S59 and S89 buses

Last updated
s59
s89
Richmond Avenue
Eltingville Transit Ctr td (2018-09-19) 10.jpg
A 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4124) on the Port Richmond-bound S59 departing Eltingville Transit Center in September 2018
Overview
System MTA Regional Bus Operations
Operator New York City Transit
Garage Yukon Depot
Vehicle Nova Bus LFS
Began service1989-1990 (S59)
September 4, 2007 (S89)
PredecessorsR4
Route
Locale Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Hudson County, New Jersey, U.S.
Communities served Bayonne, Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Graniteville, Bulls Head, Heartland Village, New Springville, Arden Heights, Eltingville, Annadale, Prince's Bay, Tottenville
Start Bayonne - 34th Street station (S89)
Port Richmond - Richmond Terrace & Port Richmond Avenue (S59)
ViaBayonne Bridge (S89), Port Richmond Avenue (S59), Richmond Avenue, Hylan Boulevard (S59)
End Eltingville - Hylan Boulevard & Richmond Avenue (S59 off-peak, S89)
Tottenville - Main Street & Amboy Road (S59 rush hours)
Length9.2 miles (14.8 km) (S59 off-peak)
15.5 miles (24.9 km) (S59 rush hours)
12.3 miles (19.8 km) (S89)
Other routes S44/S94 Cary/Richmond Avenues
S79 Hylan Boulevard/Richmond Avenue South SBS
Service
OperatesAll times except late nights (S59)
Rush hours only (S89)
Annual patronage552,364 (S59, 2023) [1]
76,033 (S89, 2023) [1]
TransfersYes
Timetable S59 S89
←  S57
← S86 		 {{{system_nav}}}  S61 →
S90  →

The S59 and S89 constitute a public transit line in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey. The S59 runs wholly in New York City, between Port Richmond and either Eltingville or Tottenville in Staten Island, largely running on Richmond Avenue. The S89 makes limited stops along Richmond Avenue, running from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Eltingville, Staten Island, New York. They are both based out of the Yukon Depot.

Contents

Route description

The S89 starts at 34th Street station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) in Bayonne. It then leaves the station to run on NJ-440 and across the Bayonne Bridge to Staten Island, exiting off the highway onto Morningstar Road. It continue south on Morningstar Road until Forest Avenue, where it becomes Richmond Avenue. The S59 starts at the Port Richmond Terminal, looping back onto Port Richmond Avenue via Park Avenue and Church Street. It continues south on Port Richmond Avenue, turning left onto Forest Avenue until reaching Richmond Avenue. [2] [3] [4]

After both routes reach Forest Avenue-Richmond Avenue, they continue south along Richmond Avenue until reaching Richmond Hill Road, where they diverge again:

Both routes meet up again and run south on Richmond Avenue, deviating at Arthur Kill Road to serve Eltingville Transit Center. They eventually reach the road's southern terminus at Hylan Boulevard, where the S59 terminates outside of rush hours and where the S89 terminates, using an off-street bus loop south of Hylan Boulevard. During rush hours, the S59 follows the S78 westward, running along Hylan Boulevard until reaching Craig Avenue, running north and east along Craig Avenue and Amboy Road until reaching Main Street, where it terminates. Northbound S59 buses use Main Street to return to Hylan Boulevard.

The S89 is the only-non express MTA bus route to run in New Jersey and the only MTA bus route to have a stop in New Jersey. It only operates on weekdays during peak hours.

History

The R4, the predecessor to both of these routes, originally ran between Port Richmond Terminal and Richmond Road-Rockland Avenue. [5] In 1975, as Richmond County changed their official name to Staten Island, multiple bus routes in Staten Island, including the R4, had their prefix changed from R to S.

On September 13, 1987, a new branch of the S4 was created, running via Hylan Boulevard to Tottenville High School. The new branch provided direct access from Annadale, Huguenot, Prince's Bay, and Tottenville to the Staten Island Mall, and improved access to Richmond Memorial Hospital. Service on the branch would run from 5:55 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, and would end earlier and start later on weekends. Weekday service on the S4 would run every 15 minutes, with service split evenly between this and the other branch of the S4 to Ebony Street and Rockland Road. Weekend service would run every 15 to 30 minutes, with service split between the branches. [6] [7]

Sometime between April 2, 1989 and April 15, 1990, the S4 was split, with the S59 taking over the Richmond Avenue portion and the S54 taking over the Nelson Avenue and Giffords Lane portion.

On September 10, 1995, as part of a systemwide series of cuts to bus service to reduce a budget deficit caused by the elimination of $113 million in city funding to New York City Transit, S59 service was discontinued between 1:20 a.m. and 4:40 a.m.. Service would operate weekdays to Tottenville between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. and from Tottenville between 4:40 a.m. and 8 p.m. Service would run to Richmond Avenue and Hylan Boulevard between 8 p.m. and 1:20 a.m. and from there between 8 p.m. and 12:45 a.m.. Weekends, service would run to Tottenville between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and to Hylan Boulevard between 8 p.m. and 1:20 a.m. Service in the other direction to Port Richmond would operate from Tottenville between 4:40 a.m. and 8 p.m. and from Hylan Boulevard between 8 p.m. and 12:45 a.m.. [8]

Creation of the S89

A 2015 Nova Bus LFS (8274) on the S89 Limited, terminated at the Eltingville Transit Center near Hylan Boulevard 8274 S89.jpg
A 2015 Nova Bus LFS (8274) on the S89 Limited, terminated at the Eltingville Transit Center near Hylan Boulevard

On October 2, 2006, Red and Tan Lines cut service on its remaining bus route to Staten Island, the 144, from nine trips in the morning rush hour to five since the route was not profitable. Since, prior to the cuts, at least two buses per day were standing room only, two extra buses were provided during the week on an as needed basis. On October 3, elected officials on Staten Island requested that the MTA take over the service. An MTA spokesperson said the MTA was looking into starting bus service between Jersey City and Staten Island. In spring 2006, the New York State Legislature had passed a bill to authorize New York City Transit to run interstate service to try to get the MTA to operate the service. [9]

On June 18, 2007, MTA Executive Director Elliot G. Sander announced that the MTA would move forward with plans for a new bus route between Staten Island and the HBLR in Bayonne, New Jersey. Previously, he had said the MTA would not run the service until TransportAzumah, the existing operator, stopped running buses along the route. Sander said that he expected to create a service plan with NJ Transit (NJT) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the following four to eight weeks. [10] A preliminary analysis done by the MTA recommended a fare of $4 for the bus service, less than the normal $5 express bus fare due to the additional cost of a $1.75 HBLR ticket. The fare would be $4.67 with monthly light rail pass and MetroCard discounts. This is in comparison with the fares charged by TransportAzumah, which were $3 to 34th Street station in Bayonne, and $5 to stops in Hoboken and Jersey City. [11]

On July 16, 2007, the MTA formally announced that it would start this new bus route, the S89 Limited, in the fall. [12] The route would provide an alternative method to getting to Midtown Manhattan via the HBLR and PATH, with buses having timed connections to the HBLR, and would connect residents of the island to the job market in Hoboken, Bayonne, and Jersey City. It would be the first interstate bus operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and be implemented under a joint agreement with NJ Transit (NJT). The MTA and NJT were also working toward an agreement that would allow riders of the S89 and the HBLR to purchase a joint monthly ticket. The Port Authority provided $2 million to help acquire the buses that would be used for the service. Since the route would go across state lines, bus operators on the route were USDOT certified. [13] [14] The creation of the interstate bus route was one of multiple initiatives being done by the MTA at the time to break institutional and political barriers, like the joint Train to the Game service between Secaucus Junction on NJT and Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. [15]

Service would run on weekdays during peak hours, between 5:30 and 8:30 a.m., and between 4 and 7:30 p.m., running every 15 minutes in the peak direction and every 30 minutes in the reverse-peak direction. Ridership on the bus route was expected to be 1,200 a day. Nine buses would be required to run the service, which would cost about $1.4 million to operate. [13] Service started on September 4, 2007. [16] [14] [17] In January 2008, a joint $134 Unlimited Ride MetroCard and HBLR ticket became available for sale for S89 bus riders online from NJT. The pass would be flashed to fare inspectors on the HBLR. [18]

On April 7, 2008, due to high ridership, two morning trips from Staten Island and one evening trip from New Jersey were added. [19] [20] At the time, 800 to 900 riders used the route per day. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staten Island Railway</span> Rapid transit line in New York City

The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is a railroad line in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIRTOA), a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and operated by the New York City Transit Authority Department of Subways. SIR operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing local service between St. George and Tottenville, along the east side of the island. There is currently only one line on the island, and there is no direct rail link between the SIR and the New York City Subway system, but SIR riders do receive a free transfer to New York City Transit bus and subway lines, and the line is included on official New York City Subway maps. Commuters on the railway typically use the Staten Island Ferry to reach Manhattan. The line is accessible from within the Ferry Terminal, and most of its trains are timed to connect with the ferry. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 6,151,400, or about 17,900 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson–Bergen Light Rail</span> Light rail system in New Jersey, United States

The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit (NJT) and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, at the city line with West New York, and North Bergen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eltingville, Staten Island</span> Neighborhood of Staten Island in Richmond, New York, United States

Eltingville is a neighborhood in the Staten Island borough of New York City, United States. It is located on Staten Island's South Shore, immediately to the south of Great Kills and north of Annadale. The main commercial area of Eltingville extends down Richmond Avenue, with offshoots heading north on Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard. Eltingville is represented in the New York State Senate by Andrew Lanza, in the New York State Assembly by Michael Reilly, and in the New York City Council by Joe Borelli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eltingville Transit Center</span> Bus terminal in Staten Island, New York

Eltingville Transit Center is a park and ride transit center that is located in Eltingville, Staten Island. It is located at the intersection of Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue, at the end of the Korean War Veterans Parkway. The transit center was completed in 2004. Amenities include schedules, maps, free parking, and vending machines for soda, snacks, and MetroCards. The center is halfway between the Eltingville Staten Island Railway station and the Staten Island Mall, another transit center, including the adjacent Yukon Depot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">34th Street station (Hudson–Bergen Light Rail)</span> New Jersey Transit Hudson–Bergen Light Rail station

34th Street station is a station on the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) in Bayonne, New Jersey. The third of four stations in the city of Bayonne, 34th Street is located at the intersection of Avenue E and East 34th Street, the station doubles as a park and ride with access to Route 440 southbound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Street station (Hudson–Bergen Light Rail)</span> Hudson–Bergen Light Rail station in Bayonne, New Jersey

8th Street station is a station on the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) in the Bergen Point section of the city of Bayonne, New Jersey. The southernmost stop in Bayonne, 8th Street station serves as the southern terminus of the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail. Located on an elevated track next to Route 440, the station is accessible at the intersection of Avenue C and West 8th Street. The station, unlike the rest of the line, has a full station depot that doubles as accessibility to tracks per the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The depot is two stories high and contains elevators and access to the platform, which is an island platform with two tracks. East of the station, the tracks merge into one to reach 22nd Street station. The station serves tracks for the local service to Hoboken Terminal along with an express service known as the Bayonne Flyer. The station opened on January 31, 2011 as an extension of service from 22nd Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Avenue</span> Avenue in Staten Island, New York

Richmond Avenue is a major north-south thoroughfare on Staten Island, New York. Measuring approximately 7.0 miles (11.3 km), the road runs from the South Shore community of Eltingville to the North Shore community of Graniteville.

Staten Island light rail proposals refer to two projects in the New York City borough of Staten Island. These proposals are among the several light rail projects that have been floated in New York City in recent years. Neither proposal was funded in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2015–2019 Capital Plan, but $4 million was allocated to a study for it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S79 (New York City bus)</span> Bus route in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York

The S79 Select Bus Service constitutes a bus route in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York, running primarily on Richmond Avenue, Hylan Boulevard, and Narrows Road in Staten Island, and 92nd Street, Fourth Avenue, 86th Street, and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. It is based at the Yukon Depot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond County Bank Ballpark station</span>

Richmond County Bank Ballpark, styled simply as Ball Park and BallPark on station signage, is a disused station on the Staten Island Railway, located at Wall Street and Richmond Terrace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylan Boulevard</span> Boulevard in Staten Island, New York

Hylan Boulevard is a major northeast-southwest boulevard in the New York City borough of Staten Island, and the longest street in a single borough in the city. It is approximately 14 miles (23 km) long, and runs from the North Shore neighborhood of Rosebank, then along the entire East Shore, to the South Shore neighborhood of Tottenville. It was renamed in 1923 for New York City mayor John F. Hylan, before which it was known as Southfield Boulevard and the northern segment as Pennsylvania Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Select Bus Service</span> Bus service in New York City

Select Bus Service is a brand used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s Regional Bus Operations for limited-stop bus routes with some bus rapid transit features in New York City. The first SBS route was implemented in 2008 to improve speed and reliability on long, busy corridors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTA Regional Bus Operations</span> Bus operator in New York City

MTA Regional Bus Operations (RBO) is the surface transit division of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It was created in 2008 to consolidate all bus operations in New York City operated by the MTA. As of February 2018, MTA Regional Bus Operations runs 234 local routes, 71 express routes, and 20 Select Bus Service routes. Its fleet of 5,840 buses is the largest municipal bus fleet in the United States and operates 24/7. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 730,924,600, or about 2,427,700 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Richmond station</span>

Port Richmond is a station on the abandoned North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway. Located in Port Richmond on a concrete trestle at Park Avenue and Church Street, it has two tracks and an island platform. The station is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) from Saint George Terminal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staten Island Tunnel</span> Incomplete rail tunnel in New York City

The Staten Island Tunnel is an abandoned, incomplete railway and subway tunnel in Staten Island, New York City. It was intended to connect railways on Staten Island to the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn, via a new crossing under the Narrows. Planned to extend 10,400 feet (3,200 m), the tunnel would have been among the world's longest at the time of its planning, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Staten Island Railway</span>

The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is the only rapid transit line in the New York City borough of Staten Island and is operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, a unit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The railway was historically considered a standard railroad line, but today only the western portion of the North Shore Branch, which is disconnected from the rest of the SIR, is used by freight and is connected to the national railway system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylan Boulevard express buses</span> Bus routes in Staten Island and Manhattan, New York

The SIM1, SIM1C, SIM7,SIM10, and SIM11 bus routes constitute a public transit line in Staten Island and Manhattan, New York. The routes all operate on Richmond Avenue and Hylan Boulevard on Staten Island, but go to three separate terminals in Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S51 and S81 buses</span> Bus routes in Staten Island, New York

The S51 and S81 constitute bus routes in Staten Island, New York running primarily on Bay Street, Father Capodanno Boulevard, and Midland Avenue, between St. George Ferry Terminal and Grant City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S53 and S93 buses</span> Bus routes in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York

The S53 and S93 constitute a public transit line in New York City, running primarily on Clove Road and utilizing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to travel between Brooklyn and Staten Island. They are operated by the MTA Regional Bus Operations under the New York City Transit Authority brand.

References

  1. 1 2 "Subway and bus ridership for 2023". mta.info. April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Staten Island Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ MTA Regional Bus Operations. "S59 bus schedule".
  4. ↑ MTA Regional Bus Operations. "S89 bus schedule".
  5. ↑ "R4 Bus Timetable 1970s". New York City Transit Authority. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Connelly, Eileen AJ; Blis, Jeff (September 9, 1995). "Fewer Hours, Shorter Routes For Bus Riders". Staten Island Advance.
  9. ↑ Newman, Andy (October 4, 2006). "Staten Islanders Coping With Reduced Bus Service". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ Yates, Maura (June 18, 2007). "Express bus service to Bayonne getting closer". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ Yates, Maura (June 20, 2007). "MTA analysis suggests $4 charge for xbus to Bayonne". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Chn, Sewell (July 16, 2007). "A New Bus Connection for Staten Island and Bayonne". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "MTA NYC Transit Adds Bus Service from Staten Island to Hudson Bergen Light Rail, Advances MTA Commitment to Seamless Regional Transportation". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 16, 2007. Archived from the original on July 28, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "MTA New York City Transit Begins Bus Service Between Staten Island and New Jersey First Interstate NYC Transit Route to Start September 4th". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 29, 2007. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  15. ↑ Donohue, Pete (July 17, 2007). "Taking care of bus-iness: MTA sets new S.I.-to-Bayonne route – its first across state lines". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ "S89 Introducing limited-stop, rush-hour service from Staten Island to Bayonne, NJ". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  17. ↑ "Bus service between Bayonne and Staten Island up and running". nj.com. September 6, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  18. ↑ Yates, Maura (January 4, 2008). "New Dual Pass for S89, Light Rail". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Staten Island Bus Service Notice". mta.info. 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ Yates, Maura (January 29, 2008). "More S89 Runs On the Way". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ Yates, Maura (April 7, 2008). "More Bus Service Starting Today". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.