By Forum Staff
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced that the specific dates this summer that each Queens bus route is slated to change or take effect as part of the Queens Bus Network Redesign project is now available online at mta.info/queensbus, where bus customers can access a project phasing guide, outlining the timing of the redesign changes, and the new route look-up tool which allows users to select any bus route from a drop-down menu to see the latest information on their specific route(s), when the route will be changing and links to additional detailed information.
The implementation of the new bus network will take place in two phases, aligning with regular seasonal timetable changes on Sunday, June 29, and Sunday, Aug. 31, or the respective next regular service day. In Phase One, 16 new routes will launch, 67 routes will change, and five routes will be discontinued. In Phase Two, one new route will launch, 37 routes will change, and one route will be discontinued. The final plan includes a total of 124 routes (vs. 113 existing): 94 local routes, and 30 express routes.
The new route look-up tool works with Google Translate, which enables customers to read information about their specific route(s) in their preferred language. The Google Translate tool is found at the bottom of the web page. For additional ways to learn of new travel options, customers are encouraged to visit mta.info/queensbus, where they can preview the new network with Remix, an interactive web-based mapping tool that enables customers to see if and how the route changes in the new network. For a more personalized approach, bus customers can use the Future Trip Planner, which enables inputting a start and end location and seeing trip options with the full implementation of the bus route changes on Aug. 31, 2025.
While the City Department of Transportation will continue to change physical signage at bus stops throughout the spring in order to complete the necessary work by the launch dates, all Queens Redesign-related service changes will take place on June 29 and Aug. 31, 2025, or the next respective regular service day. During this time, customers can rely on the MTA app and Bus Time to provide the most accurate service information. In addition, the MTA is installing signage alerting customers to the upcoming Queens Redesign changes in the permanent Guide-A-Ride boxes that can be found on most bus stop poles. As we proceed through the spring, signage in the GAR boxes will be targeted to highlight the specific changes customers will see this summer at that location.
“The Queens Bus Network Redesign is a game-changer for the 800,000 borough residents who ride an MTA bus each day. As we prepare for the official rollout of the redesign this summer to speed up commutes and make our system easier to navigate, I encourage all our straphangers in Queens to get informed on potential changes to your most frequently used routes,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I was proud to work hand-in-hand with the MTA and all our partners on this plan and I couldn’t be more excited to see what a world of difference it will make in the daily lives of our neighbors as they travel to work, school and everywhere in between.”
