The new Queens bus routes update plans presented in 2019 and savaged by critics. The effect on Roosevelt Island is a clear improvement, but once off the Island, the blessings are mixed.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The New Queens Bus Map
The 2019 bus map displayed an extreme level of carelessness when it came to Roosevelt Island. For one thing, it was incomplete. Stops vanished, and it didn’t connect with the Tram. That’s all settled now.
Our new local service, the Q104, cruises Roosevelt Island with some changes. The most substantial is eliminating the swing down to Southpoint, rarely used and already well-served by RIOC Red Buses.
But then, there’s Queens…
Folks accustomed to riding a Q102 over to the complex at Queensboro Plaza, where multiple trains and buses converge, will be disappointed. The Q104 route now turns left after crossing the Roosevelt Island Bridge, heading up Vernon Boulevard to Broadway.
That’s good news for Costco shoppers, new and old, because the buses stop out front before heading east up Broadway. And Broadway is host to a lot of other stores and restaurants previously unavailable directly by bus.
Some will love the new routes, but others won’t.
Scrolling all the way through until landing on the Q104 takes time, but you can see the details on every new route here.
Public Comment on the New Queens Bus Routes
According to AMNY, which first reported this story, the MTA will host a series of public comment sessions, starting April 18th, with each Queens Community Board getting a visit. Roosevelt Island’s problem, of course, being a Manhattan outlier served by Queens buses, is that it has no such board. There are, however, options for commenting online.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
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- Queens Crime Headlines and Community Responses: Roosevelt Island’s ConnectionsQueens crime headlines and community responses have shaped recent conversations from subway stories to neighborhood events. Here’s how Roosevelt Islanders are affected and how the borough is responding.
- How Queens News Stories Affect Life on Roosevelt IslandHow Queens news stories affect life on Roosevelt Island, from public safety incidents and housing shifts to education events, offering insight into our connected communities.
- Roosevelt Island summer moments: Community, events, and the beat of the seasonExperience Roosevelt Island summer moments as neighbors gather, city events unfold, and community rhythms keep the season steady. Discover how our island balances celebrations and everyday traditions.
- Queens Neighborhood News and Community Updates from Across the RiverStay informed with the latest Queens neighborhood news and community updates from across the river, including public safety, events, and how neighboring stories shape our daily life.
Stack Work Advances While Answers Do Not
On June 17 and 18, HPD told the first meeting of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Demolition Community Advisory Group that smokestack demolition had no projected start date. Residents and the CAG would receive at least five business days’ advance notice once a date was set. Scaffolding around the stacks could not proceed until soil removal and backfill were complete and the area stabilized.
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