Rahul Somvanshi
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved the biggest change to Queens bus service in 70 years. The $35 million plan will add more routes but remove many bus stops, creating a mix of praise and worry from local residents.
Starting this summer and finishing by Labor Day 2025, the MTA will increase its Queens routes from 113 to 124. This includes adding 11 new local routes and creating 25 “rush routes.” These rush routes work like subway express trains – they start by making all stops in outer areas, then skip stops to speed up travel to major destinations.
Chris Pangilinan, who leads operations planning at NYC Transit, explains why this matters: “Queens is a borough that relies on buses like no other. This represents a chance to redesign the bus network in a borough nearly the size of Chicago.” The changes will serve 800,000 daily bus riders in Queens.
The plan brings several improvements. Seventeen current routes will run more often throughout the day. Eight routes will start earlier and end later. Buses on Northern Boulevard now move 25% faster thanks to recent changes. On Main Street and Kissena Boulevard, buses travel 44% faster. Archer Avenue saw the biggest improvement – buses there now move 57% faster.
But some changes worry local residents. The MTA plans to remove nearly 1,800 bus stops – up from 1,400 in last year’s plan. The Q110 route will see “minor stop balancing” with increased distance between stops. That’s a big concern for older riders and those who have trouble walking.
Similar Posts
“The MTA says removing stops will speed up buses. What it really does is make it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to reach their stops,” says Jack Nierenberg from Passengers United. Charlton D’Souza, who leads the same group, adds: “Many Queens residents will struggle with this change, especially in winter.”
The MTA spent five years planning these changes. They held over 250 public meetings and read more than 18,000 comments from residents. This led to several adjustments in the final plan. For example, they kept the Q102 bus running to Roosevelt Island after locals spoke up about losing their service.
The changes affect multiple areas of Queens. The Q80 will improve trips to JFK Airport, while the Q90 adds service to LaGuardia Airport. In Southeast Queens, the Q52 will now reach Edgemere, and the Q113 will again run between Far Rockaway and Jamaica. Western Queens keeps its B62 extension to Astoria, and Northeast Queens gets a new Q74 route connecting Forest Hills to Queens Community College.
Brian Fritsch, who works with a citizens’ group advising the MTA, supports the changes: “Some people don’t want any changes, but as the borough has changed and grown, it’s critical that the bus system evolves. Buses need to be faster, more reliable, and run more often.”
The MTA says they designed these changes with fairness in mind. They looked at factors like which areas depend most on buses, where minority communities live, income levels, and where people need better access to jobs and services. They promise to keep collecting feedback and adjust the new routes as needed.
The MTA aims to make buses faster and more reliable while ensuring the system remains accessible to all riders. As the changes roll out this summer, Queens residents will experience how these updates affect their daily commutes.
