Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today unveiled a $160 million proposal to create faster, more frequent and more reliable service on the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus line that connects the airport with the subway in Jackson Heights and the Long Island Rail Road and subway in Woodside.
“The transformation of LaGuardia airport into a world-class destination that is recognized for its excellence is an integral part of our bold vision for a new era in New York, and that starts with much needed enhancements in transportation to and from the airport,” Governor Hochul said. “This new funding will advance several transportation projects, provide new bus lanes, reduce congestion and overcrowding, and install new traffic lights to prioritize buses into the airport. I’m proud to celebrate these accomplishments and look forward to creating a world-class transit option.”
The Port Authority Board of Commissioners will vote on the funding proposal at its meeting on March 27. Today’s announcement comes after months of collaboration between the PANYNJ and the MTA, the New York City Department of Transportation and the New York State Department of Transportation to move forward with the Q70 improvements, which will include:
- Traffic signals that will prioritize the Q70 bus on Roosevelt Ave and Broadway to minimize travel time
- An exclusive bus lane on the shoulder of the northbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway between Northern Blvd and Astoria Blvd, to increase service reliability between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport
- Increased frequencies during peak periods (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) starting June 1 to accommodate increased ridership
- A new, specially designated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Terminal C with direct, exclusive road access to avoid congestion on the airport roads
- Wayfinding and lighting improvements at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av / 74 St (7, E, F, M, R) and 61 St-Woodside Stations (7, LIRR) to improve the customer experience
- Enhanced branding and signage to promote the improved service
At the request of Governor Kathy Hochul, a wide-ranging analysis of transit options to LaGuardia Airport began in late 2021 and was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of well-recognized outside engineering, construction and transportation firms. The three-member independent, outside expert panel of world-class transportation leaders was established at the Governor’s request to oversee the study and to make recommendations based on the analysis, and the panel recommended substantial improvements to bus service to LaGuardia Airport…