Borough cabinet hears bus redesign proposal
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The MTA gave a presentation on its Queens bus network redesign draft to the Queens Borough Cabinet on Tuesday, April 13, 2022. Screenshot via livestream
By Rachel Vick
The Queens Borough Cabinet met Tuesday to hear a presentation on the Queens Bus Network redesign, the MTA's plan to engage riders and how previous comments were taken into account.
During the half hour presentation, the agency gave an overview of the 500 page draft released at the beginning of the month and urged riders to take a close look at the plans that would affect their commutes.
The agency recently went back to the drawing board after 11,000 public comments were made by Queens residents on its original plan. The redesign aims to make more direct routes, enhance connectivity and improve the frequency of buses snaking through Queens streets.
“One thing I said when this plan was announced was that this is the one plan that united every single part of the borough to oppose something, but it wasn't about opposition it was about the wellbeing of our bus network and ensuring our seniors and others can get around,” said Borough President Dononvan Richards. “By no means am I saying it's perfect… but I want to thank them for what they've done [by taking feedback seriously].”
The presentation, streamed and saved on the Borough President’s YouTube channel, explained how to read the profile for each bus route and offered examples of changes made to routes to ease use. The MTA also highlighted interborough routes and more evenly spaced bus stops.
The agency highlighted a current hour-long commute for a four mile trip from East Elmhurst to Kew Gardens on the Q23 that would be reduced by 25 minutes with the proposed Q23 limited route along 108 Street, which runs the length of the street and cuts back on excessive turns.
But reception of the draft plan wasn’t all positive Tuesday.
Community Board 1 District Manager Florence Koulouris criticized the agency’s lack of outreach and their alleged failure to connect with the public about the latest plan.
“For all 14 of us, you should be doing a better job of outreach,” she said, lamenting the lack of funding available for CBs to raise awareness on their own. “We need you to do your due diligence to help us – it's not fair.”
In response Lucille Songhai, assistant director of Government and Community Relations for the MTA, emphasized that ”nothing is set in stone,” and assured concerned cabinet members that community comments were crucial to the redesign.
“We will continue to meet and talk with stakeholders throughout this process,” Songhai said. “This is going to be an ongoing process and we want to try and meet folks where they’re at, specifically about the stop list.”
“It's really important for us as you all really understand at the local level what's happening at the stop; it's important for us to get that feedback,” she added. “We look at a variety of information but we’re relying on our customers to give us the nitty gritty of what's happening on their local streets.”
In addition to the virtual workshops scheduled for each district, the agency will also conduct street outreach in high traffic areas. Comments can be made through Remix — an interactive map where riders can compare routes — and online at new.mta.info/queensbusredesign.
Schedule for public hearings on the bus redesign
Community Board 1 on April 18th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 2 on April 21st - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 3 on Tuesday, April 26th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 4 on Thursday, April 28th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 5 on Wednesday, May 4th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 6 on Thursday, May 5th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 7 on Tuesday, May 10th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 8 on Thursday, May 12th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 9 on Monday, May 16th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 10 on Tuesday, May 24th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 11 on Tuesday, May 24th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 12 on Thursday, May 26th - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 13 on Tuesday, May 31st - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Board 14 on Thursday, June 2nd - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
