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Funding set for NE Queens bus study by MTA


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A $500,000 state allocation to the MTA to study the possibility of bus service restoration in Northeast Queens was announced last week by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside).

Avella was able to secure the funding during this year’s budget negotiations.

 

The MTA will conduct the year-long study to improve bus service and look at the effects of service cuts over the last five years.

In addition, Avella said the agency will be required to seek input from the public as well as area community boards regarding possible bus changes or restoration of service.

“Northeast Queens and specifically the 11th Senatorial District has always been underserved in terms of bus service and mass transportation options,” the senator said.

When the study is completed, Avella said, the MTA will be required to report its findings to the state for further review.

The senator said he is confident that the study will ultimately lead to increased bus service in the area.

He is particularly interested in restoring the Q14 bus as well as extending the Q34 toward Francis Lewis Boulevard and the QM8 toward the entrance to the North Shore Towers.

The Q14 was eliminated four years ago and used to run between Flushing and Whitestone and Northern Boulevard to Clintonville Street. Avella’s office noted that to compensate for the Q14 cut, a new line, the Q15A, was established, but that it has caused “numerous problems” and residents want the Q14 restored.

The Q34 now has a layover at 149th Street and 25th Avenue in Whitestone, abutting a narrow two-way street and park. Avella wants the route extended along Willets Point Boulevard so the layover can be set at safer Francis Lewis Boulevard.

The QM8 now goes from Glen Oaks to downtown Manhattan via 260th Street and Little Neck Parkway. It then turns onto the parkway toward the Horace Harding Expressway.

Avella noted that several North Shore Towers residents have complained that the bus stop is a long distance away. He wants the bus extended via the Grand Central Parkway eastbound service road. It would then pass the towers’ entrance.

http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/funding-set-for-ne-bus-study-by-mta/article_6079feea-39f6-517c-93a4-98fa2b892c36.html

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lol whats wrong, and i kind of think its odd to run the qm8 by the towers 

 

Too long of a distance, from Glen Oaks to Downtown is a killer in itself.

 

Is there demand for North Shore-Downtown service? As for as a Q14 restoration and a 34 extension, those seem logical...

There kinda is actually, but not as much as compared to Bayside-Downtown Service.

 

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How much of a difference is there between the Q14 and the Q15A?

 

alot cause the neighborhood prefered their old route rather then their failed attempt at making up for a service cut, its been brewing for almost 4 years

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mta-cuts-queens-residents-protest-new-residential-route-q15a-bus-article-1.185081

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Jesus, they want the QM8 to go to the towers? Aint that sommething. I say that any bus serving the towers should be any of the current Super Express trips.

That's what I was thinking as well. I really don't think there's that high of a demand for Downtown service. Bayside/Bay Terrace has been more vocal about it than the folks over at the towers.

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I wonder if the guy realizes that the Q14 was only a block away from the Q15. The Q15A was created specifically to serve the areas above the cross island where the Q14 use to serve yet he wants it restored. The Q34 extension to Francis Lewis Blvd I believe will result in some changes occurring specific to the QM20. The MTA may try to take away some runs which will end up hurting the QM20. I wish the MTA will get rid of service below Main Street Roosevelt Ave on the Q34 because I feel that it prevents any good improvements for the Q25 specifically an increase in LTD service and better headways. The Q34 always bunches up with the Q25 so just let the Q25 handle Kissena and Parsons alone.

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I wonder if the guy realizes that the Q14 was only a block away from the Q15. The Q15A was created specifically to serve the areas above the cross island where the Q14 use to serve yet he wants it restored. The Q34 extension to Francis Lewis Blvd I believe will result in some changes occurring specific to the QM20. The MTA may try to take away some runs which will end up hurting the QM20. I wish the MTA will get rid of service below Main Street Roosevelt Ave on the Q34 because I feel that it prevents any good improvements for the Q25 specifically an increase in LTD service and better headways. The Q34 always bunches up with the Q25 so just let the Q25 handle Kissena and Parsons alone.

Not at all. They wouldn't dare cut any runs on the QM20. The last time they tried that (during the QM2A/QM20 relabeling), them folks were up in arms.

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lol... There are a couple of things going on with the North Shore Towers... It used to be seen as a complex that mainly retirees went to, but there are more and more young professionals moving there, as well as families from what I've heard.  That therefore is changing the needs of the complex.  When you consider that and how affluent the residents of the North Shore Towers are, it isn't that much of a shocker that they would be vocal about wanting Downtown express bus service.  For what it's worth, it shouldn't that much money to extend some QM8's to the North Shore Towers, seeing where the QM8 currently ends.  I am glad that Queens is becoming more vocal about express bus service because the (MTA) has certainly been shafting Queens for years.  I think this will be watched very carefully by other communities in Northeast Queens.  

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/superiority-complex-life-country-club-queens-north-shore-towers-article-1.1044628

 

Could a mod please update the title to be Northeast Queens instead of just NE?  I thought this was about the Northeast before reading it.  <_<

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How much of a difference is there between the Q14 and the Q15A?

 

The Q14 ended at Clintonville & 7th. The Q15A passes through there on its way to the LeHavre apartments on Powells Cove.  Based on past newspaper articles, I think Avella might be pandering to the NIMBY's on 10th Avenue between Clintonville and 152nd.

Not at all. They wouldn't dare cut any runs on the QM20. The last time they tried that (during the QM2A/QM20 relabeling), them folks were up in arms.

 

Thing (1)... If people don't feel like using the bus, they have no right to object when trips are cut. 

 

Thing (2)... Assuming that a service cut is warranted because of reduced riding, maybe the trips that would have been cut could be rerouted to Wall Street.

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The Q14 ended at Clintonville & 7th. The Q15A passes through there on its way to the LeHavre apartments on Powells Cove.  Based on past newspaper articles, I think Avella might be pandering to the NIMBY's on 10th Avenue between Clintonville and 152nd.

 

 

Thing (1)... If people don't feel like using the bus, they have no right to object when trips are cut. 

 

Thing (2)... Assuming that a service cut is warranted because of reduced riding, maybe the trips that would have been cut could be rerouted to Wall Street.

Well you know what they say when people "assume"... You know I would give folks you the benefit of the doubt if you actually used these lines before talking about cuts... How many of the lines that you yell about being cut do you actually use???

 

That question goes to everyone that yells this crap for that matter.  Looking at a map does not tell you very much when it comes to trying to determine whether or not a service should be altered or cut.  I wish people would realize that before they jump to conclusions.  For your information, the QM20 is well used, so there is no reason for anything to be cut.

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...The Q34 extension to Francis Lewis Blvd I believe will result in some changes occurring specific to the QM20. The MTA may try to take away some runs which will end up hurting the QM20....

Changes based on what?

 

I'm not understanding what such a Q34 extension would have to do with tampering with the QM20 anyway.... If those folks in that part of NE Queens aren't swarming Q16's (either branch) to get to Flushing, why would anyone believe they'd take the Q34, resulting in some decrease in usage (which is what's being implicated) with the QM20?

 

Could a mod please update the title to be Northeast Queens instead of just NE?  I thought this was about the Northeast before reading it.  <_<

My exact words when I saw the thread title last night was, "what the f*** is the northeast bus study".....

 

The Q14 ended at Clintonville & 7th. The Q15A passes through there on its way to the LeHavre apartments on Powells Cove. 

Based on past newspaper articles, I think Avella might be pandering to the NIMBY's on 10th Avenue between Clintonville and 152nd.

That's all this is really about.....

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Too long of a distance, from Glen Oaks to Downtown is a killer in itself.

 

There kinda is actually, but not as much as compared to Bayside-Downtown Service.

 

I had an idea for a QM9. It would either be North Shore-Downtown or Bay Terrace-Downtown...
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Well you know what they say when people "assume"... You know I would give folks you the benefit of the doubt if you actually used these lines before talking about cuts... How many of the lines that you yell about being cut do you actually use???

 

That question goes to everyone that yells this crap for that matter.  Looking at a map does not tell you very much when it comes to trying to determine whether or not a service should be altered or cut.  I wish people would realize that before they jump to conclusions.  For your information, the QM20 is well used, so there is no reason for anything to be cut.

 

The people who decide whether to add or cut service are not regular riders of every route in the system, because such a thing would be physically impossible.  The decision makers look at what the numbers say — and "well used" is not a number.

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The people who decide whether to add or cut service are not regular riders of every route in the system, because such a thing would be physically impossible. 

 

The decision makers look at what the numbers say — and "well used" is not a number.

You're reinforcing his point.....

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QM20, no — Q16, yes. If it's done right, a Q34 extension might allow the two Q16 branches to be consolidated into one.

That's the problem the Utopia Parkway branch is lightly used so the Q16 is going to lose ridership. They may even extend the Q34 to bayside mall. If that happens I would not be surprised if the Q34 service south of Roosevelt Ave gets cut.

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QM20, no — Q16, yes.

 

If it's done right, a Q34 extension might allow the two Q16 branches to be consolidated into one.

That should happen regardless if the Q34 gets extended eastward or not..... I've said for the longest on here that the Q16 (structure) is the problem out there in NE Queens....

 

That's the problem the Utopia Parkway branch is lightly used so the Q16 is going to lose ridership. They may even extend the Q34 to bayside mall. If that happens I would not be surprised if the Q34 service south of Roosevelt Ave gets cut.

This is actually one thing that south-of-Flushing Q25/34 riders are worried about (not specifically to bayside mall, but any eastward extension of the route)... It'd mean less service b/w Jamaica & Flushing along parsons & kissena - which is a very legitimate gripe....

 

For all intents & purposes, the Q34 is around mainly b/c it's a Q25 supplement south of Flushing, towards/from Jamaica.... Any increase in ridership on the Q34 if it were to be extended eastward, in conjunction with a loss of ridership on the Q16 remains to be seen....

(I personally don't see it, as Clearview is too car & express bus centric; they generally don't care about commuting to flushing for the (7), or some other local bus.... Even less so than their next door neighbors to the east (Bay terrace) - whose patrons use the local bus more than they do.....)

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The people who decide whether to add or cut service are not regular riders of every route in the system, because such a thing would be physically impossible.  The decision makers look at what the numbers say — and "well used" is not a number.

And that's precisely the problem... When you don't use a route and look solely at numbers, they don't tell you the whole picture.  All they tell you is that ridership is increasing or decreasing, but they don't explain why.  Ridership is very dependent on the demographics and economics of each neighborhood and this is one thing that the (MTA) gets luckily.  

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