PHOTOS: MTA Holds Public Hearing for Queens Bus Network Redesign Proposed Final Plan

75 Speakers Provided Comments

See Photos from the Hearing

See Video of News Conference Prior to Hearing

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today held a public hearing for the Queens Bus Network Redesign Proposed Final Plan. Bus riders had a final chance to comment on the Proposed Final Plan and offer feedback before planners make revisions and present the Proposed Final Plan Addendum to the MTA Board.

Members of the public were able to comment on the proposed draft plan in person or via Zoom, with 75 speakers participating. Each speaker was given up to two minutes to address a panel of MTA representatives that included NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow, NYC Transit Chief of Operations Planning Chris Pangilinan, and NYC Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro.

"By redesigning the Queens bus network, we will deliver better bus service with faster, more frequent trips and increased connections to nearly 800,000 daily riders," said NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow. "This is personal for me - I rode the Q5 to and from work in Southeast Queens for years and I know how much Queens relies on its buses. I am confident this redesign will give Queens the modern bus network its riders deserve."

"More than half of Queens residents rely on mass transit, and a good portion rely on the bus," said NYC Transit Chief of Operations Planning Chris Pangilinan. "As Queens has grown and changed over the years, travel patterns and the needs of our riders have changed as well. Working in close collaboration with the community, this plan uses successful strategies from previous redesign plans to create a network that best serves Queens. These strategies include increasing frequency, providing more direct routes, and spacing out bus stops with better connections to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road."

"We took a fresh look at the 113 bus routes that currently run to find ways to shorten commute times, speed up buses, increase connections and frequency in a borough where residents rely on buses more than most," said NYC Transit Senior Vice President of Buses Frank Annicaro. "We still want to hear from the experts, the riders, before we present a Proposed Final Plan Addendum to the Board that serves Queens riders of today and tomorrow."

"Our bus lines have not kept up with the pace of growth in this borough for a very long time," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. "Transit equity is central to ensuring that every person in this borough has a fighting chance to get to employment, to their place of service, to their house of worship - I implore the public to get out and get their voices heard as we continue to work with the MTA, local legislators and community boards."

The Queens Bus Network Redesign is the largest redesign the Authority has undertaken to date. Officials took a fresh look at 113 bus routes that serve nearly 800,000 bus riders in the borough to enhance bus reliability, speed, and provide better connections.

How to Comment on the Plan

The formal comment period for the Proposed Final Plan will conclude Friday, July 26.

Comments may be submitted online or via mail to: MTA Government & Community Relations, 2 Broadway, D16.94, New York, NY 10004. All written statements must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26.

The project team will review all comments and make final adjustments to the plan, which will be reflected in the Proposed Final Plan Addendum. The plan will be presented to the MTA Board for a vote at a later date to be announced.

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