BusTalk

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All:

I have always wondered why, after trolley service over the BB ended in 1950, replacement buses did not take their place.

For decades, the BB was a bustling beehive of rail transit activity, with steady parades of streetcars crossing the span alongside rattling BRT/BMT El trains.

After all El service over the Bridge from Park Row ended in 1944, the streetcars were moved over to the former elevated tracks, so that an additional vehicular lane could be installed in each direction (this is why the trolleys were re-routed into the old elevated tracks)

When the trolleys made their last runs over the span in late 1950, there was no longer a public transit option for crossing over to Brooklyn.

In most other scenarios, streetcars were either replaced by buses or trolley buses.

In the case of the BB, no substitute bus lines across the Bridge were offered.

Did the BoT think that there was adequate subway access to Brooklyn, enough that replacement bus service via the BB was not needed?

Thanks......

"NYO"

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VOID

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[N4 Jamaica]

Frederick H. Zurmuhlen was the city engineer who brought the end of PCC's on Brooklyn Bridge in 1950. The reconstruction included extending the box of girders from just the el (later trolley) track across the additional two lanes of vehicles. I realize that some trucks do cross the bridge. I do not know the high limitation of the three current lanes in each direction. However, if you look at pre-1950 photos, you can see that the girder box surrounds only the one track in each direction.
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Fred Zurmuhlen was a graduate of Manhattan College and lived on Clinton Avenue, Staten Island. He died at home January 19, 1961. From 1947 until his death, he was NYC Commissioner of Public Works. His obit is in the NY Times, 1.20.1961.
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One must remember that the A train from Jay Street to Bwy-Nassau was considered the replacement for the streetcars. In Brooklyn, paper transfers were issued to riders getting off the Myrtle Avenue el at Jay St. In Manhattan, one could request a transfer to the Myrtle el from the change agent at Broadway-Nassau.

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VOID

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[N4 Jamaica]

The New York Times for March 6, 1950, ran a news story, "Last Trolley Crosses Brooklyn Span as Modernization of Bridge Begins." The sixth paragraph reads:
"The lanes devoted to trolley tracks are being closed completely for reconstruction, which will result in six motor highways. Buses will run on these, but no trolleys."
A later sentence reads: "Passengers who formerly used the cars to cross between Manhattan and Brooklyn will get transfers to the IND subway."
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An article dated March 2, 1950 explained:
"Brooklyn-bound passengers from Park Row can use the Broadway-Nassau station of the IND subway to High Street station and there get free transfer to the Vanderbilt Avenue or Seventh Avenue trolley lines. The Board of Transportation said that passengers on Brooklyn surface lines who now transfer to one of the bridge lines will receive a free transfer to the High Street station of the Independent subway. Passengers using the Myrtle Avenue or Lexington Avenue elevated lines who have been using the Brooklyn Bridge trolleys can get free transfers to the Myrtle Avenue end of the Jay Street station of the Independent subway.
The Board of Transportation said it would be hazardous to maintain a shuttle service on the Manhattan-bound side of the bridge while the Brooklyn-bound side was being reconstructed.

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[Mr. Linsky]

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[N4 Jamaica]

On Tillary Street the bridge approach says 11-foot clearance. I don't know the height of bus models. Would this exclude any? (The sign also says "No Commercial Vehicles. No Trucks or Buses.)
Thanks.
Joe

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