St. John’s University students returning to the Queens campus this fall will experience changes to their usual bus routes, following a major redesign by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The adjustments are part of the MTA’s Queens Bus Network Redesign, which took effect on June 29.
This overhaul marks the first significant change to Queens bus routes in decades. According to the MTA, it was prompted by growth in the borough and shifts in travel patterns. More than 800,000 people rely on Queens’ 124 bus routes each day, making it New York City’s most bus-dependent borough.
“The redesign is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do things right for Queens riders,” said Demetrius Crichlow, President of New York City Transit, which operates city buses and subways. “We are updating route patterns to better match how riders are traveling today and expanding service on key corridors that have seen ridership growth.”
A notable feature of the new plan is the introduction of “Rush” routes—limited-stop services intended to move passengers more quickly along busy corridors. For St. John’s commuters using Utopia Parkway, two such lines—the Q30 Rush and Q75 Rush—will now provide limited-stop service between Jamaica’s Long Island Rail Road station and campus stops at Utopia Parkway/Kildare Road (Gate 1) and Utopia Parkway/Union Turnpike. Inbound buses from Jamaica will stop only at these points; outbound buses toward Jamaica will also stop at Utopia Parkway/82nd Avenue (Gate 8).
For those needing local service along Utopia Parkway, the Q31 continues to operate with multiple stops including Gate 1, Union Turnpike, Stadium Road (Gate 2), and Gate 8.
East-west travelers along Union Turnpike will see new Q46 Rush and Q48 Rush services between Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike subway station and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Glen Oaks. These now run limited-stop west of 188th Street with campus access via Union Turnpike/Utopia Parkway.
Additionally, a new Q45 route provides local service between Kew Gardens and Fresh Meadows’ 188th Street with several stops along Union Turnpike including Utopia Parkway.
Interactive maps showing all updated routes can be found on the official Queens Bus Network Redesign website.
