Third and Amsterdam Avenues Line
Encyclopedia
The Third and Amsterdam Avenues Line, also known as the Third Avenue Line, is a public transit line in Manhattan
, New York City
, United States
, running from Lower Manhattan
to Fort George in Washington Heights
. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the M98, M101, M102, and M103 bus routes, operated by the New York City Transit Authority
. The M98 bus route route operates on Third Avenue between 65 street and 127 street The M101 bus now runs southbound on Lexington Avenue rather than Third Avenue north of 24th Street.
and West 193rd Street and Fort George Avenue in Fort George. The M101 runs on Third Avenue from Astor Place to East 125th Street, while southbound buses use Lexington Avenue north of East 24th Street. The M101 continues crosstown on 125th Street to Amsterdam Avenue, running north on to West 193rd Street after Amsterdam Avenue becomes Fort George Avenue. The M102 begins at Astor Place and follows the M101 until 116th Street in East Harlem. The route travels west across 116th Street to Lenox Avenue, where it continues north to Harlem – 148th Street. The M103 begins its route at City Hall and travels north via Park Row and the Bowery. At Astor Place, it continues north alongside the M101 and M102 to 125th Street, where it terminates.
The M101 runs as a limited-stop service during the day south of East 116th Street, with no other local service. Local service is provided by the M102 and M103 buses, during that time. Overnight and weekend morning service runs local.
(Broadway and Park Row
) north along Park Row, the Bowery (shared with the Second Avenue Line
), and Third Avenue to 86th Street
; an extension to East Harlem opened in 1859. Using the One-Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Street Railroad and trackage along Amsterdam Avenue, Third Avenue cars were also operated to Fort George. Buses were substituted for streetcars by the Surface Transportation Corporation
on May 28, 1947. It was operated by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines from 1956 to 1962, when the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority
took over operations. On July 17, 1960, most of Third Avenue became one-way northbound, and southbound buses were moved to Lexington Avenue.
In 2009, buses along the corridor were involved in a total of 268 accidents. The amount is attributed to both inexperienced operators and the amount of "obstacles" along the route.
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...
, 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...
, running from Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
to Fort George in Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the M98, M101, M102, and M103 bus routes, 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...
. The M98 bus route route operates on Third Avenue between 65 street and 127 street The M101 bus now runs southbound on Lexington Avenue rather than Third Avenue north of 24th Street.
Current bus service
The current form of the M98 operates between 68 street on the Upper East Side and Fort Tryon Park in Inwood (Approximately 192nd street). The M98 operates on Third Avenue (northbound), and Lexington Avenue (southbound). At 120 street, southbound service shifts from Lexington to Park Avenues, while at 127 street, the M98 northbound service shifts unto the Harlem River Drive. At 135 street, both Nortbound and Southbound service are on the Harlem River Drive. At 178 street, the M98 uses the crosstown street,in which northbound service shifts onto 179 street. The M98 contiunes until Fort Washington Avenue, in which the M98 goes on Fort Washington Avenue until the Fort Tyron Park Entrance (192 street), where it terminates. The M101 spans between Astor Place and Third Avenue in the East VillageEast Village, Manhattan
The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
and West 193rd Street and Fort George Avenue in Fort George. The M101 runs on Third Avenue from Astor Place to East 125th Street, while southbound buses use Lexington Avenue north of East 24th Street. The M101 continues crosstown on 125th Street to Amsterdam Avenue, running north on to West 193rd Street after Amsterdam Avenue becomes Fort George Avenue. The M102 begins at Astor Place and follows the M101 until 116th Street in East Harlem. The route travels west across 116th Street to Lenox Avenue, where it continues north to Harlem – 148th Street. The M103 begins its route at City Hall and travels north via Park Row and the Bowery. At Astor Place, it continues north alongside the M101 and M102 to 125th Street, where it terminates.
The M101 runs as a limited-stop service during the day south of East 116th Street, with no other local service. Local service is provided by the M102 and M103 buses, during that time. Overnight and weekend morning service runs local.
History
The Third Avenue Railroad opened the line in 1853, from Astor HouseAstor House
The Astor House was a fine hotel in New York City, that opened in 1836 and soon became the most famous hotel in America.-History:The Astor House was originally built by John Jacob Astor, who assembled the building lots around his former house until he had purchased the full block in the heart of...
(Broadway and Park Row
Park Row (Manhattan)
Park Row is a street located in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It was previously called Chatham Street and during the late 19th century it was nicknamed Newspaper Row, as most of New York City's newspapers located on the street to be close to the action at New...
) north along Park Row, the Bowery (shared with the Second Avenue Line
Second Avenue Line (Manhattan surface)
The Second Avenue Line is a bus line in Manhattan, New York City, United States, running mostly along Second Avenue from Lower Manhattan to East Harlem. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the southbound direction of the M15 bus route, the second-busiest bus route in the U.S...
), and Third Avenue to 86th Street
86th Street (Manhattan)
86th Street is a major two-way street in the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan.On the West Side its continuous cliff-wall of apartment blocks includng The Belnord is broken by two contrasting landmarked churches at prominent corner sites, the Tuscan...
; an extension to East Harlem opened in 1859. Using the One-Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Street Railroad and trackage along Amsterdam Avenue, Third Avenue cars were also operated to Fort George. Buses were substituted for streetcars by 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....
on May 28, 1947. It was operated by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines from 1956 to 1962, when the 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...
took over operations. On July 17, 1960, most of Third Avenue became one-way northbound, and southbound buses were moved to Lexington Avenue.
In 2009, buses along the corridor were involved in a total of 268 accidents. The amount is attributed to both inexperienced operators and the amount of "obstacles" along the route.