By Juan Soto
By the end of August, Rosedale and Far Rockaway commuters will have a new bus line that will shorten their travel time to the Jamaica subway station.
During the Transit and Bus Committee meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Monday, the agency said it will implement the new Q114 limited-stop service. The bus will travel along the same path as the Q113 Limited between Jamaica and Guy R. Brewer boulevards and 147th Avenue.
The Q114 will make two limited stops on 147th Avenue at Guy R. Brewer Boulevard and 222nd Street, adjacent to Springfield Lane, and provide service to commuters at the current stops along Brookville Boulevard and Far Rockaway.
“This will help speed up commuter time for Rosedale and Far Rockaway residents,” said City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) at the MTA’s meeting. “I like the proposal,” he added.
Actually, the Q111 and Q113 provide service on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard between Springfield Gardens and Jamaica, South Jamaica and Rochdale Village. At 147th Avenue, the Q111 heads to Rosedale and the Q113 to Far Rockaway.
“I am glad the MTA is looking at service for southeast Queens,” Richards added.
Jackie Campbell, of the Rosedale Civic Association and a member of Community Board 13, asked the MTA for more bus service for Rosedale residents by expanding the new Q114 to Francis Lewis Boulevard instead of turning south toward Far Rockaway at Brookville Boulevard.
“I take the bus every day and I know the problems with these lines,” she said at the Monday meeting at the MTA’s Midtown Manhattan headquarters. “We need more express service in Rosedale,” she pointed out, adding that she has collected more than 300 signed petitions to request better bus lines for Rosedale riders.
According to the MTA, the Q111 and the Q113 have an average daily ridership of 25,000 straphangers.
During Monday’s meeting, the agency also revised the Q17 and Q27 service in Flushing in response to concerns raised by elected officials, Community Board 7 and St. George’s Church. They claimed the congestion caused by several bus stops hinder people from visiting the church.
The church is at Main Street between 38th and 39th avenues. Starting Aug. 31, the new layover will be at 138th Street and 37th Avenue instead of the line dropping commuters off on 39th Avenue and laying over on 38th Avenue, The revised route will facilitate better connection to the Q12, Q16 and Q28 buses. Also, straphangers will have better access to Flushing Commons and downtown Flushing.
The MTA said that the Q27 is the third busiest bus line in Queens with 25,000 daily riders.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
