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NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Q101 E. MIDTOWN 2 AV on Thu Feb 22 13:59:09 2007

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2 questions

1) Does anybody here by any chance have a NYC Express Bus Map?

2) How did the express lines in NYC get to where they are now?

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 18:19:26 2007, in response to NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Q101 E. MIDTOWN 2 AV on Thu Feb 22 13:59:09 2007.

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To answer question #2 briefly:

The first express lines started in 1968 - Fresh Meadows-Midtown, Riverdale-Midtown (East and West sides), and Staten Island-Manahttan. The routes were considered experimental at first. The first two were private companies (Steinway Transit and Riverdale Transit, respectively) that are now of course MTA Bus. The Staten Island route was NYCTA from the start. Once these lines proved successful, by the mid-1970s there was a whole network of express routes connecting Manhattan to the four outlying boroughs and even a few within Manhattan itself. All of the private lines*, as well as the TA, shared in the awarding of routes, then done by the NYC Bureau of Franchises.

*Command
*Liberty Lines (originally Riverdale Transit)
*NY Bus Service
*Queens Surface (originally Queens Transit and Steinway Transit, which had common ownership)
*Green Bus
*Triboro Coach
*Jamaica Buses
*Ave B and East Broadway (taken over by TA in 1980).



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(48026)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by David on Thu Feb 22 20:04:18 2007, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 18:19:26 2007.

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Actually, the first express route was NYCT(A)'s R-8X (later X8), which ran between Staten Island and Downtown Brooklyn. It was discontinued several years ago because of very low ridership. Today's X8 route has nothing to do with the original one.

David

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(48037)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by NJCoastExp on Thu Feb 22 21:40:33 2007, in response to NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Q101 E. MIDTOWN 2 AV on Thu Feb 22 13:59:09 2007.

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I do have 1995 DOT Express Bus Map.
Willing to part with it for $5.

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(48046)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 23:33:27 2007, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by David on Thu Feb 22 20:04:18 2007.

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True, the R8X started in 1965 but it had exactly one round trip per day and was not the model for the routes I listed. The basic reasoning behind all Manhattan-oriented expresses was to provide a one seat ride, to/from a neighborhood beyond the subway lines, at a premium fare, on an air-conditioned bus. This premium fare was more than the double the fare normally required on the bus/subway combination ride required from the same neighborhoods.

The Fresh Meadows Express (QM1)cost 65 cents in 1968 versus the 40 cents (twice the 20 cent basic fare) needed to ride the Q17 to either Flushing or Jamaica for subway connections. The Riverdale Express (BXM1/2) cost $1.00 versus the same 40 cents for the MABSTOA local bus and #1 or A train trip - and it also was competing against the Penn Central RR Hudson Line (today's Metro North) which charged about $1.00 per ride. The first TA Staten Island Express (R9X) charged 75 cents versus 45 cents for the local bus/ferry/subway combination, as the ferry cost 5 cents each way in those days.

The many express routes started between 1970 and 1975 followed the same pattern, and fares were approximately three times the normal transit fare. For example, when the local bus/subway fare rose to 50 cents in 1975, express bus fares were raised to $1.50.



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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Andrew Kirschner on Fri Feb 23 12:17:02 2007, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 18:19:26 2007.

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I believe the route that is now the QM23 began much earlier, around 1955, to replace the Brooklyn Manor LIRR station.

:-) Andrew

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by andy on Fri Feb 23 17:42:34 2007, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Andrew Kirschner on Fri Feb 23 12:17:02 2007.

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You're right about the QM23 beginning earlier than 1968 but not quite right about the year. Green Bus started the QM23 in 1962 after the LIRR abandoned its Ozone Park branch, which was a truncation of the much longer Rockaway Beach Branch, which became part of the NYC Subway system in 1956 (south of Liberty Avenue). In 1956, Triboro Coach, an affiliate of Green Bus, started the Q53 limited stop service between Woodside and the Rockaways because the LIRR stopped running direct service from western Queens to Rockaway.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by NIMBYkiller on Fri Feb 23 23:02:14 2007, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Fri Feb 23 17:42:34 2007.

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Wow, I never would've figured that for those two routes. That's really cool.

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(261539)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Bounad Hanhic on Sun Jun 3 09:30:18 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Fri Feb 23 17:42:34 2007.

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But was the QM23 always called the QM23?

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jun 3 10:53:36 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 23:33:27 2007.

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The R8X was started for TA employees which was why it terminated in front of the Transportation Building at 370 Jay St.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jun 3 10:56:08 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 18:19:26 2007.

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Command was previously known as Pioneer.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Brooklyn67 on Sun Jun 3 11:18:37 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Thu Feb 22 18:19:26 2007.

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Interesting stuff. What's the history behind the X25?

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by mci guy on Sun Jun 3 14:00:13 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jun 3 10:53:36 2012.

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you are absolutely right. i rode it in 1987. at that time last stop was adams st borough hall. as most know the first xbuses were the 8800 series which i drove out of ulmer park 1980-1987.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by WayneJay on Sun Jun 3 14:18:08 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Brooklyn67 on Sun Jun 3 11:18:37 2012.

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I remember the X25. I rememebr thinking that it was an OA route since it operated between Grand Central and lower Manhattan. Then one day I saw the X25 and realized it was a FI route. I guess it was interlined with the X27 back in the day when it was also a FI route.

For those who don't know, FI (Fifth Ave) is the original name of Jackie Gleason depot.

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(261546)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BusMgr on Sun Jun 3 15:07:40 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Bounad Hanhic on Sun Jun 3 09:30:18 2012.

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I believe it is referred to in the franchise as route MQ23, much like the MQ1 and MQ2 today.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BusMgr on Sun Jun 3 15:09:56 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by andy on Fri Feb 23 17:42:34 2007.

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Another interesting bit of trivia: there are actually two separate and distinct bus routes in New York City that are labeled "Q53."

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(261555)

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Bounad Hanhic on Sun Jun 3 17:39:12 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by BusMgr on Sun Jun 3 15:09:56 2012.

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Which ones?

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by Q101 E. MIDTOWN 2 AV on Sun Jun 3 23:01:56 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Bounad Hanhic on Sun Jun 3 17:39:12 2012.

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There's the Q53 Limited which most people here are or should be familiar with, and the Q-53 which is the NYC Airport line from LGA to JFK

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BusMgr on Sun Jun 3 23:45:32 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Q101 E. MIDTOWN 2 AV on Sun Jun 3 23:01:56 2012.

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Indeed, the NYC Airporter timetable labels its Q53 route as such.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by B49 Limited on Mon Jun 4 00:15:59 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by BusMgr on Sun Jun 3 23:45:32 2012.

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I thaught that was MQ - 1 or something?

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by B49 Limited on Mon Jun 4 00:17:49 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Jun 3 10:53:36 2012.

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I still think that route can still work as a B 103 or Q 53 limites type by extending the S 93 to Cadman Plz.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by mci guy on Mon Jun 4 07:53:35 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by Brooklyn67 on Sun Jun 3 11:18:37 2012.

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x25 was interlined with either x28 or x29. it was always an ulmer park route. the customers were mainly mta employees and none of them paid. most if not all got on at GCT.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by BusMgr on Mon Jun 4 08:59:39 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by B49 Limited on Mon Jun 4 00:15:59 2012.

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There are three routes operated by NYC Airporter: MQ1, MQ2, and Q53.

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Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History

Posted by B49 Limited on Mon Jun 4 23:02:37 2012, in response to Re: NYC Express Map/Express Bus History, posted by BusMgr on Mon Jun 4 08:59:39 2012.

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That is interesting how does DOT allow that to happen?

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