B41 (New York City bus)

The B41 is a bus route that constitutes a public transit line operating in Brooklyn, New York City, running along Flatbush Avenue between Downtown Brooklyn and Marine Park. The B41 is operated by the MTA New York City Transit Authority. Its precursor was a streetcar line that began operation in 1860, and was known as the Flatbush Avenue Line. The route became a bus line in 1951. Limited-stop service began along the route in 1992.

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Flatbush Avenue Line
A 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4241) on the B41 Limited at Atlantic Terminal in March 2019.
Overview
System	MTA Regional Bus Operations
Operator	New York City Transit Authority
Garage	Flatbush Depot
Vehicle	Orion VII NG HEV New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
Began service	1860 (trolley line) March 4, 1951 (bus service) September 14, 1992 (limited-stop service)
Night-time	Every 30 minutes (buses alternate between each branch)
Route
Locale	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Start	Downtown Brooklyn– Cadman Plaza
Via	Flatbush Avenue
End	Marine Park – Kings Plaza or Bergen Beach – Veterans Avenue
Length	7.9 miles (12.7 km)[1] (southbound)
Other routes	Q35 Flatbush/Newport Avenues
Service
Operates	24 hours; local-only service at night[2]
Annual patronage	4,759,664 (2023)[3]
Transfers	Yes
Timetable	B41
Route map ← B39  {{{system_nav}}}  B42 →

Route description and service

A B41 Downtown Brooklyn bus stop at Flatbush/Utica Avenues, among other routes

Southbound B41 service begins at Downtown Brooklyn at Cadman Plaza West by the Borough Hall station. The bus then runs via Adams Street to Livingston Street, before running via that street until turning onto Flatbush Avenue. Bus service continues southeast via Flatbush Avenue until Avenue P, where service splits into two branches. Most buses continue along Flatbush Avenue to a terminal at Kings Plaza, while the remainder run along Avenue N and Veterans Avenue to a terminal at Veterans Avenue and East 71st Street, near Avenue U, in Bergen Beach.^[2]

During the day, the B41 employs limited-stop service between Atlantic Avenue and Avenue P, and local elsewhere. During weekdays, limited stop service operates between Downtown Brooklyn and both of its southern terminals. There is usually more service operating to Kings Plaza than Bergen Beach, especially during off-peak hours. During weekends, all Bergen Beach service is local, with Limited service going to Kings Plaza. During overnight service, the Limited does not run, and the B41 Local alternately serves each southern terminal.^[2] Some northbound buses may terminate at Atlantic Avenue or Eastern Parkway in the event bus service needs to be evenly spaced.

History

As a horsecar and streetcar line

The Brooklyn City Railroad opened the line, a branch of their Fulton Street Line, to the city line on July 14, 1860, and to Vernon Avenue in Flatbush about a week later.^[4] The Vernon Avenue Depot was built on the east side of the line at the terminal.^{[citation needed]} The line was later extended to Bergen Beach along Flatbush Avenue and Avenue N, and later still the line along Flatbush Avenue was extended to Avenue U in Marine Park; the older route became the Bergen Beach Shuttle.^{[citation needed]}

As a bus line

Sidewalk clock at Flatbush Avenue/Sterling Place, across from a B41 Downtown Brooklyn and B69 Kensington bus stop with a 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4023) on the B41 arriving

Buses were substituted for streetcars on March 4, 1951.^[5][6]

Limited-stop service was added on September 14, 1992.^[7][8] In September 1996, all trips on the route were slated to be cut back to the alternate terminal at Tillary Street and Cadman Plaza West from Old Fulton Street at Fulton Landing as part of a reconfiguration of service in Downtown Brooklyn.^[9] The change took effect on March 30, 1997.^[10] This 0.6 miles (0.97 km)-long section was eliminated as it duplicated B25 service, because this section was underutilized, with an average of 1.5 passengers per trip, and because the shorter route would increase the B41's reliability. B25 service was made 24/7 to make up for the loss of Sunday service to Fulton Landing.^[9]

On December 1, 2022, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Brooklyn bus network.^[11][12] As part of the redesign, all Bergen Beach branch service would be replaced by the B40, which would run from Bergen Beach to Prospect Park station, making local stops along Avenue N (Veterans Avenue) and limited stops along Flatbush Avenue.^[13] The B41 Limited would be replaced with the B41 Crosstown, which would continue to run from Downtown Brooklyn to Kings Plaza, making limited stops south of Kings Highway.^[14] In Downtown Brooklyn, the B41 and B41 Crosstown would run via Livingston Street, Smith Street, Joralemon Street, Boerum Place, and Livingston Street.^[14][15] Closely spaced stops would also be eliminated.^[15]

Past the Beverly Road shopping area is a B41 Downtown Brooklyn bus stop at Flatbush/Tilden Avenues, hidden in this photo

References

1. "B41" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
2. MTA Regional Bus Operations. "B41 bus schedule".
3. "Subway and bus ridership for 2023". mta.info. April 29, 2024. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
4. "Flatbush Avenue Railroad in Operation". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 14, 1860. p. 3.
5. Brian J. Cudahy, How We Got to Coney Island: Development of Mass Transportation in Brooklyn and Kings County, page xvi
6. "ERA to Rattle Out Aboard a Trolley: Buses Will Succeed Old Cars on Brooklyn Thoroughfare at Dawn This Morning" (PDF). The New York Times. March 4, 1951. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
7. Lorch, Donatella (August 6, 1992). "More Buses and Trains Planned to Lure Riders". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
8. "Now you can ride down Flatbush Avenue the way you've always wanted to. Quickly". New York Daily News. September 11, 1992. p. 624. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
9. • NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1996. New York City Transit. May 9, 1996. p. 270. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
   • NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1996. New York City Transit. May 9, 1996. pp. 271–272. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
   • NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1996. New York City Transit. May 9, 1996. p. 273. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
   • NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1996. New York City Transit. May 9, 1996. p. 276. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
   • NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1996. New York City Transit. May 9, 1996. p. 277. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
10. "Bus Service Notices Updated June 24, 1997". mta.nyc.ny.us. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 24, 1997. Archived from the original on February 2, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
11. Brachfeld, Ben (December 1, 2022). "Draft plan for new Brooklyn bus network aims to finally end decades of slow, unreliable service". amNewYork. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
12. Spivack, Caroline (December 1, 2022). "Brooklyn bus riders could finally get faster service under MTA redesign". Crain's New York Business. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
13. "Draft Plan: B40 Rush". MTA. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
14. "Draft Plan: B41 Crosstown/SBS". MTA. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
15. "Draft Plan: B41 Local". MTA. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.