On Friday, August 15, the Bx2, Bx15, Bx21, Bx41 and Bx55 buses took on new courses of travel to allow the Department of Transportation to undertake major road reconstruction at The Hub.
Encompassing the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 149th Street, and including portions of Melrose Avenue, Willis Avenue, Westchester Avenue and other roadways, the permanent change was designed to enhance the area’s pedestrian environment.
“I think it’s going to be an excellent, excellent change and provide better safety and traffic improvements in the district,” Community Board 1 district manager Cedric Loftin commented.
For those lost along the route, BusTalk Service Information posters and Take One brochures are available along the affected areas to help aid in the changes.
“Once people get used to the system, things will fall in place very well,” Loftin explained. “You’ll have very direct traffic patterns and a much smoother route.”
On the Bx2 local and limited northbound, the bus will follow its current route until 3rd Avenue where it will head east on East 146th Street, north on Willis Avenue, north on Bergen Avenue, west on East 149th Street and north on the Grand Concourse. Once on the Grand Concourse, it will past East 165th Street and resume its previous route.
Southbound, the Bx2 bus will remain on the Grand Concourse passing East 165th Street, turn east on 149th Street, south on Courtlandt Avenue and south on 3rd Avenue, where it will continue on its previous route.
The Bx15 northbound will remain on the current route to Willis Avenue, then travel north on 3rd Avenue and return to the current route.
Southbound, it will travel south on 3rd Avenue, passing 148th Street, then east on East 146th Street, south on Willis Avenue and onto the previous route.
The Bx21 will have new bus stops northbound at 3rd Avenue, mid-block between East 152nd Street and East 153rd Street, thereby eliminating the stop on 3rd Avenue at the far side of 152nd Street.
Southbound, the bus will stop on 3rd Avenue at the near side of East 150th Street instead of the current stop on the far side of East 150th Street.
The Bx41 will leave its terminal on East 147th Street traveling west, head north on 3rd Avenue, west on East 152nd Street, north on Melrose Avenue, then resume its original route.
Southbound, the bus will travel south on Melrose Avenue, east on East 154th Street, south on Elton Avenue, then south on 3rd Avenue to continue on its normal route.
The Bx55 will have a new turnaround when changing from southbound to northbound: traveling south on 3rd Avenue, east on East 146th Street, north on Willis Avenue and then north on 3rd Avenue.
This will eliminate the bus stop on Willis Avenue at the far side of East 148th Street and replace it with a new stop on 3rd Avenue at the near side of East 149th Street. All other stops remain the same.
For more information on these travel changes, riders can visit www.mta.info for bus schedules or www.tripplanner.mta.info to plan a trip by bus. While on the site, customers can also download On the Go!, a mobile trip planner for busy travelers.
