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Posted by
W.B.
on Fri Nov 29 09:50:56 2024
November 29-30, 1942 - The Book of Wartime Service Changes
Manhattan, New York
New York City Omnibus Corporation
Eighth Avenue Coach Corporation
In anticipation of new restrictions on bus travel (15% reduction in total mileage to conserve fuel and tires) imposed by the U.S. Office of Defense Transportation (ODT) to take effect December 1, the following changes to key bus routes are put in place between November 29 and November 30:
- Regular service is discontinued on the 22 - Pitt and Ridge Streets line. It had been started up by NYC Omnibus on August 26, 1940 upon taking over the franchises previously held and run by Triangle Bus Corporation. After the end of World War II, this will be resumed for a period as a rush-hours only route, but for the next several years will mostly serve as a branch of the 21 - Houston Street-Avenue C line; as a stand-alone route, 22 will be relegated to one franchise trip a day starting around 1957-58, and finally be discontinued for good on March 1, 1962, due to a strike.
- The 21's western terminus is truncated from Houston and West Streets to Houston and Hudson Streets.
- The 12 - Spring and Delancey Streets line's western terminus is cut back from West and Desbrosses Streets to either Thompson and Watts Streets or Broome Street and West Broadway.
- The 5 - Sixth Avenue line and Eighth Avenue Coach's 11 - Ninth and Amsterdam Avenues line, both having terminated south at South Ferry since October 7, 1940, are truncated back to their respective prior southern termini: 5 at Fulton Street (where it will remain to its discontinuance on November 10, 1963) and 11 at Abingdon Square (where it remains to this day).
In addition, overnight service is suspended "for the duration" on several routes, and reductions are also effected on the 13 - 8th Street Crosstown, 14 - 14th Street Crosstown and 15 - 23rd Street Crosstown lines.
(Sources: "Cut in Bus Service Delayed for Week," The New York Times, November 30, 1942; " 'Owl' Service Cut By Bus Companies," The New York Times, December 1, 1942; "New York City Omnibus Corp." by Bernard Linder, Motor Coach Age, February 1969; "Avenue C Line" by Bernard Linder, New York Division Bulletin, August 1988.)
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