The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Wednesday, July 13, announced the dates and locations for five outdoor summer events to engage with customers in-person and gather feedback on the Queens Bus Network Redesign New Draft Plan. These events will allow customers to learn, ask questions and comment on the plan.
The events are scheduled to be held at the following locations and times:
- Queens Public Library on the plaza at Kissena Boulevard and Main Street on July 26 from 3 to 7 p.m.
- 34th Avenue Open Street between 77th Street and 78th Street outside Travers Park on Aug. 4 from 3 to 7 p.m.
- Beach 97th Street at Shore Front Parkway on Aug. 10 from 4 to 8 p.m.
- Forest Park at Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive on Aug. 16 from 3 to 7 p.m.
- Outside the Roy Wilkins Park Recreation Center at Baisley Boulevard and 177th Street on Aug. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Customers at these events can learn the goals behind redesigning the Queens bus network and talk to team members about their commute and how the proposed route changes could affect their trip. These events present an opportunity for riders to share their initial thoughts on the plan and changes they would like to see.
“These outdoor events are a great way to engage the community in discussions about the New Draft Plan,” Senior Vice President of NYC Transit Buses Frank Annicaro said. “We hope that many Queens residents take a few minutes out of their day to stop by and learn how the redesign aims to speed up service, improve their commute and ultimately provide feedback — a critical element to a successful redesign.”
The announcement of these events comes shortly after the MTA’s MetroCard Mobile Sales vans and the Queens Bus redesign project team announced plans at the end of June to set up mobile vans located across 15 different neighborhoods with members of the team there to speak with bus customers about the plan and route proposals in those neighborhoods.
The MTA’s route profiles for the New Draft Plan are available online for public viewing. They provide a detailed description of the proposed route changes. These changes include proposed subway and bus connections, a stop list showing which stops the route would serve and which are proposed to be removed and a map of the proposed route showing exactly where the proposed service is added or discontinued, along with callout boxes explaining which routes would replace discontinued segments.
Online resources and informational material about the MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign are available on the project’s main website. Links to the New Draft Plan, an interactive map that allows users to post comments directly on proposed bus routes and stops and a link to the comment portal to submit feedback can all be found there.
Those who wish to attend any of the upcoming events can put in special requests for interpreters, including American Sign Language (ASL). However, such requests must be made no later than five business days before the event. The request can be made by emailing gcr@nyct.com, including “QBNR accommodation request” in the subject line.
Due to the fact that these events are all scheduled to take place outside, the dates may be changed if there is severe weather on the forecast for any of the days of the events. The MTA advises attendees to check the project webpage or MTA social media channels prior to heading out to one of these events to get the most up-to-date information.
