The route was renumbered from the M17 to the M79 in 1987, and was converted into a Select Bus Service route in 2017.
Route description
A 2019 XD60 (6201) on the Yorkville–bound M79 SBS at Upper East Side’s 79th St-5th Ave in July 2019, incorrectly displaying West Side.
The M79 bus runs crosstown along 79th Street in Upper Manhattan. The route begins at West 79th Street and Riverside Drive in the Upper West Side. It proceeds east along 79th Street to Amsterdam Avenue, where the eastbound bus uses Amsterdam Avenue to get to 81st Street; the westbound bus uses 81st Street to get to Columbus Avenue and then takes that down to 79th Street. After Central Park West, the bus then crosses the 79th Street Transverse through the park, with a stop about halfway through the transverse. The M79 exits the transverse at East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue, continuing on East 79th Street through the Upper East Side until turning left onto York Avenue and then right again onto 80th Street before arriving to its terminus at 80th Street. The bus then turns right on East End Avenue and then right onto 79th Street to start its westbound route.[1][3][4]
The westbound bus then continues on 79th Street to Fifth Avenue. After this, the bus keeps straight and merges onto the 79th Street Transverse. It then leaves the Transverse on the intersection of Central Park West and 81st Street and continues along 81st Street to Columbus Avenue and then turns left onto it and then turns right onto 79th Street two blocks later. It continues along 79th Street to its westbound terminus at Riverside Drive.[1][3][4]
Unlike other SBS routes and most bus rapid transit lines, the M79 SBS does not have long bus lanes, but rather employs short queue jump lanes, which give buses priority at intersections.[5]
A 2019 XE60 (4958) on the Riverside-bound M79 SBS in June 2022
Note: riders boarding at the Central Park Transverse stop will need to obtain their proof of fare payment receipt at the next stop (Central Park West or Fifth Ave depending on direction of travel).
A 2003 D60HF (5721) on the Riverside Drive-bound M79 on Broadway prior to SBS implementation.
Early history
On November 30, 1921, the New York City Department of Plants and Structures began operating the 79th Street Crosstown M17 bus route. From 1933 to 1936 the bus line was operated by Green Bus Lines.[6] On June 22, 1936, the New York City Omnibus Corporation took over operation of the route.
On September 27, 1987, the M17 was renumbered the M79, and some minor changes were made at the route's western terminal to eliminate having the route turn around on residential streets. The route's terminal was moved from West End Avenue and 81st Street to 79th Street and Riverside Drive. Westbound buses would continue west on 79th Street past Broadway to Riverside Drive to the terminal and then loop around the traffic circle to return in eastbound service. Previously, buses had a terminal loop of Broadway, 81st Street, West End Avenue, and 79th Street.[7]
Select Bus Service
A 2012 Nova Bus LFS Articulated (5928) on the Upper West Side-bound M79 SBS at 81st Street and Central Park West, near American Museum of Natural History
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