This article is about the bus route that replaced the BMT streetcar line. For the former elevated rapid transit line, also owned by the BMT, see Fifth Avenue Line (Brooklyn elevated).
Bus route in Brooklyn, New York
b63
Fifth Avenue Line
A 2017 XN40 (773) on the B63 in Downtown Brooklyn at Atlantic Terminal in March 2019
The Nassau Electric Railroad was incorporated in 1893, and its plans included the east-west Church Avenue Line along 39th Street and a branch south along Fifth Avenue into New Utrecht.[10] The Nassau Electric leased the Atlantic Avenue on April 5, 1896, and opened their Fifth Avenue Line that day as an extension of the Atlantic Avenue's line all the way to Fort Hamilton; they also continued to operate West End Line cars via Fifth Avenue, and soon also ran cars to Coney Island over Fifth Avenue and the 86th Street Line.[11][12]
As a bus route
Bus service numbered the B63 replaced streetcar service on February 20, 1949.[13]
In February 2011, the B63 became the first bus route in Brooklyn to test the tracking real time arrival system called MTA Bus Time.[14][15] The pilot program was implemented after similar technology had been tested on the M16 and M34 buses in Manhattan during 2010.[16] Following the success of MTA Bus Time on the B63, the program was expanded to all bus routes in the city.[17]
On December 1, 2022, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Brooklyn bus network.[18][19] As part of the redesign, the B63 would maintain its existing routing, but closely spaced stops would be eliminated.[20]
^"Railroads". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 5, 1863. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020. Brooklyn, Bath, and Coney Island Railroad - Will commence running on and after Monday October 5th ... Leave Bath 8, 10 and 12 A.M., and 2, 4 and 6 P.M. Leave Thirty-sixth street and Fifth avenue 6:40, 9 and 11 A.M., and 1,3 and 5 P.M.
^"Opening of a New Railroad - Another Route to Coney Island". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 5, 1863. p. 2. the Brooklyn Central railroad company have extended their track through the Bath plank road, making a most delightful road to the city line. At the city line the passengers take the dummy engine cars which convey them to New Utrecht, bath, Unionville and Coney Island in a half hour