BusTalk

[Q65A]

From the GBL homepage sometime prior to MTAB takeover:

Company Profile



In the late 1910s and early 1920s, young entrepreneurs, out of the ethnic melting pot of New York City, secured permits from the Department of Plant and Structures (DP&S) to operate buses in parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. In several areas, there had been no other public transportation, and these entrepreneurs created and developed the transit market.

By the mid to late 1920s, surface transit policy began to change. The City expressed a desire to modernize its transit system, in part by replacing its tired and worn street railways with modern buses, and by replacing the perpetual street railway franchises and DP&S permits with limited-duration bus franchises throughout the City.

While the policy discussions were progressing within the political environment of the City, several of the bus entrepreneurs came together and formed Green Bus Lines. The company was incorporated in 1925, and these 160 operators became the company's first shareholders.

In time, the City put together a plan to implement its strategy. The dominant street railway companies were induced to exchange their perpetual street railway franchises for limited-duration bus franchises throughout Manhattan, including routes then operated by Green Bus Lines. At the same time, Green Bus Lines would lose its DP&S permits, exit Manhattan, and receive a full (albeit limited-duration) franchise for routes in Queens. Green Bus Lines operated its last local services within Manhattan in 1933.

Through the succeeding years, Green Bus Lines grew and prospered, and acquired several small independent bus companies in Queens County. The last - but also the largest - acquisition occurred in the 1940s when Green Bus Lines purchased the Manhattan & Queens Transit Company. First operated as a subsidiary, and later merged into the company, this important route connected Jamaica with Manhattan via Queens Boulevard.

The next decade saw the initiation of the first modern New York City express bus route connecting Queens with Manhattan. For many years, the Long Island Rail Road had operated commuter trains connecting stations at Brooklyn Manor, Parkside, and Rego Park with Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. When the railroad discontinued service to these stations, Green Bus Lines began service on an express bus route so as to mitigate the inconvenience to Queens Commuters. Today, this service continues as route QM23.

By the 1970s, deferred maintenance had taken its toll on the City's rapid transit system, and additional demands were being made for express bus services between Queens and Manhattan. In response to these requests, Green Bus Lines initiated service on four more express routes from southern Queens County.

In the mid 1970s, operating costs had increased dramatically, yet farebox revenues remained flat or even declined. While these events had many causes, some were the result of government policies favoring private automobile travel, dispersed land-use, suburbanization, and regulators' reluctance to increase fares. In New York City, a local public policy decision was made to subsidize the fare paid by passengers so that the fares would remain at a reasonable level, and to supply Green Bus Lines and other companies with sufficient funding to continue operating these vital transportation services.

Today, Green Bus Lines continues to operate the local and express routes in Queens County that were first franchised to the company in 1933, and later added to with the acquisition of other companies and the implementation of new express service. The company operates out of two facilities (one in Jamaica and one in Arverne) 24 hours per day. The bus fleet consists of 235 buses (of which 200 buses are in service each day at rush hour), with an average age of 11.45 years; approximately 86 percent of the bus fleet is wheelchair accessible. Each year Green Bus Lines carries over 35 million passengers, and operates its buses over 6.5 million miles.

The City of New York funds the buses and service operated by Green Bus Lines. Service is administered through a contract with the City of New York.

Local routes:

Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q9A, Q10, Q11, Q21, Q22, Q22A, Q35, Q37, Q40, Q41, Q60

Limited-stop route:

Q10A

Express routes:

QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, OM23