Southeast Queens bus route included in free bus pilot program
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The Q4 in Southeast Queens is one of five buses that will be temporarily free as part of a free bus route pilot program. File photo by Tdorante10/Wikimedia Commons
By Ryan Schwach
Some Queens bus riders are going to get a free ride starting in September as part of a new MTA pilot program included in the state’s budget and championed by Queens officials.
Riders on the Q4 bus line, which runs from Jamaica Center to Cambria Heights, will join commuters on four other bus routes citywide that will be part of the new program intended to assess how free buses impact commuters and the MTA’s service.
The program will last six to 12 months, and according to the MTA will serve 43,900 daily weekday riders.
The other four bus routes that will soon offer free services are the Bx18 in the Bronx, the B60 in Brooklyn, the M116 in Manhattan and the S46/96 in Staten Island.
"The MTA is the lifeblood of New York City, and I'm proud of the tremendous progress we've made in returning ridership to pre-pandemic levels," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "By establishing these fare free bus pilot routes, we are expanding access to public transportation across the city and improving transit equity to better serve all New Yorkers."
The pilot program was fought for in the state budget particularly by Queens State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who have argued all city buses should be free.
"Free bus routes are exactly the type of innovation we need to revolutionize our approach to public transit and get more people back in the system,” Gianaris said. “We have taken the MTA off the express track towards fiscal calamity and are delivering a better system for riders. I appreciate the partnership of Assembly Member Mamdani, Governor Hochul, MTA leadership, and the many advocates who stood up for these important and needed changes."
Gianaris and Mamdani are the main proponents behind the Fix the MTA package of legislation, which aims to freeze fares, fund more subway frequency and make buses free throughout the entire city.
"Fare free buses will bring economic relief to working class New Yorkers at a time when they need it most,” Mamdani said. “In Boston and Kansas City, where fare free buses have been implemented, they have sped up travel times, made buses safer, and increased access to essential services.”
“I can't wait to see these same outcomes for our neighbors along routes in each of the five boroughs and I am thankful for the work of all of my colleagues, Speaker [Carl] Heastie, and the Governor in transforming this dream into a reality,” Mamdani added.
The Q4 route primarily operates on Linden Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue and serves the Jamaica Center, South Jamaica, St. Albans and Cambria Heights neighborhoods.
It connects to the E, J and Z trains as well as the Long Island Rail Road, York College and St. Albans VA Hospital.
Southeast Queens officials applauded the announcement on Monday, excited to see their constituents benefit from the program
"I am happy to have this community selected for the fare free pilot program and hope it has a positive impact on my constituents,” said City Councilmember Nantasha Williams. “Bus transit is the lifeblood of many in this community. By providing free fares we will improve the lives of riders."
“We are excited that the commuters in our district will take advantage of the fare free bus program,” added Assemblymember Clyde Vanel. “We will continue to work to improve our transportation system."
