The fare-free program for a busy Queens bus line is ending this week. On Saturday, Aug. 31, the fare-free bus pilot program for the Q4 will end, with fare collection resuming on Sept. 1.
The Q4 bus service runs between Linden Boulevard and 235th Street in Cambria Heights and Archer Avenue/Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica.
Green signs have been placed at Q4 bus stop routes to notify residents of the service change.
The Q4 bus route was one of five bus routes included in a citywide fare-free pilot program that began in September 2023. The Bx18A/B, B60, M116, Q4 and S46/96 went fare-free to study how lack of fare affected ridership. The free program ends for all lines that were part of the pilot program on Aug. 31.
During the duration of the program, residents could board the fare-free buses without paying, and bus stops servicing the particular routes had signs to indicate the change. Residents using Access-A-Ride beginning and ending a trip within three-quarters of a mile of the select fare-free bus routes also had fare-free rides. The program collectively served over 43,900 daily weekday riders across each borough.
The free program was created as part of Gov. Hochul’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget, which made additional investments in transit, including increased subway service on weekdays, middays, weeknights and weekends. Program routes were selected based on varying factors, including ridership, fare evasion, service adequacy, equity for low-income communities and accessibility to commercial sites and jobs, per the governor’s statement introducing the program in July 2023.
