B42 (New York City bus)
{{short description|Bus route in Brooklyn, New York}}
{{about|the former surface trolley line|the now-demolished parallel surface railroad|BMT Canarsie Line}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2007}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| number = {{NYC bus infobox header |title=b42}}
| subheader = Rockaway Parkway Line
| image = Rkwy Pkwy Glenwood Rd td (2019-01-16) 24.jpg
| image_width=300px
| image_alt=
| caption = A 2014 XD40 (7099) on the Rockaway Parkway station-bound B42 at Rockaway Parkway/Glenwood Road in January 2019.
| system = MTA Regional Bus Operations
| operator = New York City Transit Authority
| garage = East New York Depot
| vehicle = New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40
New Flyer Xcelsior XE40
OBI Orion VII NG HEV
| open = 1917 (streetcar)
1951 (bus)
| locale = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| termini =
| start = Rockaway Parkway {{NYCS Canarsie|time=bullets}}
| via = Rockaway Parkway
| end = Canarsie Pier
| length = {{convert|1.3|mi|km}}{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.6454428,-73.9026619/40.6456957,-73.9014282/@40.6304454,-73.8914756,15z/am=t/data=!4m14!4m13!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-73.8850226!2d40.6294554!3s0x89c25d291c899515:0xf40cd2dc2d96b524!3m4!1m2!1d-73.902067!2d40.6452879!3s0x89c25ce81780d6c1:0x3eda57210643bf1e!1m0!3e0 |title=B42 |access-date=May 10, 2017}} (entire route)
| day = All times
| ridership = 304,457 (2024){{cite web | title=Subway and bus ridership for 2024 | website=mta.info | date=June 10, 2025| url=https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/subway-bus-ridership-2024| access-date=June 11, 2025}}
| timetable_link = [https://new.mta.info/document/7066 B42]
|map = {{B42 RDT|inline=yes}}
|map_state = collapsed
| map_name =
| previous_line = B41
| next_line = B43
}}
The Rockaway Parkway Line is a public transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, running mostly along Rockaway Parkway between Canarsie Pier and the Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway terminal of the BMT Canarsie Line of the New York City Subway. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the B42 bus route, operated by the New York City Transit Authority.
The Wilson Avenue Line (now the B60 bus) continues north on Rockaway Parkway from the end of the B42 to Williamsburg.
History
File:Rockaway Parkway bus vc.jpg
Image:Rockaway trolley ROW jeh.JPG
The line was originally operated as an electric streetcar by the Nassau Electric Railroad, a company that became part of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) Company system, subsequently reorganized as the Brooklyn and Queens Transit Corporation in 1928 before passing to city ownership in 1940.
Initially cars were through-routed between Williamsburg and Canarsie Pier via the Wilson Avenue Line (then Hamburg Avenue) and Rockaway Parkway.The Merchants' Association of New York, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2OXifdf0CbUC Pocket Guide to New York], March 1906, p. 64 It was later cut at the company's Canarsie Depot at the corner of Hegeman and Rockaway Avenues, running via Rockaway Avenue and Rockaway Parkway to the Canarsie Pier. At the Canarsie Line rapid transit station at Rockaway Parkway and Glenwood Road, the Rockaway Parkway Line crossed the rapid transit line's surface right-of-way. The rapid transit line then turned east on private-right-of-way to parallel the trolley line to the shore and ferry.
When the elevated train service was truncated at the Rockaway Parkway station after the 1917 summer season, the BRT operated a shuttle trolley on the former surface elevated line trackage, but did not discontinue the Rockaway Parkway Line.
Under city ownership, the trolley shuttle on the former elevated line's right-of-way was abandoned on November 21, 1942. On the same day, the terminals of the Wilson Avenue and Rockaway Parkway lines were changed from the Canarsie Depot to the Rockaway Parkway station, essentially turning the Rockaway Parkway Line into a replacement of the Canarsie Line shuttle. At the Canarsie Pier end of the line, the Rockaway Parkway trolleys were rerouted via St. Jude Place and Canarsie Road in order to access the former shuttle station at the shore.
In recognition of the fact that the Rockaway Parkway Line was replacing the survivor of a former rapid transit service, a free transfer between the Canarsie Line and the Rockaway Parkway trolley was instituted with trolleys entering the fare control of the Rockaway Parkway station. The free subway-streetcar (later subway-bus) transfer arrangement continues today, and is the only such transfer that can be made without having to use a MetroCard.
File:Flatlands Av East 37 - Rockaway Pkwy.jpg between East 37th Street and Rockaway Parkway.]]
Buses designated B42 were substituted for streetcars on April 29, 1951.{{Cite web |date=1951 |title=Public Notice Rockaway Parkway Line |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/unionturnpike/50064959421/in/album-72157709433583407/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=Flickr.com |publisher=New York City Board of Transportation}}
On December 1, 2022, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Brooklyn bus network.{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=Draft plan for new Brooklyn bus network aims to finally end decades of slow, unreliable service | website=amNewYork | date=December 1, 2022 | url=https://www.amny.com/new-york/brooklyn/mta-draft-redesign-brooklyn-bus-network/ | access-date=December 2, 2022}}{{cite web | title=Brooklyn bus riders could finally get faster service under MTA redesign | website=Crain's New York Business | date=December 1, 2022 | last=Spivack | first=Caroline | url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/brooklyn-bus-riders-could-finally-get-faster-service-under-mta-redesign | access-date=December 2, 2022}} As part of the redesign, the B42 would retain its route, but closely spaced stops would be eliminated. The B42 would be supplemented by the existing B60 route and the new B76 route, which would also run along Rockaway Parkway and Rockaway Avenue.{{Cite web|title=Draft Plan: B42 Local|url=https://new.mta.info/project/brooklyn-bus-network-redesign/routes/b42-local|access-date=2022-12-06|website=MTA|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Clear}}
{{B&QT streetcar lines}}
{{Brooklyn bus routes}}