This Queens Bus Route Is Free Starting Sunday: MTA

QUEENS, NY — No bus fare? No problem, at least if you're riding one Queens bus line.

The Q4 bus route is going fare free Sunday as part of a six-month pilot program, MTA officials said.

The route — which runs through the Jamaica Center, South Jamaica, St. Albans and Cambria Heights neighborhoods — is one of five in each borough that will be free for at least half a year, officials said.

The program is part of a $35 million deal in 2024's budget to study how fare-free service affects ridership, access, equity and fare evasion, transit officials said.

"I know that my constituents in Queens, many of whom are low-income and rely on public transit daily, will benefit greatly from the new fare-free Q4 LCL/ LTD bus route, particularly given the recent subway fare hike," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, in a statement. "I can’t wait to see the pilot expand in the coming years and to continue to help improve public transit without passing the buck to struggling New Yorkers."

Here's information on the bus route from the MTA:

The Q4 LCL/LTD bus route operates between the Jamaica Ctr-Parsons/Archer E, J, Z subway station and Linden Boulevard/235 Street. Some buses operate as Limited-Stop during morning and afternoon rush hours on weekdays. The route primarily operates on Linden Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue and serves the Jamaica Center, South Jamaica, St. Albans and Cambria Heights neighborhoods. It makes connections to the E, J, Z trains, the St. Albans Long Island Rail Road station and several bus routes. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include Jamaica Center, York College and the St. Albans VA Hospital.

Patch writer Nicole Rosenthal contributed to this report