The Third and Amsterdam Avenues Line, also known as the Third Avenue Line, is a public transit line in Manhattan, New York City, United States, running from Lower Manhattan to Fort George in Washington Heights. Originally a streetcar line, it is now the M98, M101, M102, and M103 bus routes, operated by the New York City Transit Authority. The M98 bus route route operates on Third Avenue between 65 street and 127 street The M101 bus now runs southbound on Lexington Avenue rather than Third Avenue north of 24th Street.
The current form of the M98 operates between 68 street on the Upper East Side and Fort Tryon Park in Inwood (Approximately 192nd street). The M98 operates on Third Avenue (northbound), and Lexington Avenue (southbound). At 120 street, southbound service shifts from Lexington to Park Avenues, while at 127 street, the M98 northbound service shifts unto the Harlem River Drive. At 135 street, both Nortbound and Southbound service are on the Harlem River Drive. At 178 street, the M98 uses the crosstown street,in which northbound service shifts onto 179 street. The M98 contiunes until Fort Washington Avenue, in which the M98 goes on Fort Washington Avenue until the Fort Tyron Park Entrance (192 street), where it terminates. The M101 spans between Astor Place and Third Avenue in the East Village and West 193rd Street and Fort George Avenue in Fort George. The M101 runs on Third Avenue from Astor Place to East 125th Street, while southbound buses use Lexington Avenue north of East 24th Street. The M101 continues crosstown on 125th Street to Amsterdam Avenue, running north on to West 193rd Street after Amsterdam Avenue becomes Fort George Avenue. The M102 begins at Astor Place and follows the M101 until 116th Street in East Harlem. The route travels west across 116th Street to Lenox Avenue, where it continues north to Harlem – 148th Street. [1] The M103 begins its route at City Hall and travels north via Park Row and the Bowery. At Astor Place, it continues north alongside the M101 and M102 to 125th Street, where it terminates. [2]
The M101 runs as a limited-stop service during the day south of East 116th Street, with no other local service. Local service is provided by the M102 and M103 buses, during that time. Overnight and weekend morning service runs local.[3]
The Third Avenue Railroad opened the line in 1853, from Astor House (Broadway and Park Row) north along Park Row, the Bowery (shared with the Second Avenue Line), and Third Avenue to 86th Street; an extension to East Harlem opened in 1859. Using the One-Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Street Railroad and trackage along Amsterdam Avenue, Third Avenue cars were also operated to Fort George. Buses were substituted for streetcars by the Surface Transportation Corporation on May 28, 1947. It was operated by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines from 1956 to 1962, when the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority took over operations. On July 17, 1960, most of Third Avenue became one-way northbound, and southbound buses were moved to Lexington Avenue.[4]
In 2009, buses along the corridor were involved in a total of 268 accidents. The amount is attributed to both inexperienced operators and the amount of "obstacles" along the route. [5]
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