B31 (New York City bus)

The B31 constitutes a bus route between Midwood and Gerritsen Beach. Originally a streetcar route, it is now a bus route operated by New York City Transit.

Description
The bus route brings at the Kings Highway station on the BMT Brighton Line. Then it continues, mostly running on Avenue R and Gerritsen Avenue, until it ends at Gerritsen Avenue and Lois Avenue at Gerritsen Beach.

History
It began in 1922 by Kings Coach Company. The former western terminus was Avenue U (BMT Brighton Line) station.

In 1989, it was rerouted to the B2 western terminus (Kings Highway (BMT Brighton Line) station. A public hearing was held on June 22, 1989. The change was made to provide a direct connection to Kings Highway, which had more subway service as it was an express stop. The extension also allowed for connections to the B5, B7 and B50. Two alternatives were considered to extend the route. The first would have extended it north along Gerritsen Avenue to Avenue R and then follow the B2 to Kings Highway. The second alternative would have kept the route along Avenue U to Ocean Avenue before turning north to Avenue R and then running along the B2 route. The first alternative was chosen as it was the more direct route, had fewer bus transfer impacts, and provided additional service along Gerritsen Avenue.

Overnight service was discontinued on 2010.