B41 (New York City bus)

b41
Flatbush Avenue Line
A B41 Flatbush Avenue bus in Limited-Stop service.
Overview
System	MTA New York City Bus
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
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	5,321,959 (2020)[3]
Transfers	Yes
Timetable	B41
hideRoute map ← B39  {{{system_nav}}}  B42 →

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.

Route description and service[]

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]

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 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 .^{[citation needed]}

As a bus line[]

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]

References[]