History of current routes Most of these routes were modified in 2025 as part of the Queens bus redesign. This resulted in the elimination of the Q21, Q34, and old Q48 routes, as well as the elimination of the Q15A, Q20A, and Q20B variants of the existing Q15 and Q20 routes.
Routes Q1 to Q46 RouteHistoryQ1Originally operated by Hillside Transportation Company, and first operated in 1914. Later operated by Nevin-Queens Bus Corporation until February 17, 1935, North Shore Bus Company until November 1936, Z & M Coach Company until June 1939, and North Shore Bus Company again until city takeover in 1947. On April 20, 1975, as a budget cut, the route's two branches, one to Bellerose via Braddock Avenue, and one to Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village via Springfield Boulevard, were consolidated between 1:15 a.m. and 5 a.m., with service looping east on Hillside Avenue, down Braddock Avenue to Jamaica Avenue, on Jamaica Avenue to Springfield Boulevard, and then on Springfield Boulevard back to Hillside Avenue. Extended to Jamaica LIRR Station on June 29, 2025 as part of the Queens Bus Redesign. Q82 took over service to/from Jamaica Bus Terminal. Springfield Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue service was discontinued on June 29, 2025 as part of the Queens Bus Redesign; replaced by the Q36.Q2Originally operated by St. Albans Imp. in 1919 as DP&S Route 76. The route was later operated by Bee Line Bus Company and North Shore Bus Company. Starting on May 2, 2007, during racing days, the Q2 began to stop inside the racetrack. Service to UBS Arena/Belmont Park became full time upon the opening of the arena on January 2, 2022. Limited-Stop Rush service on Hillside Avenue began on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign.Q3Originally operated by St. Albans Imp. in 1919 as DP&S Route 76. Later operated by Bee Line Bus Company and North Shore Bus Company. Extended from Rockaway Boulevard to JFK International Airport in December 1987.https://web.archive.org/web/19980127010654/http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/Bus/busfacts.htm Department of Buses history NYC Transit 24-hour service was added on April 11, 2004. At the same time, service to all JFK terminals except Terminal 4 was replaced by AirTrain JFK. JFK Terminus moved to Terminal 5 on May 30, 2012, due to construction at Terminal 4. JFK Terminus moved from Terminal 5 to Lefferts Blvd Airtrain Station and rerouted to serve Terminal 8 on March 27, 2022.Q4Originally operated by St. Albans Imp. in 1919 as DP&S Route 72. Later operated by Bee Line Bus Company and North Shore Bus Company. Original western terminus was the 169th Street subway station. Service rerouted to Jamaica Center on December 11, 1988. On August 29, 1993, two-way traffic on Archer Avenue and Jamaica Avenue was restored between 138th Street and 168th Street, undoing changes that took effect in November 1990. The change was made to alleviate heavy traffic on Jamaica Avenue. Q4 service began running on Archer Avenue in both directions. Outbound trips were rerouted to run east on Archer Avenue from Parsons Boulevard to Merrick Boulevard instead of via Jamaica Avenue. On January 12, 2004, morning reverse peak limited-stop service was added, and Jamaica-bound limited-stop service in the a.m. rush hour was rerouted to Liberty Avenue and 160th Street from 168th Street and Archer Avenue to match the travel path during the p.m. rush hour. Fare-free service for six to 12 months started on September 24, 2023. Q4 Limited service discontinued on June 27, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign. Limited-Stop Rush service on Merrick Boulevard began on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign.Q5Originally operated by Orange Line in 1921, then by Bee Line Bus Company in 1922 as DP&S Route 77, and then by North Shore Bus Company starting in 1939. The original terminals of the route were 163rd Street and Jamaica Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard and North Conduit Avenue (Rosedale LIRR Station). The route's northern terminal was changed to 168th Street and Hillside Avenue on October 27, 1939. Extended to Green Acres Mall on November 15, 1987. Service was rerouted to Jamaica Center on December 11, 1988. On August 29, 1993, two-way traffic on Archer Avenue and Jamaica Avenue was restored between 138th Street and 168th Street, undoing changes that took effect in November 1990. The change was made to alleviate heavy traffic on Jamaica Avenue. Q5 service began running on Archer Avenue in both directions. Outbound Q5 trips were rerouted to run east on Archer Avenue from Parsons Boulevard to Merrick Boulevard instead of via Jamaica Avenue. On January 12, 2004, Jamaica-bound limited-stop service in the a.m. rush hour was rerouted to Liberty Avenue and 160th Street from 168th Street and Archer Avenue to match the travel path during the p.m. rush hour. Q5 Limited service discontinued on June 27, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign. Q5 Weekday service was shortened to Laurelton, and weekday service to Rosedale LIRR and Green Acres Mall discontinued on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign. Services were replaced by the Q86 and Q87.Q6Originally operated by Queens Bus Corporation, it first operated on July 19, 1922. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. Northern terminal moved to Jamaica Union Bus Terminal (Jamaica Avenue and Brewer Boulevard) on August 16, 1936. By 1975, Jamaica terminals were Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue, and 165th Street and Archer Avenue. Extended to 165th Street Terminal on October 30, 1989. Limited-stop service added on April 19, 2010. Limited-stop service was discontinued on August 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Network Redesign. Q7 Originally operated by the Ruoff Brothers, it started service on October 5, 1921, as DP&S Route 66. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. On August 31, 2025, service to East New York Euclid Avenue Station was discontinued and replaced by the Q112 from Cross Bay Boulevard to Euclid Avenue, service to the JFK Cargo Area was shortened to the Travel Plaza, service was rerouted along Rockaway Boulevard up to the 75th Street-Elderts Lane subway station in Cypress Hills. The route now operates 24 hours a day, all of these changes took place by the Queens Bus Network Redesign.Q8Service started on April 15, 1933. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. Northern terminal moved to Jamaica Union Bus Terminal (Jamaica Avenue and Brewer Boulevard) on August 16, 1936. By 1975, Jamaica terminus was 165th Street and Archer Avenue. The route was extended to the 165th Street Terminal on October 30, 1989. Extended from City Line at Euclid Avenue to Spring Creek at Gateway Drive and Erskine Street on June 29, 2008. On December 7, 2008, eastbound buses were rerouted to travel via Logan Street instead of via Montauk Avenue between Sutter Avenue and Pitkin Avenue to provide faster service. Extended to new bus terminal at Gateway Center North on August 31, 2014.Q9Originally operated by Billow Bus Line, it started service on May 1, 1920, as DP&S Route 55. By 1975, Jamaica terminus was 165th Street and Archer Avenue. Extended to 165th Street Terminal on October 30, 1989. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. On August 31, 2025, Rush service was introduced as part of the Queens Bus Network Redesign.Q10Originally operated by Richmond Hill Bus, service began on April 29, 1929, as DP&S Route 53. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. JFK Terminus moved to Terminal 5 on May 30, 2012, due to construction at Terminal 4. Between 1989 and 2011, trips to/from JFK Airport alternated between 130th Street/150th Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard/Rockaway Boulevard via either Rockaway Boulevard or Conduit Avenue. The Conduit Avenue branch was replaced by Q10 limited-stop service. Weekday and Saturday limited-stop service introduced on September 3, 2006. Sunday limited-stop service was added on April 6, 2008. Lefferts Boulevard Branch became all-limited on April 28, 2013. Articulated buses debuted on May 4, 2013. All Q10 service was cut back to Lefferts Blvd Airtrain Station on March 27, 2022, with service within JFK replaced by the Q3 and JFK Airtrain. Limited service cut on August 31, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign. Became a Rush Route. Service on Lefferts Blvd south of Rockaway Blvd taken over by the Q80.Q11Originally operated by Liberty Bus, service was started in 1918, as DP&S Route 64. Liberty Bus received the route's franchise on January 30, 1933. Formerly operated by Green Bus Lines. Had two part-time services as late as June 1996: A one-way service that ran from Cross Bay Boulevard and 165th Avenue, and another service that ran to 102nd Street and 157th Avenue. Overnight service to Old Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach was eliminated on September 12, 2010. Service to Hamilton Beach after 10:00 p.m. was eliminated on July 1, 2012. Due to the Queens Bus Redesign on August 31, 2025, the Q11 was rerouted via Lindenwood. Service via Pitkin Avenue was eliminated. Also, Old Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach service was combined into a loop in each direction. Q12 Originally owned by Rauchwerger, service started in 1921, replacing the old New York and North Shore Traction Company North Shore Line streetcar, which was abandoned in 1920. Formerly operated by North Shore Bus Company. Articulated buses debuted on September 1, 2019. Service rerouted from Sanford Avenue to Northern Boulevard on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign.Q13 Originally owned by Rauchwerger, service started on March 14, 1920, under supervision of the Department of Plant and Structure as DP&S Route 18. Service replaced streetcar service from the New York and North Shore Traction Company, which had been discontinued three weeks prior. Service operated every 7 minutes between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m.. Eight buses were used to operate the route. On September 1, 1925, the Bayside line was extended from Crocheron Avenue and Bell Boulevard to Shore Road. The extension was served by at least one trip per hour. The service was implemented at the request of a Bayside civic worker who had brought the issue to Queens Borough President Connolly. Later operated by North Shore Bus Company. On April 13, 1960, the Little Bay Civic Association reported that the NYCTA turned down a proposal by that group and others to extend the route to Willets Point Boulevard and Utopia Parkway from its existing terminal at Fort Totten. The NYCTA declined to extend the route based on the findings of a study made in 1958, and since the extension would duplicate existing service. On July 11, 1966, the NYCTA moved the terminals of the Q13, Q14, Q16, Q28, and Q44FS from downtown Flushing to the Flushing Parking Field surrounded by 37th Avenue, Union Street, 138th Street, and 39th Avenue on a six-month pilot basis. The change, which was made at the request of multiple Queens elected officials, was intended to provide shelter for riders and reduce downtown congestion. However, due to immediate opposition from shoppers, who complained that the change forced them to walk four blocks to get from the subway to the buses, businessmen, and elected officials, on July 20, 1966, the NYCTA announced that it would undo the change on July 24. Q13, Q16, and Q28 service would go back to terminating on the north side of Roosevelt Avenue to the east of Main Street, while Q14 and Q44FS service would resume terminating on the east side of Main Street at 39th Avenue. Service rerouted from Northern Boulevard to Sanford Avenue on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign. Limited-Stop Rush service on Northern Boulevard and Sanford Avenue began on June 29, 2025 due to the Queens Bus Redesign.Q14Service started on June 29, 2025 as part of the Queens Bus Redesign; took over the 102nd and 103rd Street portion of the Q23 and the northern part of the Q38.Q15Originally owned by Rauchwerger, Q14 service began on August 2, 1920, as DP&S Route 54. Originally owned by Rauchwerger, Q15 service began on April 3, 1924.