Grand Concourse buses
Encyclopedia
The New York City Transit Authority
operates two bus routes - the Bx1 Grand Concourse and Bx2 Grand Concourse - on the Grand Concourse
in the Bronx
, New York City
, United States
. As the numbers suggest, these were the first two bus franchises in the Bronx.
The Bx1 and Bx2 bus routes share the majority of their alignment from the Grand Concourse and 149th Street north along the Concourse and Mosholu Parkway
and west along Sedgwick Avenue to Heath Avenue on the west side of the Jerome Park Reservoir
. At their ends, a divergence occurs as noted above.
Until August 2008, when permanent traffic reconfigurations were done in Mott Haven at 149th Street, Melrose/Willis Avenues, and Third Avenue, the Bx2 turned east off of the Grand Concourse at 165th Street and ran down Melrose Avenue to 149th Street.
Along the way, connections to the subway can be made at Third Avenue – 138th Street, 138th Street – Grand Concourse (Bx1 only), 149th Street – Grand Concourse, Third Avenue – 149th Street (Bx2 only), 161st Street – Yankee Stadium, Bedford Park Boulevard
, Mosholu Parkway
, and 231st Street (Bx1 all times, Bx2 Weekday [S/B only] and Sunday mornings only). As of September 2010, only Bx1 includes limited-stop
buses on weekdays and Saturdays from roughly 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Before September 2010, both routes included limited-stop service.
obtained an injunction
against the operation on early March 1923, leading the city to assign two franchises to the company in mid-April, from Grand Concourse and Mosholu Parkway
south to Fifth Avenue
(Harlem, Manhattan) and Melrose Avenue and 150th Street (the Hub, Bronx
). Along with a route to the Rockaways, the Concourse service was one of only two of Hylan's lines unaffected by a July 1923 injunction, since they had franchises, but were discontinued anyway by September 1924 due to the failure of the five-cent fare to pay the costs.
The franchises were reassigned to the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, which began operating the routes on October 11, 1924 for ten cents. (The Manhattan line had been truncated to 138th Street in the Bronx.) On September 14, 1927, the routes were again reassigned to the Surface Transportation Corporation
, the bus subidiary of the Third Avenue Railway
, as two of its initial twelve routes. The bankrupt Surface Transportation Corporation's routes were taken over by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines in 1956, and the New York City Transit Authority
subsidiary Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority
acquired all of the Fifth Avenue Coach routes in 1962.
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
operates two bus routes - the Bx1 Grand Concourse and Bx2 Grand Concourse - on the Grand Concourse
Grand Concourse (Bronx)
The Grand Concourse is a major thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx in New York City...
in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As the numbers suggest, these were the first two bus franchises in the Bronx.
Bx1 and Bx2 buses
Except at their extreme ends, the Bx1 and Bx2 share the same aligmnent. The only differences are:- In Mott HavenMott Haven, BronxMott Haven is a primarily residential neighborhood in the Southwestern section of The Bronx in New York City. Zip codes include 10451, 10454, and 10455. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 1...
, the Bx2 turns east at Hostos Community CollegeHostos Community CollegeEugenio María de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York is a community college in the City University of New York system located in the South Bronx, New York City...
and then runs along 149th Street to serve the shopping district between there and Third Avenue, then operating down Third Avenue, while the Bx1 continues down the Grand Concourse. - In Kingsbridge Heights, only the Bx1 (except for some early morning Bx2 cut-ins and early Sunday AM service) continues down into Riverdale along 231 Street.
The Bx1 and Bx2 bus routes share the majority of their alignment from the Grand Concourse and 149th Street north along the Concourse and Mosholu Parkway
Mosholu Parkway
The Mosholu Parkway is a hybrid freeway-standard parkway and grade-level roadway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, constructed from 1935 to 1937 as part of the roadway network created under Robert Moses...
and west along Sedgwick Avenue to Heath Avenue on the west side of the Jerome Park Reservoir
Jerome Park Reservoir
The Jerome Park Reservoir is located in Jerome Park, a neighborhood in the North Bronx, New York City. It was built in 1906 to serve the Croton Aqueduct as part of the New York City water supply system....
. At their ends, a divergence occurs as noted above.
Until August 2008, when permanent traffic reconfigurations were done in Mott Haven at 149th Street, Melrose/Willis Avenues, and Third Avenue, the Bx2 turned east off of the Grand Concourse at 165th Street and ran down Melrose Avenue to 149th Street.
Along the way, connections to the subway can be made at Third Avenue – 138th Street, 138th Street – Grand Concourse (Bx1 only), 149th Street – Grand Concourse, Third Avenue – 149th Street (Bx2 only), 161st Street – Yankee Stadium, Bedford Park Boulevard
Bedford Park Boulevard (IND Concourse Line)
Bedford Park Boulevard is an express station on the IND Concourse Line of the New York City Subway.The station has three tracks with two island platforms. At the south end, exit is to the underpass or up-stairs to the Grand Concourse. Tile colors are lawn green with a darker green border, and there...
, Mosholu Parkway
Mosholu Parkway (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)
Mosholu Parkway is a local station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Mosholu Parkway and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times....
, and 231st Street (Bx1 all times, Bx2 Weekday [S/B only] and Sunday mornings only). As of September 2010, only Bx1 includes limited-stop
Limited-stop
In public transport, a limited-stop bus, tram or train service is a service that operates along the same route as a local bus service, but omits certain stops in order to offer a faster trip between the places served. The term is normally used on routes with a mixture of fast and slow services...
buses on weekdays and Saturdays from roughly 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Before September 2010, both routes included limited-stop service.
History
Concourse Bus Line, Inc. was incorporated in early July 1921 by Major Emit Leindorf, deputy police commissioner in charge of motor transport under Mayor Hylan. The company soon began operating on the Grand Concourse as part of Hylan's "emergency bus lines". The Third Avenue RailwayThird Avenue Railway
The Third Avenue Railway System was a street railroad system in New York City in the 19th and early 20th century.-History:The principal company was the Third Avenue Railroad Company from 1853 to 1910, when it was succeeded in reorganization by the Third Avenue Railway Company...
obtained an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against the operation on early March 1923, leading the city to assign two franchises to the company in mid-April, from Grand Concourse and Mosholu Parkway
Mosholu Parkway
The Mosholu Parkway is a hybrid freeway-standard parkway and grade-level roadway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, constructed from 1935 to 1937 as part of the roadway network created under Robert Moses...
south to Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the center of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. The section of Fifth Avenue that crosses Midtown Manhattan, especially that between 49th Street and 60th Street, is lined with prestigious shops and is consistently ranked among...
(Harlem, Manhattan) and Melrose Avenue and 150th Street (the Hub, Bronx
The Hub, Bronx
The Hub is the retail heart of the South Bronx, located where four roads converge: East 149th Street, Willis, Melrose and Third Avenues. It is primarily located inside the neighborhood of Melrose but also lines the northern border of Mott Haven. The Hub has been called "the Broadway of the Bronx."...
). Along with a route to the Rockaways, the Concourse service was one of only two of Hylan's lines unaffected by a July 1923 injunction, since they had franchises, but were discontinued anyway by September 1924 due to the failure of the five-cent fare to pay the costs.
The franchises were reassigned to the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, which began operating the routes on October 11, 1924 for ten cents. (The Manhattan line had been truncated to 138th Street in the Bronx.) On September 14, 1927, the routes were again reassigned to the Surface Transportation Corporation
Surface Transportation Corporation
The Surface Transportation Corporation was the bus-operating subsidiary of the Third Avenue Railway in New York City, United States....
, the bus subidiary of the Third Avenue Railway
Third Avenue Railway
The Third Avenue Railway System was a street railroad system in New York City in the 19th and early 20th century.-History:The principal company was the Third Avenue Railroad Company from 1853 to 1910, when it was succeeded in reorganization by the Third Avenue Railway Company...
, as two of its initial twelve routes. The bankrupt Surface Transportation Corporation's routes were taken over by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines in 1956, and the New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
subsidiary Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority
Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority
The Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority is a subsidiary of the New York City Transit Authority that was created in 1962 to take over bus services from the bankrupt Fifth Avenue Coach Company and Surface Transit, Inc...
acquired all of the Fifth Avenue Coach routes in 1962.