Q70 Bus Route To LaGuardia Airport Focus Of $160M Upgrades

QUEENS, NY — Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority and the MTA unveiled a $160 million proposal that would create faster and more reliable service on the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus line that connects the airport with the subways in Queens.

The proposal would include installing of an exclusive bus lane on the shoulder of the northbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway between Northern and Astoria boulevards, traffic signals that will prioritize the Q70 bus on Roosevelt Ave and Broadway to minimize travel time and increased bus service during peak periods (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) starting June 1 to accommodate increased ridership.

In addition, a new, specially designated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Terminal C would be created, officials said.

Way finding and lighting improvements would be put at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av / 74 St and 61 St-Woodside Stations to improve the customer experience, as well as enhanced branding and signage to promote the improved service.

"The transformation of LaGuardia Airport into a world-class destination that is recognized for its excellence is an integral part of our bold vision for a new era in New York, and that starts with much-needed enhancements in transportation to and from the airport,” Hochul said.

The improvement plans have been in the works since late 2021, after Hochul took office.

"There’s no reason a first-class New York travel experience should be limited to the new LaGuardia Airport. This common sense, road-tested bus improvements are going to make the ride to and from Queens a lot smoother and faster for tens of thousands of passengers, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.

The Port Authority Board of Commissioners will vote on the funding proposal at its meeting on Thursday.