Select Bus Service

The Q70 SBS was implemented in September 2016,[84]^[85] when it was rebranded as the "LaGuardia Link" with the implementation of off-board payment of fares. As opposed to other SBS routes, the Q70 is wrapped in a light blue scheme with clouds and airplanes on the top half of the bus imposed with the standard SBS livery on the lower half.^[27][28] No fares have been charged since May 2022.^[86][87]

The Q70, based out of LaGuardia Depot, is the second Queens bus line to have Select Bus Service and the first one for MTA Bus.

M23

The M23 route has been traditionally crowded, with 4,862,343 riders in 2010 and 3,831,755 riders in 2015, or 15,000 riders a day. In 2003, it was given the "Pokey Award" by the Straphangers Campaign, the least prestigious award given to other New York City Bus routes that also runs at a speed of 4 mph.^[88][89] It also got that distinction in 2007 when it also ran at an average of 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h), slightly faster than the average walking speed of 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h).^[88][90]

In 2009, the MTA and the

The M79 local bus route was identified as a heavily traveled corridor in a 2009 study by the DOT and NYCTA, and in a December 2013 study by the

Bx6

In September 2017, the Bx6 SBS service was split from the existing Bx6 local service. The Bx6 SBS initially operated a similar route to the local, but the eastbound SBS route followed the westbound local route instead of exiting the Macombs Dam Bridge to Jerome Avenue. The Bx6 SBS supplements the existing Bx6 local service, making stops at select high-ridership locations and all transfers points to Metro-North and subways.^[93] In late 2019, it was announced that the Bx6 SBS route's eastern terminus would be relocated from Hunts Point to Soundview, along the path of the Bx5 route, with the change set to take effect in 2024 once MetroCard has been retired.^[94][95]

The Bx6 SBS is based out of the

The Bx6 corridor is the first to use bus lanes in the median of the street at the E 161st Street/Sheridan-Sherman Avenues stops, as opposed to curbside or offset bus lanes. The median bus lanes supposedly speeds up traffic by going around double-parked cars.^[96] Originally, a similar provision of median bus lanes was planned for the 34th Street Corridor in Manhattan. A planned "Busway" would have seen both the M34 and M34A SBS lines run along 34th Street in a special two-lane corridor with vehicular traffic travelling in only one direction (westbound after 6th Avenue/Broadway; eastbound after 5th Avenue), this was eventually scrapped and replaced with curbside and offset bus lanes along 34th Street with bus bulbs at selected bus stops (see above). The Bx6 SBS is 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long.

Q52 and Q53

The Q52 and Q53 buses were converted to Select Bus Lines in November 2017. The Q52 SBS is based out of the

B82

The

M14A and M14D

A temporary

Station Street traveled	Direction	Connections
M14A only
Bleecker Street Eighth Avenue	Eastbound station	M20 to Lincoln Center
West 12th Street Hudson Street	Westbound terminus	NYC Bus: M11 to Riverbank State Park
West 13th Street Hudson Street	Westbound	NYC Bus: M11 to Abingdon Square, M14D SBS to Chelsea Piers
M14D only
Ninth Avenue West 14th Street	Westbound	NYC Bus: M11, M14A SBS to Abingdon Square
Tenth Avenue West 14th Street		NYC Bus: M11 to Riverbank State Park
West 15th Street Eleventh Avenue
West 17th Street Eleventh Avenue
Tenth Avenue West 18th Street	Westbound terminus; eastbound station	NYC Bus: M11 to Riverbank State Park
West 18th Street Ninth Avenue	Eastbound	NYC Bus: M11 to Abingdon Square
Hudson Street West 14th Street		NYC Bus: M11, M14A SBS to Abingdon Square
M14A and M14D
Eighth Avenue West 14th Street	Bidirectional	NYC Bus: M20 to Lincoln Center 14th Street/Eighth Avenue
Seventh Avenue West 14th Street		NYC Bus: M20 to South Ferry NYC Subway: 14th Street/Sixth Avenue
Sixth Avenue West 14th Street		NYC Bus: M55 to West 44th Street/Sixth Avenue NYC Subway: ​​​​​​ trains at 14th Street/Sixth Avenue PATH: HOB–33, JSQ–33, JSQ–33 (via HOB) trains at 14th Street
Fifth Avenue West 14th Street	Westbound	NYC Bus: M3 to East Village, M55 to South Ferry
Union Square West/University Place East 14th Street	Bidirectional
Irving Place East 14th Street		NYC Bus: M1 to Harlem, M2 to Washington Heights, M3 to Fort George NYC Subway: 14th Street–Union Square
Third Avenue East 14th Street		NYC Bus: Third Avenue
Second Avenue East 14th Street		NYC Bus: M15 Local to South Ferry, M15 SBS to South Ferry
First Avenue East 14th Street		NYC Bus: M15 Local to East Harlem, M15 SBS to East Harlem NYC Subway: First Avenue
Avenue A East 14th Street		NYC Subway: First Avenue
M14A only
East 11th Street Avenue A	Bidirectional	NYC Bus: M8 at East 10th Street
East 5th Street Avenue A
East Houston Street Avenue A		NYC Bus: M9, M21
Delancey Street Essex Street		NYC Bus: M9, Delancey Street/Essex Street
Grand Street Essex Street		NYC Bus: M9
Clinton Street Grand Street
Pitt Street Grand Street
East Broadway Grand Street	Eastbound
Jackson Street Grand Street
Columbia Street Grand Street	Westbound
Madison Street Jackson Street		NYC Bus: M22
FDR Drive Grand Street	Eastbound terminus; Westbound station	NYC Bus: M22 to Battery Park City
M14D only
Avenue B East 14th Street	Bidirectional
Avenue C East 14th Street		NYC Bus: M9
East 11th/12th Streets Avenue C		NYC Bus: M8 at East 10th Street, M9
Avenue D East 10th Street		NYC Bus: M8 to West Village
East 5th/6th Streets Avenue D
East 4th Street Avenue D	Eastbound
East Houston Street Avenue D	Westbound	NYC Bus: M21
Columbia Street East Houston Street	Eastbound
Rivington Street Columbia Street	Westbound	NYC Bus: M21 to Soho
Mangin Street East Houston Street	Eastbound	NYC Bus: M21 to Lower East Side
555 FDR Drive FDR Drive
FDR Drive Delancey Street
Columbia Street Delancey Street	Eastbound terminus; Westbound station	NYC Bus: M21 to Soho

Future routes

Other Select Bus Service routes are planned for the near future as part of the continuation of Phase II, including neighborhoods underserved by rapid transit and heavily used

The M96 was set to become the next route to be converted to Select Bus Service after the M14, with implementation set for 2019, but was pushed back due to budget constraints.[103] Bus lanes will be added to 96th Street, bus stops will be consolidated and signal timing will be changed along the street as part of the Better Buses Action Plan, which was unveiled on April 19, 2019, making it one of the next corridors to become SBS.^[104] The MTA bus network redesign's route type distribution has a new route type called "Crosstown/SBS", which all current SBS routes fall under. The MTA is planning to upgrade some existing routes into the route type (B41 Limited) and create some new ones (B55 (current B35 Limited, but extended to JFK Airport)), and Q98 (current Q58 Limited, but runs along Horace Harding Expressway, bypassing Corona)).

The Q25 or Q34 Limited, running primarily along Parsons and Kissena Boulevards in Queens, has been proposed for conversion to Select Bus Service.^{[105][12][106]} The corridor was one of the possible future corridors identified in the 2017 announcement about the SBS system's expansion.^[107] Other potential routes such as the B41 have undergone preliminary studies and community outreach, but have yet to be considered for implementation.^[108][109]

Potential corridors

Below are potential corridors and neighborhoods listed under the 2009 study, current Phase II plans that have not already been implemented, and from the 2017 study. As of Spring 2019, all future proposals, except for the North Shore BRT study, have been postponed, while awaiting the Bus System Redesign.

Corridors and Neighborhoods include:

1. Q47
   )
2. Q110)^{[81][105][12]}
3. Southeast
   Q84 routes)^[110][12]
4. Southeast Queens (current
   Q114 routes)^[106][12]
5. Union Turnpike (current Q46 route)^[105][12]
6. Flatbush Avenue Corridor (current B41)^{[81][111][12]}
7. Multiple Southern Brooklyn East-West Corridors (current B6 and B82):^{[112][109][111][12]} B82 implemented on October 1, 2018.^[113][114]
8. Manhattan West Side – Amsterdam Avenue/135th Street to Hudson Street/8th Avenue (current M11)^[81][111]
9. Broadway to Central Bronx (current
   Bx9)^[12]
10. University Avenue (current Bx3)^[12]
11. Tremont Avenue (current
    Bx42 routes)^[12]
12. Bx19)^[12]
13. Soundview to Washington Heights (current Bx36)^[12]
14. 96th Street Crosstown (current
    M96);^[12]
    planned
15. Church Avenue (current B35)^[12]
16. Ridgewood to Flushing (current Q58)^[12]
17. Flushing to Cambria Heights via Springfield Boulevard (current Q27)^[12]
18. Queens Access to JFK (current Q10)^[12]
19. The Hub to Fordham Plaza (current
    Bx15
    )
20. Gun Hill Road Corridor (current
    Bx38
    ); Bx28 proposed for future conversion
21. Bedford Park to Co-Op City (current
    Bx26
    )
22. Seagate to Sheepshead Bay (current
    B36
    )

High-volume express bus corridors include:

1. Major Deegan Expressway
   (I-87)
2. Bruckner Expressway (I-278)
3. Long Island Expressway
   (I-495)
4. Gowanus Expressway
   (I-278)
5. Staten Island Expressway
   (I-278)

"Difficult trips", trips that are difficult to make and/or require many transfers, as identified by the MTA:

1. 14th Street Crosstown Corridor – 23rd Street/11th Avenue to Grand Street/Avenue D (current
   M14D); implemented July 1, 2019.^[111][12]
2. Jamaica to Flushing Corridor: Q25 Limited is proposed for future conversion.[105]^[12][106]
3. Bushwick to Downtown Brooklyn Corridor (current B38 and B54)^{[81][115][116][111][12]}
4. Central Brooklyn East-West Corridor
5. Southern Brooklyn East-West Corridor – Bay Ridge to JFK Airport (current B6, and B82 routes)^{[112][111][12]}
6. Northern Boulevard Flushing – Manhattan Corridor via Queensboro Bridge:^[81][105] Q66 is proposed for future conversion.^[111][12]

The following subway lines have been flagged for being at or above 95% of New York City Subway loading guidelines during rush hours:

1. Broadway–Seventh Avenue 2 and ​3 trains
2. <6>
   trains
3. Queens-Manhattan connections: 7, E, N, and W trains

Areas that are undergoing or may undergo significant growth in housing units and that have limited transit access:

1. South Bronx:^[108] Bx6 SBS was implemented on September 3, 2017.^[31]
2. Queens East River waterfront
3. Brooklyn East River waterfront
4. Western Shore/Southern Shore (Charleston, Tottenville) of Staten Island^[91]

Additional Study Areas include:

1. S90 routes; former North Shore Branch of Staten Island Railway); being studied by the MTA^{[91][117][118][12]}

There are also "tiered" corridors based on importance, identified in the Pratt Center report in December 2013 and a previous report from 2007.[117]^[110]

"First-tiered" corridors:

1. LaGuardia–Woodhaven/Cross Bay–Rockaway (Queens); Combination of current Q72 and Q52/Q53 routes.
   1. Q52/Q53 LTD (Woodhaven & Cross Bay Boulevards) converted on November 12, 2017.^[32]
2. S90 routes; former North Shore Branch of Staten Island Railway^[117][118]
3. Industry City/Sunset Park–Linden–JFK (Brooklyn–Queens); B35 route and eastern portion of the B15 route (proposed as B55 SBS in Brooklyn bus redesign, but ends in Kensington instead of Sunset Park).^[117]

"Second-tiered" corridors:

1. Q113 and Q114 routes^[111]
2. Bush Terminal/Sunset Park–JFK via Southeast Brooklyn (Brooklyn–Queens)
3. East Bronx hospital cluster–East Harlem (Bronx–Manhattan)
4. Mid-Staten Island–Hudson County, NJ–Holland Tunnel–Manhattan (Staten Island–New Jersey–Manhattan)

Fare and payment

A SBS shelter (left) and fare inspection aboard a SBS bus (right).

The fare for SBS is the same as on all New York City Transit local and limited-stop buses, $2.90, payable with a MetroCard or coins at booths on each stop, with the exception of the Q70, which is fare-free. The fare can also be paid on board SBS Buses with MTA's new OMNY fare payment system,^[119] by tapping a contactless bank card, smart device or OMNY Card at any OMNY reader at any door, excluding the S79 SBS. Unlike other bus lines in New York City, fare collection for SBS uses a proof-of-payment system.^[120][121]

Passengers are required to pay their fare before boarding the bus at pay stations located in bus shelters at the designated stops (for customers using UniTicket, which is valid for boarding) or paying the fare on board at any door using OMNY. Once fare payment is made, one must board the bus at that stop within one hour. Boarding can be done via any of the two or three doors (depending on the bus fleet), except on S79 buses, where all passengers board from the front door since fares are paid on board.^[120][121]

New York City Transit fare inspectors (organized in "EAGLE" teams), NYPD officers, or MTA police officers check for proof of payment receipts. OMNY Users will have their payment method validated with a reader carried by the "EAGLE" Team to ensure Proof of Payment. Those unable to produce one are subject to a fine of up to $100. These inspections are conducted randomly, or through the entire bus at specific stations.^[120][121]

Proof-of-payment receipts are only valid for the route that stops at the station at which one boards (i.e., an M34/M34A SBS receipt cannot be used on the M15 SBS). When transferring from one SBS route to another, one must obtain a second receipt from that route's fare payment machines. OMNY users must use the same payment method on their next leg of their trip to obtain their free transfer. Free transfers between routes are also provided with MetroCards.

Fare machines

Select Bus Service fare machines consist of modified versions of existing MTA and DOT devices. MetroCard payment utilizes MetroCard Fare Collection Machines,

Select Bus Service buses are wrapped in a unique blue paint scheme that identifies them as operating in this particular service. Older buses are painted mostly white, with a blue stripe just below the windows and a teal pattern with plus signs and "+selectbusservice" logos. In March 2016, a new gold-and-blue livery was introduced across the entire MTA fleet.^[125] SBS buses delivered after March 2016 have a variation of this livery, with the teal pattern below the windows and the new gold and blue livery above.

On the buses with 2016 livery, the Select Bus Service logo is located at the front and sides the bus. Q70 buses contain a unique "LaGuardia Link" livery with clouds and airplane outlines against a turquoise background on the top, as well as the words "LaGuardia Link", the route bullets for the

From left to right: 2008–2016 livery, post-2016 livery, and Q70 LaGuardia Link livery.

The former blue flashing lights as seen on an M15 (top), which were taken down in 2013, and the new blue destination sign as seen on an M60 (bottom) that replaced the lights.

All SBS buses display +Select Bus in the destination sign. Bus stops where SBS buses stop are also identifiable with the SBS branding on the glass shelters, and machines for MetroCard and coin payment in or near the shelters, except for the S79 SBS, which does not employ off-board fare collection. All buses on the SBS services employ all-door boarding operation, in which each set of doors open simultaneously for easier boarding and alighting, with the exception of the S79 which does not employ all-door boarding.^[91]

Upon the debut of Select Bus Service, blue flashing lights on both sides of the destination sign were used to help designate SBS buses from local buses, which have orange lights. While some, including bus operators, claimed the flashing blue lights helped improve travel times for buses, they were controversial due to some drivers mistaking them for emergency vehicles.^[126] The use of the lights also violated the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (Article 9, Section 375 (41)).^[127] NYS Law states "The use of blue lights on vehicles shall be restricted for use only by a volunteer firefighter" and "may be affixed to a police vehicle and fire vehicle, provided that such blue light or lights shall be displayed on a police vehicle and fire vehicle for rear projection only."^[128] The lights were removed from service in January 2013.^[126]

To replace the lights, in July 2015 the MTA began overhauling the front destination signs of buses to display the route in a blue background, as well as a completely blue background that flashes twice when it says +Select Bus (formerly it read +Select Bus Service). At night on some routes, the front destination sign is blue text on an unlit black background. Starting with the Q44 in November 2015, the blue background is kept when the front signage transitions to show the terminal of the route and the main streets traveled. As of July 2017, the SBS fleet on all routes have had their front destination signs overhauled, and new routes that launched after December 2015 came with the new destination signs.^[129][130]

In December 2019, the MTA unveiled its first 15 fully electric articulated buses, the

As of December 2022, all SBS routes use 60-foot articulated buses except the B82 and S79.

See also

• MTA Regional Bus Operations
• Bus rapid transit

References

External links

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• Official website
• MTA Planning website
• nyc.gov website