B (New York City Subway service)
The B Sixth Avenue Express[3] is a rapid transit service in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is colored orange, since it uses the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan.[4]
The B operates only on weekdays between
Prior to November 1967
the B ran almost exclusively in Manhattan, as the BB, fromHistory
The designation B was originally intended for express trains originating from the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan and operating in Midtown Manhattan on the IND Sixth Avenue Line. However, the original B service, beginning with the opening of the Sixth Avenue Line on December 15, 1940, ran as a rush-hour only local service between 168th Street–Washington Heights and 34th Street–Herald Square. This service was designated BB, conforming with the Independent Subway System (IND) convention using double letters to indicate local services.[5]
Chrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection and the express tracks of the Sixth Avenue Line opened on November 26, 1967, radically changing service. BB trains were combined with the former
On June 1, 1976, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) announced changes in subway service that were expected to save $12.6 million annually and were the third phase of the agency's plan to realign subway service to better reflect ridership patterns and reduced ridership. As part of the changes, which took effect on August 30, 1976, B service began running between 57th Street and Coney Island during all times, replacing K service, and alternate B trains commenced operating between 168th Street and Coney Island during rush hours.
The NYCTA approved four changes in subway service on April 27, 1981, including an increase in B service. The changes were made as part of the $1 million, two-year Rapid Transit Sufficiency Study, and were expected to take place as early as 1982, following public hearings and approval by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board. As part of the changes, midday B service was going to be increased, replacing AA service. B service on the West End Line and Fourth Avenue Line express was to be supplemented by a new rush hour T train, running between Bay Parkway and Chambers Street on the Nassau Street Line.[16]
On June 1, 1983, the NYCTA proposed changes to increase service along Sixth Avenue and better connecting the line to the Bronx and Queens. As part of the changes, B train service would run to 168th Street at all times, with service to 57th Street during non-rush hours replaced by a new H train running between 57th Street and World Trade Center. With the extension of B service to 168th Street, AA service would be eliminated. The changes would have gone into effect in spring or summer 1984, pending approval by the MTA board.[17]
Manhattan Bridge reconstruction (1986 to 2004)
1980s
The reconstruction of the
Through B service on the Sixth Avenue Line resumed December 11, 1988, when the Manhattan Bridge's north side tracks reopened. Due to increased demand for Sixth Avenue service along Central Park West, B trains were extended local to 168th Street on middays and evenings, partially replacing the discontinued K service.[21] During late nights, the B continued to operate as the West End Shuttle from 36th Street to Coney Island. B service operated to 57th Street during weekends and N service was increased to replace B service to Ditmars Boulevard.[22][23] In May 1989, Sunday afternoon service was increased to run every 10 minutes instead of every 12 minutes.[24]
With the opening of the
On September 30, 1990, evening service was rerouted to 21st Street–Queensbridge to replace Q service with
1990s
The north side of the Manhattan Bridge closed on middays and weekends from April 30, 1995, until November 12, 1995,
From February 22, 1998, to May 22, 1999, B service was cut to 57th Street on evenings and weekends due to track and tunnel reconstruction of the IND 63rd Street Line. Service on that line was replaced by a shuttle to the BMT Broadway Line which ran every 20 minutes.[33][34] The 57th Street station was closed from 12:30 to 6 a.m. daily during the project.[35] The project had initially been slated to be completed in fall 1999,[36] but normal service resumed in May 1999, ahead of schedule.[34]
The B and the
2000s
On November 5, 2000, B service was taken off of the IND 63rd Street Line for signal and track work. It ran along the Eighth Avenue Line to 145th Street (terminating at Bedford Park Boulevard during rush hours) at all times except late nights.
On July 22, 2001, the Manhattan Bridge's north side tracks closed and B service over the Manhattan Bridge was split into two services, similar to the 1986 changes. This time, the southern half of the route that ran via the Broadway Line was named the W. B service ran on weekdays only, from 34th Street to Bedford Park Boulevard during rush hours and from 34th Street to 145th Street during middays and evenings.[44][45][46]
The Manhattan Bridge was fully reopened to subway service on February 22, 2004. B and D trains were once again extended through
2004 to present
From September 14, 2009, to October 3, 2011, B trains ran local in Brooklyn due to station renovations on the Brighton Line.[51][52][53]
In July 2019, the MTA introduced a proposal to end late evening service.[54] Instead, B service would end around 9:30 PM, which it previously did prior to July 2008.[55] In their proposal, the MTA noted that service often ended early on weeknights to accommodate planned work.[54]
From March 2020 to June 8, 2020, the B was temporarily suspended due to lack of ridership and train crew availability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[56][57][58][59] From December 30, 2021[60][61] to January 19, 2022, B service was again suspended due to a shortage of crew members exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.[62]
Route
Service pattern
The following table shows the lines used by the B, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:[63]
Line | From | To | Tracks | Times | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
weekdays | rush hours | ||||
IND Concourse Line | Bedford Park Boulevard
|
155th Street
|
local | ||
145th Street
|
all | ||||
IND Eighth Avenue Line | 135th Street
|
59th Street–Columbus Circle
|
local | ||
IND Sixth Avenue Line | Seventh Avenue/53rd Street
|
Broadway–Lafayette Street
|
express | ||
Chrystie Street Connection | Grand Street
|
all | |||
Manhattan Bridge | north | ||||
BMT Brighton Line | DeKalb Avenue
|
Brighton Beach
|
express |
Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.[3]
Station service legend | |
---|---|
Stops all times | |
Stops all times except late nights | |
Stops weekdays during the day | |
Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction | |
Stops rush hours only | |
Station closed | |
Stops weekdays in the peak direction only | |
Time period details | |
Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act | |
↑ | Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the indicated direction only |
↓ | |
Elevator access to mezzanine only |
Stations | Subway transfers | Connections/Other Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
The Bronx | ||||
Concourse Line | ||||
Bedford Park Boulevard | D | |||
Kingsbridge Road | D | Some northbound a.m. rush hour trips terminate at this station | ||
Fordham Road | D | Bx12 Select Bus Service
| ||
182nd–183rd Streets | D | Skipped by trains terminating at Kingsbridge Road | ||
Tremont Avenue | D | |||
174th–175th Streets | D | |||
170th Street | D | |||
167th Street | D | |||
161st Street–Yankee Stadium | D 4 (IRT Jerome Avenue Line) |
Bx6 Select Bus Service
| ||
Manhattan | ||||
155th Street | D | |||
145th Street | D A C (IND Eighth Avenue Line) |
Northern terminal for all midday and evening trains | ||
Eighth Avenue Line | ||||
135th Street | C | |||
125th Street | A C D | M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport
| ||
116th Street | C | |||
Cathedral Parkway–110th Street | C | |||
103rd Street | C | |||
96th Street | C | |||
86th Street | C | M86 Select Bus Service
| ||
81st Street–Museum of Natural History | C | M79 Select Bus Service
| ||
72nd Street | C | |||
59th Street–Columbus Circle | A C D 1 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) |
|||
Sixth Avenue Line | ||||
Seventh Avenue | D E (IND Queens Boulevard Line) |
|||
47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center | <F> M
|
|||
42nd Street–Bryant Park | <7> (IRT Flushing Line at Fifth Avenue) , daytime only)
1 2 3 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line at Times Square–42nd Street, daytime only) N Q R W (BMT Broadway Line at Times Square–42nd Street, daytime only) S (42nd Street Shuttle at Times Square, daytime only) A C E (IND Eighth Avenue Line at 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal |
|||
34th Street–Herald Square | ) | Pennsylvania Station
| ||
West Fourth Street–Washington Square | ) | PATH at Ninth Street
| ||
Broadway–Lafayette Street | ) | |||
Chrystie Street Branch | ||||
Grand Street | D | |||
Brooklyn | ||||
Brighton Line | ||||
DeKalb Avenue | N Q R W | |||
Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center | Q D N R W (BMT Fourth Avenue Line) 2 3 4 5 (IRT Eastern Parkway Line) |
LIRR Atlantic Branch at Atlantic Terminal | ||
Seventh Avenue | Q | |||
Prospect Park | Q S (BMT Franklin Avenue Line) |
|||
Church Avenue | Q | |||
Newkirk Plaza | Q | |||
Kings Highway | Q | B82 Select Bus Service | ||
Sheepshead Bay | Q | |||
Brighton Beach | Q |
References
- ^ 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required November 1, 2021" (PDF). The Bulletin. 64 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 3. December 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "B Subway Timetable, Effective December 4, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "Line Colors". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ "New Subway Routes Brochure". New York City Transit Authority. November 1967. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2016 – via The JoeKorner.
- ^ "New York City Subway Map and Guide 1967". New York City Transit Authority. 1967. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2019 – via subway.com.ru.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Service Adjustment on BMT and IND Lines Effective 1 A.M. Monday, Aug. 30". October 23, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ Raftery, Thomas (June 2, 1976). "Some Lines Derailed In Plan for Subway". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ Hirschfeld, Neal; Patterson, Michael (December 15, 1976). "TA Cuts Subway, Bus Service Jan. 1". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Angry Riders Blast TA Cuts". New York Daily News. January 6, 1977. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Service Adjustments on the BMT and IND Lines Effective Midnight, Saturday, August 27 New York City Transit Authority (1977)". June 9, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Still Take The A Train". New York Daily News. December 15, 1976. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
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- ^ Edmons, Richard (April 28, 1981). "TA approves four route changes. 2-year subway study affects only the IND/BMT division". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ Harney, James (June 2, 1983). "TA eyes big Sixth Ave. beef-up". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ a b Washington Heights, Central Park West And Grand Concourse Riders Your Guide To Service Changes On The B D During Rehabilitation Work April 26 Through October 26, 1986. New York City Transit Authority. April 1986.
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- ^ Annual Report on 1989 Rapid Routes Schedules and Service Planning. New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department. June 1, 1990. p. 17.
- ^ "System-Wide Changes In Subway Service Effective Sunday, December 11, 1988". June 17, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ^ a b Annual Report on 1989 Rapid Routes Schedules and Service Planning. New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department. June 1, 1990. p. 36.
- ^ "October 29, 1989 Subway Map". New York City Transit Authority. October 1989. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Announcing New Subway Service Between Queens And Manhattan. Starting Sunday, October 29, 1989". New York Daily News. October 24, 1989. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ Introducing the new 63 Street Extension Opening 29, 1989. New York City Transit Authority. October 1989.
- ^ Siegel, Joel (September 28, 1990). "We will be missing some trains, sez TA". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Service Changes September 30, 1990" (PDF). New York City Transit Authority. September 30, 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016 – via subwaynut.com.
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- ^ "63rd Street Shuttle Timetable Effective February 1998". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 1998. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018 – via The JoeKorner.
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- ^ B Q All Times Service to Lexington Av/63 St, Roosevelt Island, 21 St/Queensbridge replaced by special shuttle February 22 to Fall '99. New York City Transit. February 1998.
- ^ "March 1, 1998 B C Routes are switching places above 145 St". New York City Transit. March 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "The B and C routes will switch places above 145th Street beginning March 1". New York Daily News. February 23, 1998. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Changes in B & C service". New York Daily News. February 24, 1998. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Weekly Subway Service Advisories Updated Nov 9, 2000". mta.nyc.ny.us. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 9, 2000. Archived from the original on November 9, 2000. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "Increased Subway Service" (PDF). The Bulletin. 43 (11). Electric Railroaders' Association: 1. November 2000.
- ^ a b "B Schedule Effective November 2000" (PDF). June 5, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2001. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Musluoglu, Subutay (February 2001). "63rd Street Connector". New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association.
- ^ "Manhattan Bridge Service Changed B D Q <Q> W". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2001. Retrieved March 29, 2019 – via The JoeKorner.
- ^ "B D S Manhattan Bridge Service Change Train Timetable" (PDF). mta.info. New York City Transit. April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ^ "Manhattan Bridge Service Changes". The New York Times. July 21, 2001. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ "A Subway Map Remade, in Hopes of Matching Routes and Riders". The New York Times. February 20, 2004. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "B D M N Q R W Weekday Service Manhattan Bridge Map" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 2004. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "MTA NYC Transit Manhattan Bridge Information". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 5, 2004. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "More Service on the Manhattan Bridge B D M N Q R W New Subway Service! February 22, 2004". The JoeKorNer. New York City Transit. 2003. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ "B Train Timetable" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 18, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ^ "B Express Service Returns to the Brighton Line". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 30, 2011. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
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- ^ a b "July 2019 NYC Transit/MTA Bus Committee Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. July 22, 2019. p. 207. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
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