MTA releases Queens Bus Network Redesign’s new draft plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released the newly developed Queens Bus Network Redesign’ draft plan.  

The MTA’s New Draft Plan reflects more than 11,000 comments received during the first round of public engagement. MTA says the Queens Bus Network Redesign is one of the largest bus network redesigns in the country, with more than 100 routes serving almost 800,000 average weekday riders in 2019 and is now the third project of the MTA’s initiative to rework and enhance bus networks in every borough. 

“The Queens New Draft Plan is the third to be released, but in some ways, may be the most important of the five because Queens has, historically, had less subway service relative to its size and population than the other boroughs,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “So many people depend on buses for access to jobs, education, culture and everything else New York has to offer. The new draft plan reimagines both local and express service to address the evolving needs of Queens communities, with a focus on more reliable service, faster travel, better connections and ease of use.” 

The New Draft Plan is a forward-thinking redesign focused on routing, bus stop locations and frequency proposals that aim to address the evolving needs of local communities, considering factors such as population growth, travel patterns, commute times and off-peak ridership for current and future Queens riders. There will be 14 virtual public workshops held through June – one workshop for each community district in Queens. At these workshops, attendees will be provided information about all the changes proposed in the new draft plan and will be able to share their questions, comments, and concerns. 

“We are another step closer in tackling one of our most ambitious initiatives of redesigning every borough’s network,” said New York City Transit Interim President Craig Cipriano. “With a bus network that will optimize bus routes and provide better connections to the rest of the transit system, Queens residents are on the road to receiving a redesigned bus network that is better suited to their needs in an ever-evolving city.” 

MTA Bus Company Acting President and New York City Transit Department of Buses Senior Vice President Frank Annicaro added, “Redesigning a bus network is no easy feat. It is a complex process that involves intricate research, planning and community input. We are excited to reach this next step in the Queens Bus Network Redesign process that will deliver noticeable service improvements to Queens.” 

The new draft plan includes: 

• More direct routes: Implementing more direct routes allows for faster service. Downtown Flushing and Jamaica are areas where effects of congestion hinder bus service. A contributing factor to this congestion is bus routes that terminate in these areas. A series of proposed routes that serve downtown Flushing and Jamaica will travel through these congested areas, instead of terminating there. 
• Balanced Bus Stop Spacing: Removing and adjusting closely spaced bus stops along routes results in fewer route turns and faster service. The seconds saved per trip by having fewer bus stops have a positive cascading effect on overall travel times. Bus stop placement is also key in filling gaps in the bus network; proximity to key destinations and transfer points are important components in deciding bus stop locations. In the proposed redesigned draft plan, placement of bus stops expands the reach of accessible public transportation. 
• Enhanced Connectivity: The proposed redesign presents new connections, enhancing connectivity at key transfer locations necessary to ensure customers have a smooth transition between buses and other modes of public transportation. The plan focuses on expanding connectivity to ADA accessible subway stations, including stations that have been identified to receive accessibility upgrades in the near future. 
• Bus Priority: The MTA will continue working with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to build upon existing efforts of expanding bus priority improvements on corridors throughout the city, implementing measures such as dedicated bus lanes, queue jumps, and transit signal priority. 
• Improved Accessibility and Customer Experience: The MTA and DOT will continue to work to increase bus stop accessibility throughout the borough and citywide, along with the roll out of real-time digital service information screens on buses, and countdown clocks at bus stops. 

“The majority of Queens residents rely on public transportation for their commutes and making sure their buses are running on time and unobstructed has been one of our top priorities,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We strongly support the holistic efforts of the borough bus network redesigns to improve bus service, through simplified routings, improved access to important destinations, and improved bus stop spacing.” 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr., added, “Queens families rely heavily on bus service that can often lack in efficiency and reliability, especially in our many transit deserts, so it could not be more important that we get this redesign of our borough’s bus network right. If our communities are fully engaged and involved in this process, getting it right is what we’ll achieve. I encourage all our residents to familiarize themselves with the MTA’s draft plan and I look forward to working with the MTA to ensure our families are not only actively involved but centered in this redesign.” 

What’s next? 

The proposed final plan will be released after the new draft plan outreach process is complete and the community feedback received is reviewed to make any additional changes to the bus network. The proposed final plan will be followed by another round of public outreach.