Rahul Somvanshi
The MTA will implement its first comprehensive Queens bus network redesign in decades this summer, serving a borough with approximately 800,000 daily bus riders. The changes come after five years of planning and community engagement, including feedback from over 250 public events.
The redesign will roll out in two phases during 2025. On June 29 or the next regular service day, 16 new routes will launch while 67 existing routes change and five routes disappear. The second phase on August 31 or the next regular service day will introduce one additional route, modify 37 more routes, and discontinue another route.
“This redesign will create a modern bus system that the bus-reliant borough deserves,” said MTA Chair Janno Lieber, emphasizing faster, more frequent, and more reliable service.
The finished network will expand to 124 routes – up from the current 113 – with 94 local routes and 30 express or “Rush” routes designed for quicker connections to subway and LIRR stations.
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New routes include the Q74 Limited connecting Forest Hills with eastern Queens, the Q80 providing more frequent service on Lefferts Boulevard, the Q90 Limited linking Flushing to LaGuardia Airport, and the Q51 connecting Cambria Heights/South Jamaica to Ozone Park.
While Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. views the redesign as a victory for commuters who have long needed a quicker, more efficient, and comfortable bus system, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Advocacy group Passengers United has raised concerns about longer walks to stops, extra transfers, and potentially increased travel times for many riders. They’ve also questioned the MTA’s statistics and the effectiveness of public outreach efforts.
To help riders navigate these changes, the MTA has created online tools at mta.info/queensbus, including a route lookup tool with language translation options, an interactive map, and a future trip planner that simulates post-redesign journeys.
The MTA has scheduled 23 pop-up events across Queens between April 22 and May 22. The first three will take place on April 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Jamaica 165 St Bus Terminal, Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport subway station, and Parsons Blvd subway station.
Meanwhile, the DOT is updating bus stop signs throughout Queens, using colored inserts to alert riders to the upcoming changes.
MTA officials have committed to collecting feedback after implementation and making adjustments based on real-world results, suggesting the redesign may continue to evolve after its summer launch.
