 Limited-stop service on the M101 began on October 14, 1991, with alternate buses running limited between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

On September 10, 1995, the M103 was created to improve reliability along Third and Lexington Avenues, curtailing the M101 and M102 south of Astor Place.In 2009, buses along the corridor were involved in a total of 268 accidents.The amount is attributed to both inexperienced operators and the number of "obstacles" along the route.