MTA to roll out Queens’ new bus routes in June
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The new Queens bus network, which the MTA will implement in phases beginning in June. Map via MTA
By Jacob Kaye
Queens bus riders will soon see the MTA’s long-awaited bus route redesign take effect, over half a decade after the transit agency first began redrawing the public transit network in the World’s Borough.
The MTA said last week that the first phase of the implementation of the newly redesigned Queens bus network will launch on Sunday, June 29. The second phase will begin on Sunday, Aug. 31.
Though the MTA did not specify which routes will be included in either the first or second phase of the long-anticipated roll out, NYC Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro said in a statement that the first phase would focus “on major corridors and transit hubs.” The MTA said a list of each of the bus routes’ implementation dates would “be published on the project webpage at a later date.”
The kick off of the new bus network is a longtime coming for the MTA, which started and stopped the redesign multiple times.
The agency began the controversial effort in 2019.
After that first attempt was met with widespread outrage, the MTA scrapped their original draft and started the process anew after the pandemic. A new proposed map was introduced at the end of 2023 and finalized around a year later. That new map was approved by the MTA Board in January and now will take effect later in 2025.
As part of the rollout, the MTA and New York City Department of Transportation have launched a large-scale public outreach campaign to advise bus riders about how their routes will soon change.
“To ensure a smooth transition, it’s important for riders to learn of changes coming up as soon as possible,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
According to Crichlow, around 84 percent of bus riders in Queens will not see their stop move locations. However, most will likely see their bus routes and those bus’ hours of operation altered in some way.
The MTA claims the new bus map will result in greater service frequency and faster bus speeds.
“A majority of Queens commuters rely on public transportation every day, and starting this summer, bus riders will get to experience an enhanced, efficient and modern bus network, holistically designed for the future, not the past,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.
“We are proud to support the implementation in partnership with the MTA to deliver enhanced bus service for Queens riders, and we look forward to working alongside the authority on future bus priority projects to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Rodriguez added.
In anticipation of the massive overhaul, the MTA and DOT have begun adding signs at thousands of bus stops throughout the borough, advising riders about the implementation of the new map.
The MTA also has begun to hold in-person events regarding the new map; distributing print materials, digital signage and social media posts to provide notice of the changes; and digital and multilingual resources to help customers better understand their new trip options, the MTA said.
As the end of June approaches, the transit agency said it will deploy New York City Transit staff to several transportation hubs to answer questions riders may have about the redesign.
“Due to the size of Queens and the number of bus routes, it was important to take this implementation process in two parts,” said NYC Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro. “Focusing on major corridors and transit hubs, along with routes that will first see changes in June, a few Queens bus riders will begin to see signage at their stops sooner than others. We’re excited to get this outreach started and let Queens bus riders know better bus service is on the way.”
The new bus map, which is expected to effect around 800,000 daily riders in Queens, includes a total of 124 routes, 11 more than the current map. It features 94 local routes and 30 express routes.
Some of the new routes include the Q74 Limited, which will connect Forest Hills to points in Eastern Queens including Queens College; the Q80, which aims to bring more frequent service to Lefferts Boulevard; and the Q90 Limited, which will connect Flushing to LaGuardia Airport via Willets Point.
The effort to redesign the bus map in Queens was not without controversy. Previous attempts were largely panned by the public and numerous elected officials harshly criticized the MTA’s efforts over the years.
When the MTA introduced its final draft of the map in December, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called the plan “perfectly imperfect.”
Over the course of the past several years, the MTA hosted around 250 feedback and planning events on the new map, which led to more than 18,000 comments from riders.
