New_York_City_Omnibus_Corporation
New York City Omnibus Corporation
Defunct bus company in New York City
The New York City Omnibus Corporation (NYCO, later Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc.) ran bus services in New York City between 1926 and 1962. It expanded in 1935/36 with new bus routes to replace the New York Railways Corporation streetcars when these were dismantled. It further expanded with the acquisition of the Fifth Avenue Coach Company from The Omnibus Corporation in 1954. NYCO was renamed the "Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc." in 1956, becoming bankrupt in 1962, after which operations were taken over by the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority.
A restored New York City Omnibus 1948 GMC Bus at the Circle Line terminal in 2009
This is NYC Transit originally fleet no. 4789 renumbered to represent NYCO 2969 and lettered New York City Omnibus for historical reasons. The original 2969 was a GM TDH 4509 a year or so newer than the bus in the photo. The original ran in a simpler green and yellow scheme, later repainted two tone green under MaBSTOA. The original was retired after 1966, but some buses of this class ran on and off as needed until early 1970. | |
| Founded | 1926 (1926) |
|---|---|
| Ceased operation | 1962 (1962) |
| Defunct | Yes |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Locale | Manhattan & Queens |
| Service type | Bus |
| Routes | 23 |
| Stops | |
The New York City Omnibus Corporation was formed in 1926 with John A. Ritchie as President.[1] Richie was also president of The Omnibus Corporation founded a year earlier.
The company introduced new bus lines to replace the streetcar lines being withdrawn by the New York Railways Corporation in 1935/36,[2] which The Omnibus Corporation also owned.
In 1954, the company purchased the Fifth Avenue Coach Company from The Omnibus Corporation and renamed itself as "Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc." on May 14, 1956.[3][4] They also acquired the Third Avenue Railway-owned Surface Transportation Corporation on December 17 that same year, and created an operating subsidiary, Surface Transit, Inc., to administer their routes.[5]
The company went bankrupt in 1962 and the services were taken over by the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority.
The routes that were operated by the New York City Omnibus Corporation are listed below.[6]
| Route | Terminal A | Major streets of travel | Terminal B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 |
or
|
Fourth Avenue Madison Avenue (1 via Park Avenue) (2 via Madison Avenue) |
Harlem Madison Avenue/135 Street |
| 3/4 |
or
|
Lexington Avenue (3 and 4) Lenox Avenue (4 only) |
or
|
| 5 | Civic Center Park Row/City Hall |
Sixth Avenue | Central Park South 59 Street/6 Avenue |
| 6 | South Ferry | Broadway Seventh Avenue |
Central Park South 59 Street/7 Avenue |
| 7 | Gramercy Park 23 Street/Broadway |
Broadway Columbus Avenue Lenox Avenue |
Harlem 146 Street/Lenox Avenue |
| 8/9 |
or
|
Seventh Avenue (8 to Canal and Varick Streets) (9 to 8th Street and 4th Avenue) |
Central Park South 7 Avenue/59 Street |
| 10 | SoHo Cortlandt Street |
Eighth Avenue Central Park West |
Polo Grounds 159 Street/8 Avenue |
| 11 | Greenwich Village Abingdon Square |
Ninth Avenue Amsterdam Avenue |
Harlem La Salle Street/Broadway |
| 12 | SoHo West Street/Watts Street |
Spring and Delancey Streets Crosstown | Williamsburg Bridge Mangin Street/Delancey Street |
| 13 | Greenwich Village West Street/Christopher Street |
8 Street Crosstown | East Village Avenue D/West 10 Street |
| 14 | Chelsea West 22 Street/11 Avenue |
14 Street Crosstown |
or
|
| 15 | Chelsea 11 Avenue/West 23 Street |
23 Street Crosstown | Kips Bay FDR Drive/East 23 Street |
| 16 |
or
|
34 Street Crosstown | Murray Hill 1 Avenue/East 34 Street |
| 17 | Upper West Side West End Avenue/West 79 Street |
79 Street Crosstown | Yorkville East End Avenue/East 79 Street |
| 18 | Upper West Side West End Avenue/West 86 Street |
86 Street Crosstown |
or
|
| 19 | Upper West Side West End Avenue/West 96 Street |
96 Street Crosstown | Yorkville York Avenue/East 91 Street |
| 20 | Upper West Side West End Avenue/West 106 Street |
116 Street Crosstown | East Harlem FDR Drive/East 116 Street |
| 21 | SoHo West Street/Watts Street |
Houston Street and Avenue C Crosstown | Kips Bay 27 Street/1 Avenue |
| 22 | Lower East Side Clinton Street/South Street |
Pitt Street Ridge Street |
Lower East Side Houston Street/FDR Drive |
| TB |
or
|
Triborough Bridge |
or
|
- "Gas-Electric Motorbus Co., Roland Gas-Electric Vehicle Co., New York Motor Bus Co..."
New York City Omnibus Corp. was formed in 1926 with Ritchie president)
- "Securities and Exchange Commission". 1945. p. 238.
The New York Omnibus Corporation, successor to the New York Railways Corporation commenced the operation of bus route in 1936. In all but one year since then it has been profitable
- "Guide to the Fifth Avenue Coach Company Collection 1895-1962". New York History Society.
In 1954, after acquiring the Hertz car rental business, the Omnibus Corporation sold the assets of the Fifth Avenue Coach Company to the New York City Omnibus Corporation, which was renamed Fifth Avenue Coach Lines in 1956.
- "Sidelights: Curve of Market at Tricky Spot". The New York Times. May 15, 1956. p. 56.
Stockholders of the New York City Omnibus Corporation have approved a change in name to Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc.
- Sparberg, Andrew J. (2014). From a Nickel to a Token: The Journey from Board of Transportation to MTA. Oxford University Press. p. 117.
...on December 17, 1956, Fifth Avenue's management purchased Surface outright.... Upon the takeover, Fifth Avenue created an operating subsidiary named Surface Transit Inc. for the new acquisition.