The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates 76 express bus routes in New York City. Express bus routes operated by MTA New York City Transit, or under contract to the city Economic Development Corporation by Academy Bus, are assigned an express (X) prefix, while those operated by MTA Bus Company are assigned multi-borough (BM, BxM, QM) prefixes. The MTA also plans to roll out the SIM prefix for new Staten Island bus routes being implemented in August 2018.
Below is a list of all express bus lines operating within the City of New York. The unidirectional fare, payable in coins or MetroCard, is $6.50. Discount fare media is available.
Manhattan to Staten Island
New York City - NYC MTA Bus Maps, Schedules & Service Updates - NYC Bus Info: http://itapinfo.com/ Manhattan Bus Route List, Queens Bus Route Lists, Brooklyn Bus Route List, Bronx Bus Route Lists, Staten Island Bus Route List Bx1, Bx2, Bx3, Bx4, Bx4A, Bx5,...
Unless otherwise indicated, most routes travel to and from Staten Island via the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and the Gowanus Expressway and then the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel into Lower Manhattan, or via a somewhat faster route via the Goethals Bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike and then the Lincoln Tunnel directly into Midtown Manhattan.
All routes are operated by New York City Transit, except for the X23 and X24, which are operated by Academy Bus.
Proposed new bus routes
In 2015, the MTA began a comprehensive study of express bus lines on Staten Island. These lines had not been drastically changed since the 1980s, and as a result, they had been updated piece-by-piece. As a result, these routes were circuitous, duplicative, and infrequent. The MTA proposed replacing all of the existing express bus routes with simpler and shorter variants, a proposal supported by 76% of Staten Island residents who had learned about the study. In March 2018, after hosting several meetings with Staten Island residents, the MTA announced that express bus service to Staten Island was expected to be completely reorganized in August 2018. As part of the redesign, all of the existing bus routes would be discontinued and replaced with 21 new routes with a "SIM" prefix.
All express routes will run during peak hours only unless otherwise indicated.
Manhattan to Brooklyn
New York City Transit
Route history and notes
MTA Bus Company
These routes do not operate on Sundays.
Route history and notes
Manhattan to Queens
New York City Transit
Route history and notes
MTA Bus Company
Routes QM1 to QM20
Routes QM21 to QM44 and BM5
Manhattan to the Bronx
All routes are operated by MTA Bus.
Route history and notes
Manhattan intra-borough
Former routes
New York City Transit
MTA Bus Company
Command Bus Company (special service)
Eight special routes, which was operated by Pioneer Bus then Command Bus Company. All service discontinued in 2001.
Note: An additional route, the BM2S bus route, ran from Starrett City to Downtown Manhattan ran via Flatlands Avenue between East 80th Street and East 105th Street. The service still operates as part of regular BM2 service during rush hour. In addition, Command operated ferry shuttle buses around the Bay Ridge area from the Brooklyn Army Terminal after September 11, 2001, for the free ferry ride to/from the Wall Street pier. Both Pioneer Bus then Command Bus operated bus service to/from Roosevelt Raceway.
Caravan Transit (temporary operation)
From late 1988 to early 1990, Queens Surface Corporation temporarily outsourced these lines to Caravan Transit (a school bus operator) due to equipment shortages with the approval of the NYCDOT. Caravan Transit returned the lines to Queens Surface Corp. when 50 new MCI Classics suburban type buses (900-949) were delivered new to that company during 1989.
Metro Apple Express (MAX)
Metro Apple Express (MAX) operated buses in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and to Jones Beach during its existence. They didn't have fare boxes on the bus so the drivers were able to make changes. Their bus schedules were color-coded for each route, BM10 was black, BM11 was blue, BM12 was green and BM15 was red. The president was Patrick Condren.
Red & Tan in Hudson County
Atlantic Express
All routes going into Manhattan terminate at Midtown on East 59th Street and Madison Avenue.
All routes traveled via into West Shore Expressway, Goethals Bridge into New Jersey's New Jersey Turnpike, Lincoln Tunnel; in Manhattan: 34th Street, Madison Avenue (northbound) and 5th Avenue (Southbound).
All of these routes have been rebranded or eliminated.
References
External links
- MTA NYC Transit - Bus Service
