On December 30th, 2019, the MTA released the Draft Proposal for the Queens Bus Redesign. In the Last Blog, I reacted to the Redesign of the Express Bus Routes in Queens County. In this Blog & the Next 3 Blogs, I will react to the Local, Limited & Select Bus Service Routes of the Draft Proposal of the Queens Bus Resdesign. The MTA Broke it down to 4 Colors: Blue, Purple, Red & Green. In this Blog, I will react to the Proposd Blue Routes. In addition, they Changed ALL of the Route Numbers.
Based on How I read this Map, The Blue Routes are your Select Bus Service Routes. To Quote from the Redesign Plan from the MTA Website, This is How they describe the Blue Routes.
Service Type: Connecting High Demand Areas (BLUE).
Service designed to connect important destinations across the city as quickly as possible. The three main priorities for this service are:
- better connections,
- faster travel, and
- ease of use.
A bus running this service will only stop in high-density, mixed-use areas. The average distance between stops on this service type is over a mile. Keep in mind that distances are based on generalized stop locations and are subject to change. The Proposed Q1 would go from the Downtown area of Kings County (Brooklyn) to Astoria in Queens County (Queens). I LIke & Support this Idea. The Proposed Q2 would go from the Williamsburg Bus Terminal in the Williamsburg area of Kings County (Brooklyn) to Eastern Astoria via Steinway Street in Queens County (Queens). I Like & Support this Idea. The Proposed Q1 & Q2 SHOULD operate out of LGA Depot. The Proposed Q3 would go from the Williamsburg Bus Terminal in the Williamsburg area of Kings County (Brooklyn) to Jamaica Center in Queens County (Queens) via Metropolitian Avenue & would be the Limited-Select Bus Service for the Current Q54. I LIke & Support this Idea. The Proposed Q3 SHOULD operate out of Jamaica Depot. The Proposed Q4 would go from the Downtown Section of Kings County (Brooklyn) to the 74th Street-Broadway # 7 Train/Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue E, F, M & R Train Subway Station in Queens County (Queens) via Flushing Avenue & 69th Street. I LOVE this IDEA & SUPPORT it 100%. The Propsoed Q4 SHOULD operate out of LGA Depot.
The Proposed Q5 would go between Brookdale University Hospital in Brownsville in Kings County (Brooklyn) & Downtown Jamaica in Queens County (Queens) via New Lots Avenue & 101st Avenue. I Like the Idea, I just offer 1 Modification. Instead of Terminating @ Sutphin Blvd & Hillside Avenue, Extend the Q5 to Briarwood via Hillside Avenue to Van Wyck Expressway Service Road to the Briarwood F Train Station @ Queens Blvd. Leaving Briarwood, the Q5 would take Queens Blvd to Hillside Avenue to the Current Proposed Route. The Propsed Q5 SHOULD Operate out of Jamaica Depot
The Proposed Q6 would go between Ridgewood Terminal on the Kings-Queens County (Brooklyn-Queens) Border to Downtown Flushing. The Q6 would replace the Current Q58 Limited & would become 24/7. The MAJOR Change is that the Q6 would travel along the Current Q58 Route between Ridgewood & Queens Blvd in Elmhurst, & then travel along Queens Blvd, the LIE Service Road & College Point Blvd, IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, Between Flushing & Elmhurst. The Q6 would take College Point Blvd to Roosevelt Avenue & Roosevelt Avenue to the NEW Terminal @ Main Street-Roosevelt Avenue. I LOVE & SUPPORT THIS Proposed Route 100%. The Propsed Q6 SHOULD Operate out of Casey Stengel Depot. The Proposed Q7 would operate between the Gateway Mall in the Spring Creek Area of Kings County (Brooklyn) & Cambria Heights in Queens County (Queens) via Belt Parkway, Cross Bay Blvd, Rockaway Blvd & Linden Blvd. I LOVE THIS IDEA & SUPPORT IT 100%. I JUst Hope they can Extend this Route from Springfield Blvd to Cross Island Parkway in Cambria Heights. The Propsed Q7 SHOULD OPerate out of Queens Village Depot.
The Proposed Q13 will basically be the Current Q113. I SUPPORT this Route. THe Proposed Q13 SHOULD OPerate out of Far Rockaway Depot. There are slight Modifications to the Current Q44 SBS Route. Currently the Q44 SBS goes between Bronx Zoo in Bronx County (Bronx) & Downtown Jamaica in Queens County (Queens). In the Jamaica Area of the Route, They Proposed to Terminate it @ Jamaica Center instead of Merrick Blvd between Jamaica & Archer Avenues. In the Bronx Section of the Route, They Propose to Extend it from the Current Terminal @ the Bronx Zoo to Fordham. I FULLY SUPPORT this Idea. The Proposed Q44 SBS SHOULD Continue to operate out of Casey Stengel Depot. I HOPE Someday Jamaica Depot will be able to Handle Articulated Buses & When they can, the Q44 SBS would then be transferred to Jamaica Depot. The Current Q50 Limited goes between Co-op City in Bronx County (Bronx) & Downtown Flushing in Queens County (Queens). As Part of the Bronx Bus Redesign, the Q50 will go to Co-op City during the AM & PM Rush ONLY. The Rest of the Time the Q50 will Terminate @ the Pelham Bay # 6 Train Subway Station in the Pelham Bay Area of Bronx County (Bronx). I Agree with that. In the Queens Section, they are Proposing to Extend the Q50 from Downtown Flushing to LGA Airport 24/7 & I SUPPORT THAT 100%. The Q50 would be changed from Eastchester Depot to either LGA Or College Point Depot. The Good News is that they are NOT Proposing ANY CHanges to the Current Q52 SBS Route that travels between Elmhurst & Arverne in the Rockaways via Woodhaven-Cross Bay Blvd & I SUPPORT IT 100%. THe Q52 SBS SHOULD Continue to operate out of Far Rockaway Depot. Another Good News is that they are NOT Making ANY Changes to the Current LGA Link Q70 SBS Route. The LGA Link Q70 SBS SHOULD Continue to operate ot of LGA Depot.
OVERALL, I LOVE the Propsed New Blue Routes on the Queens Bus Redesign Draft Proposal. In the Next Blog, I will give My Reaction to the Proposed Purple Routes of the Queens Bus Redesign.