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
- Queensbridge assault, subway surfing injury, and Resorts World expansionExplore how Queens news and stories ripple to Roosevelt Island, connecting both communities through updates on events, culture, and everyday acts.
- Upper East Side Legionnaires Outbreak Expands Amid Queens AttacksHow citywide events ripple through daily life on Roosevelt Island: local news on health, transit, and education highlights the subtle connections shaping our routines.
- From an Upper East Side Legionnaires Outbreak to Queens FestivalsAn Upper East Side Legionnaires outbreak, Queens safety cases, specialized high school admissions, robotaxi concerns, and nearby festivals shape this week’s headlines.
- From US-Iran tensions to Ridgewood preservationHow global events touch daily life on Roosevelt Island: international headlines meet local routines, preserving community balance and neighborhood identity.
- Legionnaires response, Queens bus upgrades, and NYCHA fundingExplore the steady rhythms of Roosevelt Island as city life blends with local routines, from public safety to community gatherings. Discover how behind-the-scenes work supports our daily pulse.
Lance A. Polivy, Vice President for Legal Affairs
I do not usually write ahead of the week’s rhythm. Fridays suit an old woman. They allow time for tea, rereading, and the small mercy of correcting one’s own excessive cleverness. But this cannot wait for Friday.
3 COMMENTS