Big Changes For Roosevelt Island Coming With MTA's Proposed Final Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan - Q102 Eliminated Replaced By Q104 Going To Sunnyside Via Broadway In Astoria, No Access To Queens Plaza Subway Hub From Roosevelt Island

Queens riders! We are thrilled to share the Proposed Final Plan of the Queens Bus Network Redesign 🚌

Driven by your feedback, this plan focuses on more reliable service, faster travel, better connections, and ease of use.

Read the proposed plan: https://t.co/8jV9G8R1rP

— MTA (@MTA) December 12, 2023

This is the new Roosevelt Island bus route and schedule proposed by the MTA's Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan.

 According to the MTA:

PROPOSED ROUTE SUMMARY

The proposed Q104 would be extended to serve Roosevelt Island at its western terminal, replacing Q102 service, which would be discontinued. The Q104 would continue to serve Broadway and 48 St, maintaining its connection with the 7 train. Most existing Q102 train connections would be maintained on the proposed Q104. Existing Q102 service along E Loop Rd/W Loop Rd south of the Roosevelt Island F train station would be discontinued. Existing Q102 service along 31 St would be replaced by the proposed Q105. 

To match stop spacing on other Local routes, Q104 stops would be spaced slightly further apart than existing to speed up buses and improve reliability. 

Both frequency and span would be increased to resemble Q102 service.

The proposed Q104 will connect to the N and W trains at the 31st Street/Broadway subway station which is handicapped accessible and connect to the M and R trains at the 48th Street/Broadway subway station which is not. The Q104 will also connect to the 7 train at the 48th Street subway station which is handicapped accessible.

The proposed bus route will be a big change for Roosevelt Island residents and workers who will no longer have access to the Queens Plaza/Queensboro Plaza subway hubs via the current Q102 bus 

which will be eliminated under the proposed Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan. But we will have better access to Socrates Sculpture Park and Costco on Vernon B'lvd as well as the restaurants and attractions in Astoria.

NBC New York reports on today's Queens Bus Network Redesign plan announcement by the MTA

and Passengers United has the full MTA press conference on the subject.

And, of course, we still want your feedback! ✍️

Leave us a comment on our website or attend one of our forthcoming Open Houses or pop-up events — details on those will be announced shortly.https://t.co/YpUoDynu6P

— MTA (@MTA) December 12, 2023

Roosevelt Island Residents Tell MTA They Can't Cut Off Our Bus Service With Proposed Queens Bus Redesign Plan And We Think They Got Message - Coler Rehab, Octagon, Cornell Tech & FDR Park In Danger Of Losing Bus Service

Last Wednesday evening, a group of about10 Roosevelt Island residents got on a Red Bus provided by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to attend the MTA's Queens Bus Redesign workshop

held at the Jacob Riis Settlement in Long Island City. Residents of Roosevelt Island's Coler Rehab and Long Term Facility attended the workshop as well.

Here's the proposed new MTA Bus route to serve Roosevelt Island and replace the existing Q102 route.

Image From the MTA

Read more »

MTA Proposed Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan Will Reduce Roosevelt Island Bus Service - Let Your Voice Be Heard At MTA Queens Bus Meeting February 4 In LIC To Discuss Plan, RIOC Will Provide Free Red Bus Service To Roosevelt Island Residents Wishing To Attend

As previously reported, the MTA's proposed draft Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan will eliminate the current Q102 bus route serving Roosevelt Island and replace it with a new route (QT78) that:

... will travel on 36th avenue to and from Roosevelt Island bringing better access to Astoria but will no longer travel the current circuitous route to Queens Plaza.

It appears that the new Roosevelt Island NYC Bus Service does not cover area north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge including Coler Hospital and the Octagon Building or south of the Tram Station as the current Q102 service does...

Below is the proposed QT78 Route showing reduced service on Roosevelt Island.

Image From MTA

Read more »

Update On Changes To Roosevelt Island NYC Bus Route Proposed By MTA Queens Bus Network Redesign - RIOC Says They Don't Want Reduction In Service And Will Discuss With MTA, Resident Blasts MTA For Lack Of Knowledge About RI, LIC And Astoria Q102 Bus Riders

Reported yesterday on the new Roosevelt Island NYC Bus Route to replace the current Q102 proposed by the MTA's Queens Bus Network Redesign:

Roosevelt Island will be served with a new QT78 NYC Bus Route

Image From MTA

under the Queens Bus Network Redesign Draft Plan proposed by the MTA replacing the Q102 route currently serving Roosevelt Island.

The proposed Roosevelt Island bus route will travel on 36th avenue to and from Roosevelt Island bringing better access to Astoria but will no longer travel the current circuitous route to Queens Plaza.

It appears that the new Roosevelt Island NYC Bus Service does not cover area north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge including Coler Hospital and the Octagon Building or south of the Tram Station as the current Q102 service does

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenhtal:

... Is RIOC giving any input to the MTA on proposed new route?

Any statement from RIOC on the proposed new MTA Bus route?...

RIOC Public Information Officer Terrence McCauley replied:

RIOC staff is in contact with the MTA to discuss these proposed changes. We certainly do not want to see any reduction in service. We also encourage our residents to contact the MTA directly to voice their concerns.... The map you got from their website certainly looks like there are changes to the route on the Island, but those maps aren’t always accurate.

The MTA asks for your online comments on the new Roosevelt Island bus route.

Longtime Roosevelt Island resident and retired Public Transit advocate Nina Lublin responded to the MTA's proposed new Roosevelt Island NYC Bus route:

My rage towards the MTA, Mr. Byford & the dopes who came up with this plan is the seemingly total lack of regard -- or knowledge -- of the Roosevelt Island community, and the many LIC & Astoria folks who depend on the Q102 to get to Queens Plaza (or RI) for both Bus & Subway access to Queens, Brooklyn, & especially the 3 buses that go to & from Manhattan.

Coler Hospital  employees without cars? Or the folks who visit them? I'm sure HHC & 1199 are not happy

What about the many folks from who depend on wheelchair-accessible / disability friendly bus service to & from Roosevelt Island -- especially when there is no F Train service?

The folks at the Queensbridge Houses will be impacted severely as for many of them the Q102 gets them to & from shopping, doctor appointments, the F train at 21st street & much more.

You too, can tell the MTA what you think of the proposed plan.

More on the proposed change to Roosevelt Island NYC bus service here.

New Roosevelt Island Bus Route Proposed By MTA's Queens Bus Network Redesign - Replaces Current Q102 Route For New 36th Ave Route Thru Astoria To Middle Village, New Plan May Not Cover All Of Roosevelt Island

Queens! The proposed #queensbusredesign draft plan is here, and we need your feedback. See the new route profiles, check out the interactive maps, and most importantly, share your comments with the planning team here 👇https://t.co/yls4EMOH1u

— NYCT Buses (@NYCTBus) December 31, 2019

According to the MTA:

For the last few months, we’ve been diligently working to completely redraw the Queens Bus Network to create a faster, more reliable system of interconnected routes. To do this, we wiped the map clean and started from scratch, which means there are a lot of changes proposed in this proposed Draft Plan. Read it carefully, and make sure to review the new routes, see what your commute would be like in the new network, and most importantly, let us know what you think

Read the introduction and next steps, and download the entire Draft Plan here....

And about the new Roosevelt Island bus route:

... Route Statistics

Length: 7.1 miles
Number of turns per mile: 0.6
Priority Corridor: No

Route Summary

We propose the QT78 - Roosevelt Island-Middle Village route, the purpose of which is to link neighborhoods, key transit connections and important destinations. It operates between Middle Village/Fresh Pond Road and Roosevelt Island....

Roosevelt Island will be served with a new QT78 NYC Bus Route

Image From MTA

under the Queens Bus Network Redesign Draft Plan proposed by the MTA replacing the Q102 route currently serving Roosevelt Island.

 Image From MTA

The proposed Roosevelt Island bus route will travel on 36th avenue to and from Roosevelt Island bringing better access to Astoria but will no longer travel the current circuitous route to Queens Plaza.

It appears that the new Roosevelt Island NYC Bus Service does not cover area north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge including Coler Hospital and the Octagon Building or south of the Tram Station as the current Q102 service does and:

... Bus stops on the QT78 - Roosevelt Island-Middle Village are spaced approximately 1,325 feet apart, excluding non-stop portions of the route...

The Draft Plan also eliminates the Q103 Vernon B'lvd route that has a stop at the foot of the Roosevelt Island Bridge on 36th Ave.

Image From MTA

You can tell the MTA your thoughts

 Image From MTA

on the proposed new Roosevelt Island bus route here.

NYC Planning Department Presents Western Queens Transportation Study To Roosevelt Island Community Last Night - Recommends New Bus Routes, Ferry Service, Bike Lanes & Motorgate Improvements

Reported October 16 on the NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) Western Queens Transportation study

Image Of Western Queens Transportation Study Area Of Interest from NYC Planning Dept (Page 4)

and its recommendations for Roosevelt Island.

Among the DCP's Western Queens Transportation Study recommendations for Roosevelt Island are:

• Eliminating the Q 102 bus and extending the Q 19 and Q 39 to Roosevelt Island (Pages 20-21),
• Extend East River Ferry Service To Roosevelt Island and Hallet's Cove in Astoria (Page 22),
• Improve Bike Access To Roosevelt Island including a Roosevelt Island Bridge 2 way bike lane (Pages 44-47),
• Improvements to the Motorgate Garage, Atrium and surrounding areas including new dedicated entrances, a welcoming pedestrian plaza, way finding signage, new multi-purpose escalator, bike share station and attractive pedestrian plaza greenway. (Pages 48 -57)

Images From DCP Western Queens Transportation Study (Pages 44, 54, 57)

Last night, the DCP presented its full Western Queens Transportation Study to Community Board 8's Roosevelt Island/ Transportation joint committee and other members of the Roosevelt Island Community. Here's video of the presentation.



followed by comments, question and answers. During the comments period, I asked the DCP representatives to consider extending the Q104 and Q103 bus routes to Roosevelt Island instead of the Q19 and Q39 because the Q104 and Q103 offer better routes to Astoria and Long Island City. Also, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Transportation Manager Cy Opperman noted how important the current Q102 service is for transporting residents to and from the subway/tram during rush hours.

I was surprised to learn that the ferry service contemplated for Roosevelt Island in the DCP study would use the Manhattan side of the East River. Previous studies recommended the Queens side.

Other comments included Frank Farance on driving patterns in Astoria/LIC, Sharon Pope on bicycle access to Queensboro bridge and Judy Berdy on the transportation needs of poor people in Astoria/LIC not being addressed until now when luxury housing is starting to be developed in the area.

Here's video of the Q and A.



The DCP Western Queens Transportation Study notes:

... The recommendations made in this PDF Document presentation are predicated upon further study and feasibility analyses prior to implementation...

 A summary of the Western Queens Transportation Study recommendations for Roosevelt Island is at this previous post

Changes To Roosevelt Island Transportation Options Proposed By NYC Planning Dep't Western Queens Transportation Study - Learn More At October 22 CB 8 Meeting And Update On Weekend Subway Diversions Too

Image Of Western Queens Transportation Study Area Of Interest from NYC Planning Dept (Page 4)

A joint Roosevelt Island/Transportation Committee meeting of Community Board 8 (CB 8) will host a very important  presentation and discussion concerning future possible transportation plans for Roosevelt Island. According to CB 8:

The City of New York Manhattan Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee

Manhattan Park
Community Room
4 River Road
Roosevelt Island, NY
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
6:30PM

1 - Presentation by Department of City Planning of its recommendations for the Western Queens Transportation Study which includes the Roosevelt Island Bridge -- Joint issue with the Transportation Committee
2- Update on weekend subway diversions
3 - Old Business
4- New business

Jeffrey Escobar and Laurence Parnes, Co-Chairs

Among the recommendations of the Western Queens Transportation Study concerning Roosevelt Island are:

Changes to the bus network to improve access to Roosevelt Island, Hallets Point, and Hunter’s Point, among other areas;...

... Improved access to Roosevelt Island via a protected bike lane and redesigned circulation areas serving the island’s parking garage complex;...

... The recommendations made in this PDF Document presentation are predicated upon further study and feasibility analyses prior to implementation

The Western Queens Transportation Study recommends eliminating the existing Q102 bus that serves Roosevelt Island

and replacing it with an extension (Pages 21-22)

 Image of Proposed Bus Routes From Western Queens Transportation Study Page 21

  of the Q19 from Astoria (current route)

and Q39 from Long Island City (current route)

to Roosevelt Island as well as extending the Q103 bus route that passes Roosevelt Island on Vernon B'lvd but not stopping on Roosevelt Island.

There is no mention of extending the Q104 bus to Roosevelt Island which currently ends it route two blocks from the Roosevelt Island Bridge at Vernon B'lvd and 34th Avenue.

No mention of changes to current F train Roosevelt Island subway service either (Page 23).

The Western Queens Transportation Study (Page 22) recommends:

Extend East River Ferry service to Roosevelt Island and Hallett’s Point

Construct additional ferry landings at Hunter’s Point, Roosevelt Island, and Astoria Cove for new ferry

and (Pages 44-47):

BIKE NETWORK AND ACCESS TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND
GOAL:
Encourage bicycling as a viable mode of transportation in the study area by creating a safe and efficient network

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Construct two-way protected bicycle lane on 36th Avenue

Enhance the descent from the Roosevelt Island Bridge to the street network on Roosevelt Island

Improve connection between Roosevelt Island Bridge bike/pedestrian paths and East River Greenway...

... New east-west bike connection needed between future Cornell Technion campus and Western Queens destinations to meet anticipated demand from new students and employees...

The Western Queens Transportation Study also recommends improvement to the Motorgate Garage, Atrium and surrounding areas Pages (48 -57) including .

new dedicated entrances,

a welcoming pedestrian plaza,

improved way finding, new multi-purpose escalator, bike share station,

and attractive pedestrian plaza greenway.

So, if you want to learn more and add your input on the future of Roosevelt Island Transportation, including finding out what's going on with the weekend subway service disruptions, come to the October 22 CB 8 Roosevelt Island/Transportation committee meeting.

Here is video showing Roosevelt Island November 2013 meeting discussion of a preliminary version of the Western Queens Transportation Study and March 2014 meeting with MTA representatives concerning better bus service for Roosevelt Island.

UPDATE 10/31 - Here is video of the October 22 Western Queens Transportation Study presentation.

Nerd Bus Connecting Roosevelt Island Cornell Campus To Long Island City And Brooklyn Technology Corridor Proposed By NY Senator Charles Schumer - Is A Bus The Answer To Roosevelt Island's Transportation Problems?

 Image of Q102 Bus Near Roosevelt Island F Subway Station

A big issue of concern to Roosevelt Island residents has always been the transportation infrastructure to and from Roosevelt Island and those concerns loom larger with the scheduled completion of phase 1 of Cornell NYC Tech Applied Sciences and Engineering School in 2017. Ideas for additional transportation options have ranged with varying degrees of feasibility including ferry service,



increased subway service for existing F train station, building another station above the E/V subway lines traveling under Roosevelt Island near Southpoint Park, elevator access to the Queensboro Bridge, extending the Tramway to Long Island City and a pedestrian bridge over the East River

Image From Hunter College Access RI Page 63

Another possible option was proposed yesterday by NY Senator Charles Schumer.

The New York Daily News reported:

New York’s senior senator is calling for a “Nerd Bus” that would link up high tech hubs in Brooklyn and Queens with Roosevelt Island — and help some of the city’s brightest bulbs get around town....

Here's the Press Release from Senator Schumer's office:

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the MTA to connect its proposed Brooklyn Tech Triangle and Williamsburg Waterfront bus routes to Cornell’s tech campus hub, first at its temporary location in Google’s NYC headquarters in Manhattan, and then to Roosevelt Island, where Cornell is planning to construct its new major technology campus hub. The proposal, dubbed the ‘Nerd Bus,’ would connect all points of Brooklyn’s fast-emerging tech boom, including the existing tech hub in DUMBO with emerging centers in Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard, north to the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City where many tech employees live and work, and to the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.

“New York is seeing a major tech boom, with Brooklyn and Long Island City leading the way, and now the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island is going to be a game changer that further cements New York’s position as a leader in tech,” said Schumer. “You don’t need a PhD to know that connecting these neighborhoods through a ‘Nerd Bus’ is a no-brainer. The only thing separating these neighborhoods in New York City is a lack of transit connections. We need a high-speed rapid transit connection between Roosevelt Island and the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, with stops at new hubs like Long Island City and the Navy Yard, and residential areas in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.”

On July 19, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) announced that along with service restorations in and around the city, it also proposed the establishment of two new routes: the Brooklyn Tech Triangle route, set to connect DUMBO with Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard, as well as the Williamsburg Waterfront route. The Triangle route intends to service a growing technology hub centered around DUMBO, and is set to grow service for commuters into Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard. This is particularly important because dozens of tech companies are already on the waiting list for new Navy Yard office space, and NYU is proposing a tech campus in the old Jay Street MTA building in Downtown Brooklyn. Cornell is also planning a major tech campus on Roosevelt Island set to open in 2017, and Long Island City in Queens is seen by many as a new tech-hub in the making. As a result, it is vital that MTA create service routes that will meet the increasing demand for transportation from commuters as the tech campus continues to expand into Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard.

Schumer urged the MTA to plan for the transit needs of the Cornell-Technion campus as they consider new routes to cover the Tech Triangle and Williamsburg waterfront. Connecting these two proposed lines, and extending them northwards to Long Island City and Roosevelt Island when construction is completed will create a proposed ‘Nerd Bus’ express route to service key points in the neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Navy Yard, Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City, as well as Roosevelt Island, creating a tech highway for students, innovators, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and local residents. Schumer noted that until the Cornell Tech campus is built on Roosevelt Island, the MTA should also consider making the campus’ temporary location at Google’s New York City Headquarters in the Meatpacking District part of the route. Schumer argued that connecting these neighborhoods would be a great boon for the tech industry, providing easy transportation between the emerging tech hubs and connecting industry with education and vice-versa.

and Senator Schumer's letter to the MTA:

Dear Mr. Lhota,

I write to you today to ask that you explore an exciting proposal regarding the extension of bus services in Brooklyn in order to create a route connecting Brooklyn and Queens Tech Coast. As you know, on July 19 the MTA announced that along with service restorations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, it is proposing two new routes: the Brooklyn Tech Triangle route and the Williamsburg Waterfront route. I applaud the MTA for these extensions of service, and equally for its thoughtful consideration of future transit needs in the New York City area.

As you also know, these extensions are intended in part to service the growing technology industry in Brooklyn. DUMBO is already home to a major technology hub, which is set to expand into Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard. Dozens of tech companies are already on the waiting list for new Navy Yard office space, and New York University is proposing a tech campus in the old Jay Street MTA building in Downtown Brooklyn. In addition Cornell University is planning a major tech campus on Roosevelt Island, with the school temporarily housed at Google’s Chelsea offices while construction is being completed. The faculty and students there are precisely the innovators needed by the growing tech industry in New York City, and many will surely be ferrying back and forth between the Roosevelt Island campus and the neighborhoods in Brooklyn where young engineers will be living and working. In between these two centers, furthermore, are the residential neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, which the new Williamsburg Waterfront route intends to service, and the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City, which many predict to be the next major location for tech start-ups and offices.

I urge the MTA to consider the feasibility of connecting these two new proposed bus routes, and explore the ridership potential of extending into Long Island City and Roosevelt Island when construction is completed at the Cornell-Technion campus, to make an express route that has been called the ‘Nerd Bus’. Until the Cornell Tech campus is built on Roosevelt Island, their temporary location at Google’s New York City Headquarters should also be considered as part of the route. Such a route would service key points in the neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Navy Yard, Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City, as well as Roosevelt Island, creating a tech highway for students, innovators, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and local residents. Connecting these neighborhoods would be a great boon for the tech industry, providing easy transportation between the emerging tech hubs and connecting industry with education and vice-versa. I applaud the MTA in its current restoration and expansion of services, and urge it to consider the feasibility of this new proposal.

The NY Post adds:

... The MTA recently announced plans for a new bus from DUMBO to the Navy Yard to accommodate the high-tech corridor.

That bus is not supposed to extend into Queens and Roosevelt Island.

MTA officials said yesterday they had not seen Schumer’s proposal, but added that they are constantly studying ridership patterns.