Thoughts About Queens Bus Redesign

QT1: I believe this should be replaced by extra service on the QT69 and B62 (as well as something covering the northern portion of Vernon Blvd that would see Q103 service removed). Being that there aren't too many areas receiving bus priority treatments along the route, the QT69 to the G train would provide a quicker ride to Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn than this proposed QT1, and the resources would be better used elsewhere.

QT2: I believe this should be replaced by additional service on the QT76 (which I believe should run straight down Steinway Street to Greenpoint Avenue to Franklin Avenue, and take over the B32 route to the Williamsburg Bridge bus terminal). Riders in a hurry can transfer to the G train at Greenpoint Avenue, and I believe the East Williamsburg portion of the B24 warrants closer-spaced stops than would be provided by the blue QT2 route. I would route the BQE leg of the B24 over to Broadway & Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights (so basically run down 48th Street & Roosevelt Avenue) to provide better interborough connections.

EDIT 9/2/2020

With the QT77 covering most of the Q75 service area, I would have the QT2 run straight up 48th Street to end at Northern Blvd & Broadway, similar to the proposed QT75 (of course, it would have to make those extra turns to get around the 3-way intersection of Roosevelt Avenue/Greenpoint Avenue, 48th Street, and Queens Blvd).

QT3: I believe that instead of running a super-limited along Metropolitan Avenue, there should be two routes running along Metropolitan Avenue: One from Williamsburg Bus Plaza to Forest Hills (71st/Continental Avenue) via Metropolitan Avenue & Yellowstone Blvd, and the other from Jamaica to Fresh Pond Road. Perhaps the eastern split can be an orange route with slightly wider stop spacing between Woodhaven Blvd & Fresh Pond Road. 

QT4: Seems reasonable, but I'd have to see what is planned for the Brooklyn portion of Flushing Avenue before giving further comments. Stops should be added at 53rd Drive, 51st Avenue, and Roosevelt Avenue and the QT78 moved to 65th Place to provide coverage along that street.

QT5: I can understand the wide stop spacing, given the proximity to the QT24 and QT67. However, I don't understand why it is being extended into Brownsville? Is it supposed to be replacing the B15 to JFK Airport? If so, that seems like a terrible idea, as it would have people backtracking up to Jamaica and back down. If the Brooklyn-JFK portion of the B15 will be maintained as part of the Brooklyn redesign, then I would have to wait to see the details before offering further comments.

QT6: I think this route is great. Perhaps add an extra stop on Grand Avenue to boost ridership. Also, I would split the overnight service and have half of the buses run up the QT58 route on Corona Avenue. (Overnight, buses should make all stops along the route, not just the daytime stops that are spaced out, given the long headways)

QT7: The stop spacing is way too wide. At a minimum, there should be stops added at 130th Street and 143rd Street to better serve South Ozone Park/South Jamaica. Honestly, I think this is better off as a green local route with traditional stop spacing (or at least an orange route). I'd also consider adding a stop at either Pitkin Avenue or 149th Avenue so that Ozone Park residents have easier access to the Gateway Mall in Brooklyn.

QT10: I like this route (I think a stop was omitted near the Queens Center Mall)

QT11: I think they have the westbound and eastbound directions reversed, but in any case I think it is an interesting concept that provides an extra connection across Flushing Meadows Park. I think if their goal was to provide better connections between both sides of Flushing Meadows Park, they would've been better off combining the Union Turnpike portion with the Lefferts Blvd portion of the Q10, rather than the 108th Street portion of the Q23 (northbound would be simple. Southbound, you'd have to have buses stop on westbound Queens Blvd, make that U-turn on Queens Blvd that the Q46 currently does, and then make another stop on Kew Gardens Road for riders heading south down Lefferts Blvd.

Also, instead of using 44th/45th Avenue in Corona (which are super-narrow and next to the LIRR) buses should use either 43rd or 46th Avenue.

QT12: I like this route. Maybe add in a stop at HHE/Parsons Blvd, but other than that, no comments.

QT13: Is this route bypassing Jamaica Center? I get the idea of spreading out the crowds between the different portions of Jamaica, but I think it's just too major of a stop to bypass. Also, I think a stop by Falcaro's Plaza is needed for better connectivity to the QT22 (since otherwise, those in Lawrence lose their connection to the old Q113, unless they backtrack to Far Rockaway). Also, will there be any arrangement made with NICE to cover riders in the eastern portion of Far Rockaway? (My understanding is that it is open-door already, but the policy isn't as well-publicized as it is along Boston Road in The Bronx)

QT14: Another interesting concept to provide an extra connection across Flushing Meadows Park, as mentioned with the QT11, I think there is a better way to provide the connection across Flushing Meadows Park. I would've had the QT86 run down Jewel Avenue and terminate at Queens Blvd (Forest Hills subway station), and then had the QT87 terminate at Kew Gardens. The Jewel Avenue portion of the QT14 would be its own route.

EDIT 9/7/2020

Another option would be to continue to run the QT86 to Kew Gardens (as I said below, I think the western portion of the Q54 should pick up the Yellowstone Blvd portion), and have the QT87 be the Jewel Avenue limited-stop (either continue to have it take 73rd Avenue to Main Street to reach Jewel Avenue or have it take 73rd Avenue to 164th Street to Jewel Avenue). The advantage of the former is that it minimizes overlap with the Jewel Avenue route (which means that it is easier to calculate an appropriate frequency that doesn't risk people heading from Forest Hills to the eastern portion of the route not being able to fit on the bus). Of course the advantage of the latter is that it allows residents of the apartments in Electchester to take advantage of the limited-stop service on Jewel Avenue. It's only 3 stops that would be bypassed, but I could see it helping out given the congestion in the area. 

QT15: No comments. Maybe it could be a little more frequent on the College Point end (since the QT84/86 are a little less centralized in the neighborhood compared to the present-day Q25, so some more people may decide to take the QT65 because of this, but this may be balanced out by having some of the riders heading towards Jamaica or looking for travel south of Flushing in general going to the QT64). I also question how they will turn buses around at Springfield Blvd & HHE. Queensborough Community College seems like a better terminal.

QT16: No comments.

QT17: The weekend headways are a bit lacking, especially if it will take both Q12 & Q13 riders in Bayside. But the routing is good, provided NICE covers the last 2 stops on the current Q12 with open-door service.

QT18: I think this route should run down Braddock Avenue on the northern end and cover that portion of the Q1, rather than head up to Union Turnpike

QT19: Is this route bypassing Jamaica Center? (See QT13 comment). Otherwise, I like this route.

QT20: Looks like service is reduced compared to the Q6, even though I expect this to be busier since it goes to the passenger terminals. The QT46 will help out a little bit, but I still think this route needs more service.

QT22: This route should run up Norton Drive and down Mott Avenue to provide additional coverage in the Bayswater and western Far Rockaway neighborhood (and also serve an area further away from the subway, compared to the proposed route). There are some apartments further up Mott Avenue, so it is not just an area of single-family homes (not that those types of areas should be written off as being car-centric and unable to sustain any transit service)

QT24: I think this should be cut back to Broadway Junction on the western end (and also maintain 24/7 service).

QT30: I like this route. No comments.

QT31: I think the span should be a bit longer than 14 hours per day, but I like this route.

QT32: I think a stop should be added at Utopia Parkway for students at St. Johns University looking to travel east.

QT33: I like this route. No comments.

QT34: This route should run up Little Neck Parkway instead of the lower-density Winchester Blvd. If it runs like that, I can see giving it 24/7 service at the expense of the QT36 (which is the present-day Q43). But regardless of which route runs overnight, I don't see it being worth sacrificing service along Little Neck Parkway to provide a route on Winchester Blvd.

QT35: This is reduced service compared to the present-day Q35 (and without the Q22 helping it out in the Neponsit area) so it should definitely see a service boost

QT36: See QT34 comments.

QT37: I like the route (no more loop through the Racino) but the span of service should remain as-is.

QT38: It should have overnight service, and I'm not seeing why service is reduced compared to the present-day Q2 (I can understand the QT34:36 being reduced because of the presence of the QT18, but the QT38 barely overlaps the QT18)

QT39: This reduction I can understand a bit more, since the QT68 covers the Liberty Avenue portion, but I still think it should maintain its current headways. Overnight service should probably be maintained

QT40: This should at the very least, maintain its 24/7 service. It definitely doesn't make sense to leave the QT38/39/40 without overnight service. I do like the slight extension to connect with the N1.

QT41: I think this route should swap its eastern terminal with that of the QT73.

QT42: This route should keep its overnight service.

QT43: This route should also keep its overnight service. Perhaps if it were coordinated with the QT45, you could have approximate 15 minute headways along Guy R Brewer Blvd (30 minutes for the QT43/45 and 30 minutes for the QT19).

QT44: This route should definitely keep its weekend overnight service.

QT45: This route's headways should be better-coordinated with that of the QT43.

QT46: I can sort of understand the span reduction, and just have people walk from the QT20, but I still believe it should maintain its long span of service. I also believe it should maintain the existing Q40 headways, since if anything the straighter route will attract more passengers.

QT47: Similar comments as the QT46.

QT48: The QT84 should be extended to Fort Totten off-peak to maintain off-peak service on that portion of Willets Point Blvd

QT49: Should have off-peak service every 30 minutes or better (coordinated with the QT51 to provide even headways on Crocheron Avenue). QT64 should take Utopia Parkway-Northern Blvd-Francis Lewis Blvd-Cross Island Parkway Service Road to allow the QT84 to be taken off that portion of Francis Lewis Blvd. (I originally thought this should take Utopia Parkway straight to Francis Lewis Blvd, but the portion of Francis Lewis Blvd between Northern Blvd & Utopia Parkway has a lot of commercial activity, so combined with the commercial activity on Northern Blvd, I think it is worth the slight diversion. 

QT50: I assume the span/frequency will match that shown on the Bronx tables, since there is none attached? If so, see my comments on the Bronx proposal regarding this.

QT51: Should have 7-day off-peak service, for similar reasons as the QT48.

QT52: I think it should maintain service to both halves of the Rockaways year-round, since Rockaway Park doesn't have a full-time direct connection to Manhattan like the eastern half of the peninsula has with the full-time A train. I do agree with cutting it back to Queens Center Mall.

QT54: See QT3 comments.

QT55: No comments. I like the extension to Jamaica.

QT56: No comments.

QT58: I think you made the correct decision having the QT6 receive more service during daytime hours, but overnight when the QT12 runs, I would run at least half of the QT6 trips as QT58 trips. (Also, southbound buses should take 108th Street-51st Avenue-Corona Avenue to avoid one traffic light and a bit of travel distance in Corona)

QT59: No comments.

QT60: No comments.

QT61: This route should be split at Broadway & Roosevelt Avenue for reliability purposes. Also, I don't like the detour to the Bulova Center. With all this rhetoric about buses running on the most direct path possible, this goes against that.

QT62: I like this route, though a small extension to the Far Rockaway subway station might help (not sure whether this or the QT22 should be the one serving Inwood/Lawrence. I can see the logic of either one).

EDIT 9/7/2020

I think this route could get slightly more ridership by taking Rockaway Blvd-Conduit Avenue-Guy Brewer Blvd-Rockaway Blvd to provide better connections to the QT13/19/45, and a safer connection to the QT68 (in terms of not having to cross Rockaway Blvd)

QT63: I think this route should run a little more frequently off-peak (at least every 20 minutes or better weekdays) but I like the routing.

QT64: See QT49 comments. Also, I believe the frequencies are inadequate. It seems they just used the old Q31 frequencies without accounting for the Q30 riders on Utopia Parkway (I know some of the ones heading for QCC and the surrounding area will take the QT33, but I don't believe the Q31 frequencies by themselves are enough to cover Utopia Parkway). There should at least be extra service between Northern Blvd and Jamaica (though depending on how many College Point-Jamaica riders take this route, perhaps most of those trips should run all the way through to College Point)  

QT65: I don't see why this route covers the portion of the Q42 closest to the alternate routes on Merrick Blvd, instead of the portions further away from Merrick Blvd. The only possible logic I can see is it is easier to connect with the QT7 on Linden Blvd, but those same transfers can be made in Jamaica (though I understand part of the goals of the redesign is to reduce pedestrian/bus congestion in Jamaica). I would have buses terminate in Downtown Jamaica, and have Addesleigh Park served by a route starting at Sutphin Blvd & Archer Avenue, running down Sutphin Blvd and down Brinkerhoff Avenue all the way to 180th Street. That would also maintain a connection to the E/J/Z trains for those around Merrick & Brinkerhoff (since the QT18 goes straight to the F train, and the QT40/41/42 all bypass that area). The one single stop proposed on the QT65 along 174th Street is at Brinkerhoff Avenue anyway, so you're covering the exact same portion of St. Albans/Addesleigh Park and then some.

EDIT 9/2/2020 

With the QT49 covering the LeHavre Apartments full-time, and the QT64 covering the northern portion of Francis Lewis Blvd (providing direct servie to Jamaica), I don't think there's a need for the QT65 north of the Broadway LIRR station. 160th Street is narrow, especially south of Bayside Avenue, and once you get around Francis Lewis Blvd, you need to meander around in order to get further north. Riders in the area can take the QT64 or QT81 for north-south service. The QT65 can either terminate at the Broadway LIRR station, or run down Sanford Avenue to Flushing. 

QT66: I don't see why the weekend frequencies were reduced but otherwise I like this route. No comments.

QT67: I think this route might be a little too long for reliability's sake, but I can see why it is through-routed through Jamaica (to provide connections to the Woodhaven Blvd buses and the A train from that portion of Eastern Queens)

QT68: No comments.

QT69: See QT1 comments.

QT70: No comments. (The only thing that could've possibly been done with this route is split the route between the different terminals at LGA, but that would likely be too confusing for passengers)

QT71: I think this route could be a little more frequent, but otherwise no comments.

QT72: I think the long span of service needs to be maintained, but otherwise, no comments.

QT73: They have the directions reversed for northbound and southbound. I think the frequency needs to be boosted up a bit, since the Sanford Avenue portion is pretty busy, and it's taking part of the Q27's role in transporting passengers between Flushing and SE Queens. 

QT74: Not sure why the southbound direction has it going to Maspeth. In any case, aside from the obvious question of whether 88th Street will become a two-way street, I think this route should just end at Astoria Blvd & 88th Street instead of backtracking west to the Bulova Center. Also, on the southern end, the route should be extended to either Broadway & Roosevelt Avenue (via Broadway) or the Woodside LIRR side (via Woodside Avenue). A supplementary route can run up 35th Avenue to Junction Blvd (possibly still ending at Astoria Blvd & 102nd Street) to provide service along 35th Avenue.

QT75: I think this route should terminate at Court Square, and give the Manhattan portion of the QT61 (discussed above) a branch to 42nd Street.

EDIT 9/2/2020

Thinking about it again, this route can be absorbed into the QT77. See below.

QT76: See QT2 comments.

QT77: I think this route should run down Fresh Pond Road to Metropolitan Avenue to Juniper Blvd South, and either terminate at Juniper Blvd North & Dry Harbor Road (using Juniper Blvd South-80th Street-Juniper Blvd North-Dry Harbor Road to loop around) or take Juniper Blvd South-Dry Harbor Road-Woodhaven Blvd and terminate at the Queens Center Mall. The Eliot Avenue portion of the Q38 should be routed down Forest Avenue and terminate somewhere in Ridgewood (not sure if Ridgewood Bus Terminal is the best, given how the buses are all over the place over there. Even the Forest Avenue M train station would be sufficient. )

EDIT 9/2/2020

Thinking about it again, I think in Long Island City/Sunnyside, it should run a combination of the Q39 & Q67 routings. I would have the QT77 start at the 21st Street-Queensbridge (F) station, run down 21st Street to 49th Avenue, but instead of turning onto 27th Street, buses would continue down Hunters Point Avenue to Greenpoint Avenue to 48th Avenue to 48th Street to 55th Avenue to 58th Street to Borden Avenue to 65th Place to Grand Avenue to Fresh Pond Road and then continue down to the current Q39 terminal (I don't see the need to go to Myrtle/Wyckoff. I'd rather have the Brooklyn routes extend a bit further into Ridgewood. For example, the B52 to Gates & Forest and the B26 running straight up George/Stephen or Summerfield/Decatur Street to Myrtle Avenue)

There is a lot of traffic around the Van Dam Street exit of the Long Island Expressway, so taking the QT77 off Borden Avenue will help in that regard (while still providing some service within walking distance of the industrial areas off the western portions of 48th Avenue and Borden Avenue). And then by running up Greenpoint Avenue to 48th Avenue, it allows it to cover the residential portion of Sunnyside, and maintain access to points east. Then it serves the area around Borden & Maurice, and continues down into Ridgewood. My only concern is whether the traffic around Borden & Maurice (I'm not familiar enough with this area traffic-wise to know if it's a problem) is worth the additional coverage (or whether that area should just be left with my proposed QT78 on 65th Place).

EDIT 9/7/2020

The portion I'm proposing along Juniper Blvd South should be its own separate route in this case.

QT78: I like this route, but the frequency should be better.

EDIT 9/2/2020

In order to provide service along 65th Place, this route should be routed via 69th Street-Borden Avenue-65th Place-Woodside Avenue-58th Street-Broadway (also, I think the route should continue to serve the Cornell campus on the southern end of the island)

QT79: I like this route and believe the frequencies are adequate.

QT80: I like this route, but the span and frequency should be better. No comments.

EDIT 9/2/2020

With the QT77 connecting Maspeth to Ridgewood and the (M) train, perhaps this should be rerouted to the Grand Street station on the (L) train, so that Maspeth has direct connections to both the (L) and (M) (as well as the lines in Long Island City)

QT81: I like this route, but the span and frequency should be better.

QT82: I like the portion of this route north of Queens Blvd. For the portion south of Queens Blvd, see my comments for the QT77. I believe 80th Street should be covered by having a route that starts at Broadway & Roosevelt Avenue, takes Broadway-Grand Avenue-80th Street to terminate at Myrtle Avenue (basically a combination of the southern portions of the Q29 & Q47). This would maintain the connection from Glendale to the 7 train (as a matter of fact, it would be a little bit more direct than the current setup with the Q29)

QT83: I think this route should be combined with the QT88 (so a triple-branched local route from Woodhaven...basically the current Q11/21). Also, I would add a stop at 84th Street & 158th Avenue (and consider rerouting it down 151st Avenue in Lindenwood to cover a bit more of the neighborhood). Also, to cover the 63rd Drive portion of the Q38, this route should be routed to 62nd Drive & 110th Street (maybe have two Woodhaven Blvd local routes, e.g. Queens Center Mall - Lindenwood and Rego Park-Howard/Hamilton Beach). This would also give Corona an easier connection to/from points south along Woodhaven Blvd (via a transfer at 108th Street & 63rd Drive)

QT84: See QT48/64 comments.

QT85: Since the QT85 appears to be covering some of the stops bypassed by the QT6 on College Point Blvd, it should be extended to 59th Avenue so that passengers can make a transfer to the QT6 in the same direction instead of backtracking to/from Downtown Flushing (also, there is a small loop leading out from 58th Road that can be used to turn the buses around. Not sure what the turnaround route would be around Avery Avenue)

QT86: Why is the weekday peak headway greater than the weekday base headway? The frequencies definitely need to be boosted (perhaps by taking some service from the QT44. I think that route is proposed to be a little too frequent). In College Point, I would extend the route up 130th Street-20th Avenue-132nd Street-14th Avenue-127th Street and terminate at either 5th Avenue & College Point Blvd, or 127th Street & Powell's Cove Blvd. Also, I think it should be extended down Cooper Avenue to Myrtle Avenue.

QT87: See QT11/QT14 comments. For the southern portion of the Q23, that should be its own shuttle from the Forest Hills subway station (which should run all the way down Union Turnpike to Myrtle Avenue)

QT88: See QT83 comments.

QMT100/101: I assume the runtime was calculated to be lower via the Williamsburg Bridge instead of via the FDR? A lot of people have mentioned even once it gets over the bridge, Bowery would be the worst street to take, and Allen Street or Essex Street would be better.

QMT102: Should continue via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel & FDR Drive, since the HOV lane on the LIE is available in the AM rush.

QMT103: No comments.

QMT104: With the LIE being congested, perhaps it would be better to have it run similar to the QT87 to Forest Hills (73rd Avenue-Main Street-Jewel Avenue), and provide some Downtown service to present-day QM4 riders. Also, it should continue via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel & FDR Drive, since the HOV lane on the LIE is available in the AM rush.

QMT105: No comments. Should run via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel & FDR Drive, since the HOV lane on the LIE is available in the AM rush.

QMT106: This is too small of a catchment area to be successful. Running as a branch of the present-day X68 down to Belmont Racetrack would give it a wider catchment area and more ridership. Should run via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel & FDR Drive, since the HOV lane on the LIE is available in the AM rush.

QMT107: Should run via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel & FDR Drive, since the HOV lane on the LIE is available in the AM rush.

QMT112: A 4:30pm outbound departure should be added, but otherwise no comments.

QMT115: No comments.

QMT116: A 4:30pm outbound departure should be added, but otherwise no comments.

QMT117: I think the inbound trips should be staggered with those of the QMT157 (so something like 6:15am, 6:40am, 7:10am, 7:45am). The QMT117/157 should be shown on the same schedule so passengers can see all of their options on one page.

QMT130: Inbound departure times should be better-coordinated with those of the QMT160.

QMT131: I think a stop should be added at 69th & Borden to better serve Maspeth residents requesting express bus service. Also, departure times should be better-coordinated with those of the QMT161.

QMT132: No comments.

QMT133: No comments.

QMT134: No comments

QMT135: No comments

QMT155: No comments.

QMT156: No comments

QMT157: See QMT117

QMT160: See QMT130 comments.

QMT161: See QMT131 comments.

QMT162: No comments.

QMT163: No comments.

QMT164: No comments.

QMT165: No comments.

QMT166: This is previously the QM1 not the QM12. This should be extended further east to the present-day QM5 terminal during off-peak hours.

QMT167: No comments.

QMT168: No comments.

QMT169: It should continue making stops in Howard Beach and also coordinate better with the QMT170.

QMT170: It should continue making stops in Broad Channel and Howard Beach and also coordinate better with the QMT169.

As a general rule, I do believe that reverse-peak service on the express routes should be run where possible, since a lot of those trips are deadheading in that direction anyway.