B13 is a public transit bus route operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit Authority that provides service within the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. The route is part of the MTA’s numbered “B‑” series, which denotes routes that primarily operate in Brooklyn.
Service area
The B13 connects the Bay Ridge neighborhood in southwestern Brooklyn with Downtown Brooklyn, traversing a corridor that includes portions of 3rd Avenue, 4th Avenue, and other streets in the vicinity. The route serves residential, commercial, and transit‑hub locations, providing links to subway stations and other bus routes.
Operational characteristics
- Operator: MTA New York City Transit Authority
- Service type: Primarily local service with limited‑stop service during peak periods (as designated by the MTA).
- Hours of operation: The route operates daily, with service generally commencing in the early morning and continuing into late night; exact start and end times are published in the MTA’s official timetable.
- Frequency: Buses typically run at intervals ranging from 8 to 15 minutes during weekday daytime service, with reduced frequency during evenings and weekends.
History
The B13 designation has been in use since at least the mid‑20th century, when the MTA (and its predecessor agencies) standardized bus route numbers across the city. Specific details regarding the inaugural service date, original routing, and subsequent modifications are not comprehensively documented in publicly available sources.
Ridership and performance
Ridership data for the B13 are compiled annually in the MTA’s “Bus Ridership” reports. The most recent publicly released figures (as of the latest MTA data release) indicate that the B13 carries several hundred thousand passenger trips per year, reflecting its role as a local connector within Brooklyn. Precise annual ridership numbers for the current service year have not been released at the time of this entry.
Connections
The B13 provides transfer points to multiple subway lines, including the BMT Fourth Avenue Line (served by the R train) and the BMT Brighton Line (served by the B, Q, and N trains). It also interlinks with other MTA bus routes operating in Brooklyn, facilitating multimodal travel across the borough.
References
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority, “MTA Bus Time – B13 Schedule.”
- MTA New York City Transit, “Bus Route and Service Changes – Brooklyn.”
- MTA Bus Ridership Reports (annual publications).
Note: While the B13 is an established route within the MTA bus system, certain historical and operational details are limited to the information publicly released by the MTA.