Q50 Co-Op City/Pelham Bay – Flushing". mta.info. MTA Bus Time. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Queens Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Bronx Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "Bx23 schedule: Effective Spring 2013" (PDF). MTA Bus Company. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  17. ^ "1975 Queens Bus Map". wardmaps.com. New York City Transit Authority. 1975. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  18. ^ Poust, Mary Ann (December 6, 1982). "Bronx bus routes to change" (PDF). Gannett Westchester Newspaper. Fultonhistory.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  19. ^ Fried, Joseph P. (August 14, 1985). "Strike of 4 Bus Lines Disrupts Travel For Thousands In Queens and Bronx". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  20. ^ Roger P. Roess; Gene Sansone (August 23, 2012). The Wheels That Drove New York: A History of the New York City Transit System. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 273. ISBN 978-3-642-30484-2. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  21. ^ Silverman, Norman (July 26, 2010). "The Merger of 7 Private Bus Companies into MTA Bus" (PDF). apta.com. American Public Transportation Association, Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  22. ^ Woodberry, Jr., Warren (February 24, 2005). "MAJOR BUS CO. TO JOIN MTA". Daily News (New York). Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  23. ^ Boyle, Daniel; Pappas, John; Boyle, Phillip; Nelson, Bonnie; Sharfarz, David; Benn, Howard (March 2009). "Appendixes to TCRP Report 135: Controlling System Costs: Basic and Advanced Scheduling Manuals and Contemporary Issues in Transit Scheduling" (PDF). Transportation Research Board. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  24. ^ Post Staff Report (June 3, 2010). "New bus routes should satisfy all". New York Post. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  25. ^ "2010 NYC Transit Service Reductions – Revised" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 19, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010.
  26. ^ a b Cunningham, Jennifer H. (January 29, 2014). "Bus service back on track in Co-op City: MTA OK's bus service upgrades in Co-op City after slashing service in 2010". Daily News (New York). Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  27. ^ Stuttig, Bill (May 25, 2013). "Bus service restoration to be the focus of two townhall meetings set for Wednesday in Dreiser Auditorium". Co-op City Times. pp. 1, 4. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  28. ^ "Planned Service Changes: Service adjustment in Co-op City". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 29, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  29. ^ "Planned Service Changes: New Bus Stops in Co-Op City". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  30. ^ Spivack, Caroline (October 22, 2019). "MTA's Bronx bus redesign will chop 400 stops and add new routes". Curbed NY. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  31. ^ "MTA releases final Bronx bus system overhaul proposal". ABC7 New York. October 22, 2019. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  32. ^ "Final Plan, Bronx Bus Network Redesign". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 2019. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  33. ^ Acevedo, Angélica (December 17, 2019). "MTA gives 'sneak peek' of transformative Queens bus network redesign plan". QNS.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  34. ^ "MTA Unveils Draft Proposal to Redesign Bus Network in Queens". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. December 31, 2019. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  35. ^ "Draft Plan, Queens Bus Network Redesign". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  36. ^ "Queens bus network redesign remains on hold amid COVID-19 pandemic: MTA". QNS.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  37. ^ Duggan, Kevin (February 20, 2022). "MTA sets June date for Bronx bus redesign rollout". amNewYork. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  38. ^ Duggan, Kevin (December 15, 2021). "MTA to release 'totally redone' Queens bus network redesign draft in early 2022". amNewYork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  39. ^ Duggan, Kevin (August 19, 2021). "MTA revives borough bus network redesigns, starting with the Bronx – Bronx Times". Bronx Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  40. ^ "NYC officials announce ambitious plan to expand MTA bus service". ABC7 New York. August 16, 2021. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  41. ^ Duggan, Kevin (March 29, 2022). "FIRST ON amNY: MTA reveals new Queens bus redesign draft plan". amNewYork. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  42. ^ "Draft Plan, Queens Bus Network Redesign". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 2022. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  43. ^ Duggan, Kevin (June 26, 2022). "What to know about the Bronx bus redesign". amNewYork. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  44. ^ "MTA launches redesigned bus network in the Bronx". CBS News. June 26, 2022. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  45. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (December 12, 2023). "MTA unveils final proposal for Queens bus network redesign". amNewYork. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  46. ^ Shkurhan, Iryna (December 13, 2023). "MTA unveils final plan to overhaul Queens bus network for the first time in decades". QNS.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  47. ^ "Final Plan, Queens Bus Network Redesign". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 2023. pp. 255–256. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  48. ^ "New York City Bicycle Master Plan" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Department of City Planning. May 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  49. ^ "NYC Cycling Map: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island" (PDF). transalt.org. New York City Department of City Planning, New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  50. ^ "The New York City Bicycle Survey: A Report Based on the Online Public Opinion Questionnaire Conducted for Bike Month 2006" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of City Planning. May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  51. ^ "MTA will add bike racks to Bx23, Q50 buses". Bronx Home News. September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  52. ^ a b c Barone, Vin (September 18, 2017). "Bike racks coming to Bx23, Q50 buses: MTA". am New York. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  53. ^ "Racks Available on S53, S93 Routes for 1-Year Pilot Testing Feasibility, Impact to Service". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 31, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  54. ^ "MTA Running Bus Routes with New Bike Racks This Summer". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  55. ^ Mascali, Nikki M. (July 2, 2018). "Bus bike racks now available on 4 MTA routes in Queens, Bronx and Staten Island". Metro US. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
edit
KML is not from Wikidata
  NODES
Association 1
Community 1
HOME 2
languages 2
mac 1
Note 4
OOP 27
os 17