Bx18 (New York City bus)

{{for|additional information on the routes|List of bus routes in the Bronx#Bx18A/B{{!}}List of bus routes in the Bronx}}

{{Infobox bus line

|box_width = 300px

|number = {{NYC bus infobox header |title=bx18A |color1=local}}{{NYC bus infobox header |title=bx18B |color1=local}}

|logo =

|logo_width =

|logo_alt =

|subheader = 170th Street Circulator Loop Line

|operatorlogo = File:MTA NYC logo.svg

|oplogo_width = 37px

|image =

|image_width = 300px

|image_alt =

|caption = A Orion V signed as Bx18 stopping at a bus stop in The Bronx

|system = MTA Regional Bus Operations

|operator = Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority

|garage = Kingsbridge Depot

|vehicle = Nova Bus LFS
Nova Bus LFS HEV
New Flyer Xcelsior XE40

|livery =

|pvr =

|status =

|open = June 22, 1941

|close =

|predecessors =

|night =

|locale = The Bronx, New York, U.S.

|communities = Morrisania, Morris Heights, Highbridge

|landmarks =

|termini =

|start = Morrisania – East 170th Street & Grand Concourse (clockwise)

|via = Macombs Road, Undercliff Avenue, West 168th Street (Bx18A only), Sedgwick Avenue, Macombs Road (Bx18B only)

|end = Morrisania – East 170th Street & Grand Concourse (counterclockwise)

|otherroutes =

|compete =

|ibus =

|level =

|level1 =

|frequency =

|alt_frequency =

|time =

|day = All times except late nights

|zone =

|timetable_link= [https://new.mta.info/document/88741 Bx18 bus]

|annualpatronage=292,659 (2023){{cite web | title=Subway and bus ridership for 2023 | website=mta.info | date=April 29, 2024| url=https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/subway-bus-ridership-2023| access-date=May 2, 2024}}

|transfers = Yes

|map_link =

|map =

|map_state =

|map_name =

|previous_line = Bx17

|next_line = Bx19

|notes =

}}

The Bx18A and Bx18B (collectively referred to as Bx18A/B or Bx18) bus routes constitute the 170th Street Circulator Loop Line. These bus routes run through a loop after 170th Street. The Bx18A goes through Undercliff Avenue while the Bx18B follows Sedgwick Avenue until turning back to 170th Street.

Route description

The Bx18A and Bx18B loop route begins at 170th Street and Grand Concourse near the 170th Street station. Then it continues on through the street line until at the 170th Street-Jerome Avenue station. Turning around against to loops. The Bx18A goes through Macombs Road then turns slightly left to Undercliff Avenue. The Bx18B does the same thing at Macombs but it only turns slightly left to Sedgwick Avenue. Those two bus routes finally meet again via 168th Street. And lastly, their destination is at 170th Street and Grand Concourse near the 170th Street station as of an clockwise.

History

The Bx18 started as a single route on June 22, 1941. The original eastern terminus was at Claremont Parkway-Webster Avenue.

Service was cut back to its current terminus in July 1974. The original western terminus was at Andrews Avenue-West 175th Street. It was extended west via the former Bx39 service (which was discontinued in 1953) to the River Park Towers in July 1974.

On June 26, 2022, the route was extended south from River Park Towers to 168th Street and east on 168th Street, Shakespeare Avenue, and 170th Street to the Grand Concourse, making it a loop route. On January 8, 2023, the Bx18 was split into the Bx18A and Bx18B to label each loop.{{Cite web|title=DRAFT PLAN:Bronx Bus Network Redesign|url=https://new.mta.info/sites/default/files/2019-06/410_19_BBNR%20Existing%20Report_Final_2019_v2.pdf|access-date=2023-03-09|website=MTA|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=FINAL PLAN:The Bronx Bus Network Redesign|url=https://new.mta.info/document/11321|access-date=2023-03-09|website=MTA|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Final Plan:Bx18 Local|url=https://new.mta.info/project/bronx-bus-network-redesign/routes/bx18|access-date=2023-03-09|website=MTA|language=en}}

As part of a pilot program by the MTA to make five bus routes free (one in each borough), the Bx18 was selected alongside the B60, M116, Q4 and S46/96 to become fare-free in July 2023.{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=MTA announces five bus routes for fare-free pilot | website=amNewYork | date=July 17, 2023 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-five-bus-routes-fare-free-pilot/ | access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web | title=Free bus routes will be part of MTA pilot program heading to NYC this fall | website=NBC New York | date=July 17, 2023 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/free-bus-routes-will-be-part-of-mta-pilot-program-heading-to-nyc-this-fall/4512524/ | access-date=July 18, 2023}} The pilot program would last six to twelve months and buses would display a "Fare Free" sign, similar to the one used on the Q70.{{cite web | title=Governor Hochul Announces Fare Free Bus Routes Included in MTA Pilot | publisher= New York State Government|url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-fare-free-bus-routes-included-mta-pilot|website=www.governor.ny.gov|access-date=July 17, 2023}} The pilot will run from September 24, 2023 until at least March 30, 2024.{{cite web | title= Fare-free pilot on five MTA bus routes | publisher= Metropolitan Transit Authority|url=https://new.mta.info/guides/riding-the-bus/fare-free-bus-pilot|website=new|access-date=September 22, 2023}}{{cite web | last=Charlesworth | first=Michelle | date=September 23, 2023 | title=NYC officials assures New Yorkers new MTA fare-free bus program is 'not a pipe dream'| publisher= ABC 7 New York|url=https://abc7ny.com/mta-pilot-program-fare-free-bus-lines-routes-nyc/13805699/|website=abc7ny.com|access-date=September 22, 2023}}{{cite web | title=Free NYC bus routes in each borough start Sunday as part of MTA program: What to know| publisher= NBC New York|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/free-nyc-bus-routes-in-each-borough-start-sunday-as-part-of-mta-program-what-to-know/4697048/|website=nbcnewyork.com| date= September 20, 2023|access-date=September 22, 2023}} Though ten U.S. Congress members requested in April 2024 that the state government provide additional funding for the fare-free pilot program,{{cite web |last=Shkurhan |first=Iryna |date=April 6, 2024 |title=Members of Congress ask Hochul to fund more fare-free buses amid state budget negotiations – QNS |url=https://qns.com/2024/04/members-of-congress-ask-hochul-to-fund-more-fare-free-buses-amid-state-budget-negotiations/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=QNS}}{{cite web |last=Brachfeld |first=Ben |date=March 12, 2024 |title=State lawmakers propose $90 million for more frequent buses, fare-free pilot in budget response |url=https://www.amny.com/transit/state-lawmakers-frequent-buses-fare-pilot-budget/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=amNewYork}} state lawmakers declined to reauthorize funding for the program.{{cite web |last=Brachfeld |first=Ben |date=April 21, 2024 |title=MTA's free bus experiment will end after not being reauthorized in state budget |url=https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-free-bus-experiment-end-state-budget/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=amNewYork}} The fare-free program ended on August 31, 2024.{{cite web | last=Matteo | first=Mike | title=NYC fare-free bus pilot to end this weekend: What riders on Staten Island need to know | website=silive | date=August 29, 2024 | url=https://www.silive.com/news/2024/08/nyc-fare-free-bus-pilot-to-end-this-weekend-what-riders-on-staten-island-need-to-know.html | access-date=September 1, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Dawson | first=Athena | title=MTA's fare-free bus program slated to end in Queens this week | website=QNS | date=August 29, 2024 | url=https://qns.com/2024/08/mta-fare-free-bus-program-end-queens-this-week/ | access-date=September 1, 2024}}

References

External links

X18

Category:Bus routes in the Bronx