207th Street Crosstown Line
Encyclopedia
The 207th Street Crosstown Line is a public transit line in New York City
serving the boroughs of Manhattan
and The Bronx
. The line, originally a streetcar pre-dating 1910, ran from Inwood
in Manhattan to Belmont
in the Bronx. The line is now the Bx12 bus route, operated by the New York City Transit Authority
. Since streetcars were substituted for buses in 1948, there have been a number of changes to the route. Most notably, it is the first Bus Rapid Transit
route to enter service in the City of New York, branded as Select Bus Service. Both the Bx12 local and SBS carried a combined total of 45,777 riders each weekday. The total ridership in 2009 was 14,736,515, ranking it third in ridership citywide and the busiest in the Bronx.
, seasonal service to Orchard Beach
, and a branch to the Bartow-Pell Mansion
along with the introduction of limited-stop service on weekdays. In the early 1980s the Bay Plaza Shopping Center
was constructed in Co-op City
and the Bx12 was extended there from Pelham Bay. Service to City Island remained until around 1990, when through service was discontinued and replaced with a dedicated route from City Island to Pelham Bay, the Bx29. Service to the Bartow-Pell Mansion was discontinued due to low ridership and is now served by Bee-Line's
W45 bus. The resulting service pattern remains in effect today, with some minor adjustments.
On June 29, 2008, the Bx12 Limited was converted to bus rapid transit
, with a system in place that will have passengers pay fares before boarding the bus, as part of an effort to shave up to 20% off of travel time across the Bronx.
The current form of the Bx12 runs crosstown from Inwood to various areas in the northeastern Bronx. The line, eastward, begins at the Inwood – 207th Street subway station ( train) on Broadway and West 207th Street. The Bx12 then loops around via Isham Street and Sherman Avenue and rejoins West 207th Street, continuing across the University Heights Bridge into University Heights
. The route runs along Fordham Road through Fordham Center and Belmont until the road becomes Pelham Parkway near the Bronx Zoo
. The route then runs along Pelham Parkway's main roadway to Pelham Bay
, where it takes a somewhat circuitous route. The line turns off Pelham Parkway onto Burr Avenue stopping at the Pelham Bay Park
subway station. From here, the Bx12 services that do not terminate here make a u-turn and join the New England Thruway
to Bay Plaza or veer east along Shore Road to Orchard Beach. In a somewhat confusing fashion, Manhattan-bound buses use a stop directly adjacent to where Bay Plaza buses pick up passengers. Manhattan-bound service also makes a u-turn onto the New England Thruway, but then exits west onto Pelham Parkway, resulting in passengers sometimes boarding buses going in the wrong direction.
During the daytime and evening hours, local service runs between Sedgwick Avenue, University Heights
and the Pelham Bay Park
subway station ( trains). Most service between Manhattan and Bay Plaza is served by Bx12 Select buses during that time, although some local buses continue to Bay Plaza. During the summer, Bx12 local buses are extended to Orchard Beach, with all weekend service operating to/from Manhattan during the summer.
During the overnight hours, all service runs local, serving the entire route with the exception of Bay Plaza. Buses instead terminate on Edson Avenue, in front of the Gun Hill Bus Depot, as the shopping center is closed.
service, marketed as Select Bus Service, which began on 2008-06-29. Selected as the Bronx corridor for the pilot project in 2004, the MTA
, New York City Department of Transportation
and the New York State Department of Transportation
drew up plans to convert the Bx12's limited service to BRT. The route was selected for the project mainly because of its mostly straight crosstown route through the Bronx, intersecting with seven different subway lines and all Metro-North
lines. Buses are outfitted with blinking blue lights on either side of the destination sign (there was also a teal scheme which has since been dropped for new low-floor buses being introduced to the route in 2010) and traffic signal prioritization will be enacted along the route, timing traffic signals in favor of the bus. The DOT has also add dedicated painted bus lanes painted in red along Pelham Parkway
and Fordham Road
, with signs indicating that the lanes are bus-only from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays, along with additional police enforcement. Off-board fare collection will be used by way of modified MetroCard Vending Machines and parking Muni-Meters, allowing passengers with proof of payment to board through any door. There will be spot checks of proof of payment receipts by fare enforcement officials, with $100 fines for those found without the required receipts. Bx12 Select service operates daily, from around 6am to 10pm weekdays, 7am-11pm weekends.
Some previous Bx12 Limited stops are no longer served by Bx12 Select buses and are now served by local buses, most notably Jacobi Medical Center
.
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...
serving the boroughs of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and 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...
. The line, originally a streetcar pre-dating 1910, ran from Inwood
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
in Manhattan to Belmont
Belmont, Bronx
Belmont is a residential neighborhood geographically located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 6. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: Fordham Road to the north, Bronx Park to the east, East 183rd Street to the south, and the Third...
in the Bronx. The line is now the Bx12 bus route, operated by 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...
. Since streetcars were substituted for buses in 1948, there have been a number of changes to the route. Most notably, it is the first Bus Rapid Transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
route to enter service in the City of New York, branded as Select Bus Service. Both the Bx12 local and SBS carried a combined total of 45,777 riders each weekday. The total ridership in 2009 was 14,736,515, ranking it third in ridership citywide and the busiest in the Bronx.
History
The streetcar line was constructed in or shortly before 1910 as New York Times articles in the era state. The streetcar line was replaced with bus service on January 24, 1948. As the years progressed, service was eventually consolidated from multiple routes, and was given a single label, the Bx12. The route saw extensions east to City IslandCity Island, Bronx
City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi long by .5 mi wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2000 census the island had a population of 4,520. Its land area is 1.023 km²...
, seasonal service to Orchard Beach
Orchard Beach, New York
Orchard Beach is a public beach in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. The beach is part of Pelham Bay Park and is situated on the western end of Long Island Sound...
, and a branch to the Bartow-Pell Mansion
Bartow-Pell Mansion
The Bartow-Pell Mansion is a New York City landmark and museum located in northern portion of Pelham Bay Park in The Bronx. Originally the Robert and Marie Lorillard Bartow House, the residence and estate date back to 1654. The Lords of the Manor of Pelham once owned the home which was later...
along with the introduction of limited-stop service on weekdays. In the early 1980s the Bay Plaza Shopping Center
Bay Plaza Shopping Center
Bay Plaza Shopping Center is a shopping center adjacent to Co-op City, in the Bronx, New York. In addition to various department stores and shops, such as JCPenney, Staples Inc., Kmart and Old Navy, it has a multiplex movie theater, several restaurants, a fitness club, and some office space...
was constructed in Co-op City
Co-op City, Bronx
Co-op City , located in the Baychester section of the Borough of the Bronx in northeast New York City, is one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the world. Situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, the community is part of Bronx Community Board 10...
and the Bx12 was extended there from Pelham Bay. Service to City Island remained until around 1990, when through service was discontinued and replaced with a dedicated route from City Island to Pelham Bay, the Bx29. Service to the Bartow-Pell Mansion was discontinued due to low ridership and is now served by Bee-Line's
Bee-Line Bus System
The Bee-Line Bus System, branded on the buses in lowercase as the bee-line system, is a bus system serving Westchester County, New York. The system is owned by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation and operated, on contract , by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc...
W45 bus. The resulting service pattern remains in effect today, with some minor adjustments.
On June 29, 2008, the Bx12 Limited was converted to bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
, with a system in place that will have passengers pay fares before boarding the bus, as part of an effort to shave up to 20% off of travel time across the Bronx.
Bx12 bus
University Heights, Bronx
University Heights is a residential neighborhood of the West Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5 and Bronx Community Board 7. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are: West 190th Street to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, West...
. The route runs along Fordham Road through Fordham Center and Belmont until the road becomes Pelham Parkway near the Bronx Zoo
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
. The route then runs along Pelham Parkway's main roadway to Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay, Bronx
Pelham Bay is a neighborhood in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City. It is named for Pelham Bay Park, New York City's largest park which lies on the neighborhood's northeastern border.-History:...
, where it takes a somewhat circuitous route. The line turns off Pelham Parkway onto Burr Avenue stopping at the Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park (IRT Pelham Line)
Pelham Bay Park is the northern terminal station of the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. Located by Pelham Bay Park, at the intersection of the Bruckner Expressway and Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 6 train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction and...
subway station. From here, the Bx12 services that do not terminate here make a u-turn and join the New England Thruway
New England Thruway
The New England Thruway is a portion of the U.S. Interstate highway system and of the New York State Thruway, within and operated by the New York State Thruway Authority, linking New York City with New England, specifically with southwestern Connecticut...
to Bay Plaza or veer east along Shore Road to Orchard Beach. In a somewhat confusing fashion, Manhattan-bound buses use a stop directly adjacent to where Bay Plaza buses pick up passengers. Manhattan-bound service also makes a u-turn onto the New England Thruway, but then exits west onto Pelham Parkway, resulting in passengers sometimes boarding buses going in the wrong direction.
During the daytime and evening hours, local service runs between Sedgwick Avenue, University Heights
University Heights, Bronx
University Heights is a residential neighborhood of the West Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5 and Bronx Community Board 7. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are: West 190th Street to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, West...
and the Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park (IRT Pelham Line)
Pelham Bay Park is the northern terminal station of the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. Located by Pelham Bay Park, at the intersection of the Bruckner Expressway and Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 6 train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction and...
subway station ( trains). Most service between Manhattan and Bay Plaza is served by Bx12 Select buses during that time, although some local buses continue to Bay Plaza. During the summer, Bx12 local buses are extended to Orchard Beach, with all weekend service operating to/from Manhattan during the summer.
During the overnight hours, all service runs local, serving the entire route with the exception of Bay Plaza. Buses instead terminate on Edson Avenue, in front of the Gun Hill Bus Depot, as the shopping center is closed.
Select Bus Service
The Bx12 is New York City's first bus rapid transitBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
service, marketed as Select Bus Service, which began on 2008-06-29. Selected as the Bronx corridor for the pilot project in 2004, the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
, New York City Department of Transportation
New York City Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation is responsible for the management of much of New York City's transportation infrastructure...
and the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
drew up plans to convert the Bx12's limited service to BRT. The route was selected for the project mainly because of its mostly straight crosstown route through the Bronx, intersecting with seven different subway lines and all Metro-North
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
lines. Buses are outfitted with blinking blue lights on either side of the destination sign (there was also a teal scheme which has since been dropped for new low-floor buses being introduced to the route in 2010) and traffic signal prioritization will be enacted along the route, timing traffic signals in favor of the bus. The DOT has also add dedicated painted bus lanes painted in red along Pelham Parkway
Pelham Parkway
The Bronx and Pelham Parkway is a parkway in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Despite the parkway moniker, Pelham Parkway is a local street, with two main roadways , and two service roads. Like other parkways in New York City, commercial traffic is disallowed, and is redirected to the...
and Fordham Road
Fordham Road
Fordham Road is a major street in The Bronx borough of New York City. It runs east-west from the Harlem River to Bronx Park.This street runs through the neighborhood of University Heights, divides Fordham from Fordham-Bedford and finally runs along the northern border of Belmont...
, with signs indicating that the lanes are bus-only from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays, along with additional police enforcement. Off-board fare collection will be used by way of modified MetroCard Vending Machines and parking Muni-Meters, allowing passengers with proof of payment to board through any door. There will be spot checks of proof of payment receipts by fare enforcement officials, with $100 fines for those found without the required receipts. Bx12 Select service operates daily, from around 6am to 10pm weekdays, 7am-11pm weekends.
Some previous Bx12 Limited stops are no longer served by Bx12 Select buses and are now served by local buses, most notably Jacobi Medical Center
Jacobi Medical Center
Jacobi Medical Center is a municipal hospital, under the direction of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, in Morris Park, Bronx, New York located at 1400 Pelham Parkway South; it is the largest Public Hospital in the Bronx with 470+ beds....
.