Queens bus route redesign proposal sees pushback in Ozone Park
NEW YORK - In December, the MTA unveiled its proposed final plan for the Queens Bus Network Redesign, part of a citywide effort to expedite bus service.
But some South Ozone Park residents say the elimination of key stops in their neighborhood is a problem, not a solution.
The Q10 bus serves as a link to JFK Airport and the subway. MTA's proposed plan would reroute riders, in some cases adding travel time.
"You're making people go from one bus to either two or three buses, for what reason? It doesn't make sense to me," South Ozone Park resident Nia Rollins said.
The MTA's proposed plan would eliminate the 130th Street stop where she begins her daily commute to Midtown Manhattan, requiring her to make multiple bus transfers.
The MTA told CBS New York, "As part of our Bus Network Redesigns, the MTA has committed to ensuring that any additional transfer caused by the project will be free for our customers."
Rollins also worries a consolidation of the Q9 and Q10 will intensify crowding on buses at rush hour.
Locals shared emotional testimony at the March monthly meeting of Community Board 10, objecting to proposed alternate routes they call unfamiliar, unsafe and unreliable.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the MTA told CBS New York: "The proposed reroute of the Q10 is designed for a faster and more reliable riding experience by improving speed and reliability on the Lefferts Blvd corridor. We encourage members of the public to continue to provide feedback on the Plan at upcoming outreach events."
"It feels like lip service," district leader Richard David said.
He says the neighborhood's trust in the MTA was lost last summer when a southbound bus stop at 130th Street and Sutter Avenue suddenly disappeared. Met with community outrage, the MTA vowed to reinstate the stop but has not yet done so.
David says a vague timeline for the potential bus route changes is keeping neighbors vigilant.
"To just keep an eye on the MTA and their process — and the potential that they might pull a fast one — is a full-time job," he said.
The MTA told CBS New York:
"The MTA has stated that we are working towards implementation of the Queens Bus Network Redesign project but that it will not happen this year. We are still in the outreach phases on the Proposed Final Plan, and will be speaking with bus customers throughout Queens this Spring at key bus hubs, at our upcoming Open Houses and accompanying our mobile sales van to receive feedback. We will conclude this round of outreach with a public hearing and then the MTA Board will vote on the project. Upon receiving an affirmative vote, we will have a lead-up to implementation lasting months, using multiple marketing channels to ensure that all Queens bus riders are aware of the changes and when exactly they will occur."
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