MTA Kicks Off Public Outreach For Queens Bus Network Redesign

QUEENS, NY — The MTA is kicking off a series of outreach sessions at major transit thoroughfares and public workshops at community centers across the borough to spread the word about its upcoming overhaul of the Queens bus network, the map's first major redesign in a century.

Commuters will be able to provide feedback on the proposed redesigned routes and bus stops and ask questions about the plan. The public workshops don't have scheduled programming, so residents can stop by at their convenience.

"The Queens bus redesign is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely redraw the bus network in ways we know will work better for everyone and for our customers to have a say in what bus service will look like in Queens," NYC Transit President Andy Byford said.

"Queens customers know how important buses are and how they can be used to serve the neighborhoods better, which is why we absolutely need our customers’ help reimagining how public transit serves Queens."

Queens' bus routes are mostly unchanged since they were converted from old trolley lines at the turn of the 20th century or consolidated from private bus companies that started operating in the 1910s.

On Dec. 31, the MTA released a draft of its plan to completely redraw the network of 107 bus lines that move more than 714,000 weekday riders throughout Queens, where many live outside the subway system's reach.

The draft has already sparked at least one petition from commuters angered about the elimination of several east-west bus routes that connect to the busy 74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Jackson Heights.

The MTA will release its final redesign proposal in spring 2020.

Check out the MTA's proposal here. Commuters may also submit feedback on the plan using this online form.

Here is the full list of the MTA's outreach sessions and public workshops:

Monday, Jan. 13, 4-7 p.m.
Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av E/J/Z/ subway station

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6-9 a.m.
Rockaway Boulevard subway station

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 6-9 a.m.
Court Sq-23 St E/M subway station

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7-8:30 p.m.
Southridge Building I, rumpus room
33-04 93rd Street, Jackson Heights

Thursday, Jan. 16, 4-7 p.m.
Beach 54 St A subway station

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m.
Greater Ridgewood Youth Council
59-03 Summerfield Street, Ridgewood

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m.
Queens Flushing Library
41-17 Main Street, Flushing

Thursday, Jan. 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
SUNY Queens Educational Opportunity Center
158-29 Archer Avenue, Jamaica

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6-8 p.m.
Queens Borough Hall
120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m.
J.H.S. 202 Robert H. Goddard
138-30 Lafayette Street, Ozone Park

Thursday, Jan. 30, 6-8 p.m.
Langston Hughes Library and Cultural Center
100-01 Northern Boulevard, Corona

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.
Jacob Riis Settlement
10-25 41st Avenue, Long Island City

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
RISE/Rockaway Waterfront Alliance
58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway

Thursday, Feb. 6, 7-8:30 p.m.
Rockaway YMCA
207 Beach 73rd Street, Arverne