Residents of Queens will get a chance to comment once again on a revamped bus network redesign for the borough. It comes two years after the MTA scrapped a complete overhaul due to public feedback.

The MTA says the top priority for riders in the Queens Bus Network Redesign is faster, more reliable service with better connections. Janno Lieber, the CEO and chair of the MTA, says buses are especially important in Queens.

"There are 800,000 bus riders in Queens — 800,000," Lieber said. "That is more than the entire bus ridership of Chicago. That tells you how big it is. Those riders deserve a strong system that’s faster than walking. This is the minimum folks — got to be faster than walking."

What You Need To Know

  • The proposal for a revamped bus network redesign in Queens adds eight new overnight routes
  • It will bring the total routes from 113 to 121
  • Some stops will be added, changed or removed to speed up buses and expand service
  • Queens City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, the chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has reservations about the plan

The MTA’s proposal is based on feedback from 4,000 riders on a draft in 2022. The redesign includes a $30 million investment that removes or moves stops to increase speeds by an average of 20 seconds per stop. However, 83% of riders will have the same stops.

"The latest draft provides for four new routes, 15 new route labels, eight new overnight routes. So 24/7," Lieber said. "The city is 24/7. The bus system needs to be 24/7."

The redesign brings the total number of routes from 113 to 121. Some of the new routes are listed below:

  • The Q98 in northeast Queens will run from Main Street in Flushing to Metropolitan Avenue
  • The Q105 will run along 31st Street to improve accessibility and connections
  • A new Q51 in southwest Queens will connect the Rockaway Boulevard A train station to Cambria Heights
  • The Q5 will be split into three routes, including the Q86 and Q87, to provide more frequent service from Jamaica to transit deserts like Rosedale and Brookville
  • A new express bus from southeast Queens, the QM65, will run to downtown Manhattan

However, Queens City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, the chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has reservations. She is worried that the redesign will not be completed before congestion pricing starts.

"So in my district, we’re contending with congestion pricing that’s underway, and the bus redesign," Brooks-Powers said. "So it’s important that we’re at the table so the MTA understands the needs of that community.”

Anyone can comment on the proposal at the MTA’s website. There will also be virtual and in-person outreach, plus a public hearing. The process is still long, however — it could be 2025 until the redesign is finalized and fully implemented.