B3 (New York City bus)
b3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Avenue U Line | |||
.jpg) A 2018 XD40 (7552) and a 2015 XD40 (7351) on the Bath Beach-bound B3 on Avenue U during a blizzard in January 2022. | |||
| Overview | |||
| System | MTA Regional Bus Operations | ||
| Operator | New York City Transit Authority | ||
| Garage | Ulmer Park Depot | ||
| Vehicle | New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 | ||
| Began service | 1922 | ||
| Route | |||
| Locale | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | ||
| Communities served | Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Homecrest, Madison, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Old Mill Basin, Bergen Beach | ||
| Start | Bath Beach – Harway Avenue and 25th Avenue | ||
| Via | 25th Avenue, Stillwell Avenue, 86th Street, Avenue U | ||
| End | Bergen Beach - Avenue U and East 71st Street | ||
| Length | 5.3 miles (8.5 km) | ||
| Service | |||
| Operates | 24 hours | ||
| Annual patronage | 2,660,650 (2023)[1] | ||
| Transfers | Yes | ||
| Timetable | B3 | ||
| |||
The B3 is a bus route in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, serving the corridor of Avenue U. Originally operated by the Kings Coach Company, it is now operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations under the New York City Transit brand.
Route description
[edit]The B3 bus route begins at 25th and Harway Avenues in Bath Beach. It heads northeast on 25th Avenue towards Stillwell Avenue, then south towards 86th Street, and southeast until Avenue U. The B3 runs almost the entire corridor’s length, terminating at East 71st Street in Bergen Beach.[2][3] At 7:03am each weekday, a bus leaving Bergen Beach short-turns at the Avenue U station on the BMT Brighton Line at East 16th Street.[4]
History
[edit]
In 1922, the B3 was created by the Kings Coach Company, which initially ran extended trips to Avenue X/East 74th Street during the daytime.[5] Sometime later, the route was taken over by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation. On June 1, 1940, the City took over operation of the B3 and all other BMT routes.
In 1978, the B3 was extended from 86th Street to the Ulmer Park Depot at 25th/Harway Avenues, replacing B4 and B34 service on 25th Avenue. Since June 2010, service on East 73rd & East 74th Streets in Bergen Beach was discontinued, and all trips terminate at Avenue U/East 71st Street due to a budget crisis.[6]
Between September 2009 and Q3 2011, a shuttle bus service, the B3K, ran between Gerritsen Avenue and the Kings Highway station to accommodate customers dispatched from the B and Q lines due to Phase II of the Brighton Line Station Rehabilitation project.[7] This service ran on weekdays via Avenue U and Ocean Avenue. Until Q3 2010, it ran during the P.M. rush between 2:50 P.M. and 7:40 P.M.[8]; this was changed to the A.M. rush between 5:50 A.M. and 9:25 A.M.[9]
On December 1, 2022, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Brooklyn bus network. As part of the redesign, the B3 will keep its current route, but closely-spaced stops will be eliminated.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Subway and bus ridership for 2023". mta.info. April 29, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ MTA Regional Bus Operations. "B3 bus schedule".
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Service: November 2019". Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Service Guide: February 2004". Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Map: January 2010". Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Press Release - NYC Transit - Temporary Loss of Brighton Line Express". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Map: January 2010". Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Brooklyn Bus Map: July 2010" (PDF). Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Draft Plan: B3 Local". Retrieved December 22, 2024.