The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has rolled out the full implementation of the Queens Bus Network Redesign today, aiming to refresh the 70-year-old system. According to CBS New York, the overhaul is set to impact over 800,000 daily riders by delivering more reliable bus service, improving connections, reducing wait times, and increasing bus speeds. The redesign encompasses adjustments to both local and express bus services.
Among the new changes, the B62 route will be rerouted and extended to end at the Astoria Houses. Additionally, the introduction of the new Q80 Local route is to completely replace the Q10 limited branch and will provide increased frequency and overnight services along the length of Lefferts Boulevard. Commuters have been advised to expect changes for buses that do not operate on Sundays to begin on Tuesday. The MTA has also indicated a commitment to investing $33.7 million annually to deliver these substantive service improvements, as stated in their press release.
With the latest update, the bus network will now feature 124 routes, a step up from the previous 113, comprised of 94 local routes, and 30 express routes. To aid commuters through the transition, MTA personnel will be stationed at select bus stop locations for the first two weeks following the redesign. They are part of the Customer Ambassador Program, launched on August 18, to promote awareness of the route changes among the public, as per MTA's press release.
The MTA plans to conduct a post-implementation analysis to review changes in bus speeds, ridership, reliability, travel times, and rider satisfaction within the first six months. This is in order to make additional refinements to effectively meet its service goals. Furthermore, part of the development process included an "Equity Evaluation" – an in-depth look at how the redesigned network would address the needs of historically marginalized communities and ensure equitable transportation in Queens. The analysis, available for public view, seeks to discern transit dependency, minority representation, income, access to opportunity, and mobility needs as informed by the data, as elaborated in the MTA's press release.
For further details on route changes, commuters can visit the MTA's website to access interactive maps, a route look-up tool, and plan trips with the changes in effect as of today. The MTA also encourages customers to use their mobile app, which offers live updates and customer service chat features. To keep abreast of the redesign, riders can subscribe to MTA service alerts and update their preferences to ensure continued, uninterrupted updates on their bus routes, as mentioned in the CBS New York report
