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=== Original route ===
=== Original route ===
[[File:NYCT Bus NovaBus LFS Artic 5916 and 5928.jpg|thumb|Two [[List of bus routes in Queens#Q44|Q44]] [[Nova Bus]] [[articulated bus]]es in [[Flushing, Queens]] in July 2015, five months before implementation of [[Select Bus Service]].]]
[[File:NYCT Bus NovaBus LFS Artic 5916 and 5928.jpg|thumb|Two 2012 [[Nova Bus]] [[articulated bus|articulated]] LFSs (5916 & 5928) in [[Flushing, Queens]] in July 2015, five months before implementation of [[Select Bus Service]].]]
On February 15, 1932, [[North Shore Bus Company]] began operating a bus service to replace the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Whitestone Branch]].<ref>{{cite news|title=New Bus Line Seen As Relief to Whitestone|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3956231/whitestone_branch_replaced_by_bus/|access-date=January 3, 2016|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=January 6, 1932|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028091836/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3956231/whitestone_branch_replaced_by_bus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whitestone Seen Served by Buses When L.I.R. Quits: City Shows No Signs of Activity to Give Rapid Transit to North Shore|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/57280090/?terms=%22whitestone%2Bbranch%22%2Bbus|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|access-date=January 5, 2016|page=3|date=January 5, 1932|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028091741/https://www.newspapers.com/image/57280090/?terms=%22whitestone%2Bbranch%22%2Bbus|url-status=live}}</ref> This service was labeled the "Q35".<ref name=LIDaily-QnsBus-April1934-Pg9>{{cite news|title=City Will Protect Bus Employees By Clauses in All New Franchises; 32 Separate Bids Made for Routes in Queens; Green Line Offers 15 Per Cent for Entire Borough|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201934%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201934%2520-%25201944.pdf|access-date=January 12, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=April 6, 1934|page=9|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215055943/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201934/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201934%20-%201944.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This service was different from the current {{NYC bus link|Q35}} service between [[Brooklyn]] and [[Rockaway Park, Queens|Rockaway Park]]. It ran from the Flushing–Main Street terminal, north along Linden Street (now Linden Place) and 127th Street to 14th Avenue through Flushing and [[College Point, Queens|College Point]].<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932>{{cite web|title=North Shore Bus Routes Changes By Repaving Work: Flushing and Whitestone Projects Necessitate Shifts in Three Lines|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/59975592/?terms=%22north%2Bshore%2Bbus%22|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|access-date=January 8, 2016|date=August 4, 1932|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511031112/https://www.newspapers.com/image/59975592/?terms=%22north%2Bshore%2Bbus%22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whitestone Bus Express Service Is Discontinued: North Shore Bus Company Blames Lack of Adequate Patronage|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932%20-%202477.pdf|website=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Star|access-date=January 8, 2016|page=14|date=June 28, 1932|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320062537/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932%20-%202477.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This is the routing of the current {{NYC bus link|Q25}} bus in the area.<ref name=MTA-QnsBusMap-Current/> The original Q35 then ran east along 14th Avenue<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932/> before following the current {{NYC bus link|Q76}} and {{NYC bus link|Q15}} routes<ref name=MTA-QnsBusMap-Current/> to [[Whitestone, Queens|Whitestone]].<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932/>
On February 15, 1932, [[North Shore Bus Company]] began operating a bus service to replace the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Whitestone Branch]].<ref>{{cite news|title=New Bus Line Seen As Relief to Whitestone|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3956231/whitestone_branch_replaced_by_bus/|access-date=January 3, 2016|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=January 6, 1932|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028091836/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3956231/whitestone_branch_replaced_by_bus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whitestone Seen Served by Buses When L.I.R. Quits: City Shows No Signs of Activity to Give Rapid Transit to North Shore|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/57280090/?terms=%22whitestone%2Bbranch%22%2Bbus|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|access-date=January 5, 2016|page=3|date=January 5, 1932|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028091741/https://www.newspapers.com/image/57280090/?terms=%22whitestone%2Bbranch%22%2Bbus|url-status=live}}</ref> This service was labeled the "Q35".<ref name=LIDaily-QnsBus-April1934-Pg9>{{cite news|title=City Will Protect Bus Employees By Clauses in All New Franchises; 32 Separate Bids Made for Routes in Queens; Green Line Offers 15 Per Cent for Entire Borough|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201934%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201934%2520-%25201944.pdf|access-date=January 12, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=April 6, 1934|page=9|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215055943/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201934/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201934%20-%201944.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This service was different from the current {{NYC bus link|Q35}} service between [[Brooklyn]] and [[Rockaway Park, Queens|Rockaway Park]]. It ran from the Flushing–Main Street terminal, north along Linden Street (now Linden Place) and 127th Street to 14th Avenue through Flushing and [[College Point, Queens|College Point]].<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932>{{cite web|title=North Shore Bus Routes Changes By Repaving Work: Flushing and Whitestone Projects Necessitate Shifts in Three Lines|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/59975592/?terms=%22north%2Bshore%2Bbus%22|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|access-date=January 8, 2016|date=August 4, 1932|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511031112/https://www.newspapers.com/image/59975592/?terms=%22north%2Bshore%2Bbus%22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Whitestone Bus Express Service Is Discontinued: North Shore Bus Company Blames Lack of Adequate Patronage|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932%20-%202477.pdf|website=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Star|access-date=January 8, 2016|page=14|date=June 28, 1932|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320062537/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2015/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Star%201932%20-%202477.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This is the routing of the current {{NYC bus link|Q25}} bus in the area.<ref name=MTA-QnsBusMap-Current/> The original Q35 then ran east along 14th Avenue<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932/> before following the current {{NYC bus link|Q76}} and {{NYC bus link|Q15}} routes<ref name=MTA-QnsBusMap-Current/> to [[Whitestone, Queens|Whitestone]].<ref name=BklynEagle-NSBus-NewRoutes-1932/>


Line 118: Line 118:
=== Start of Q44 service ===
=== Start of Q44 service ===


[[File:Main St Union Tpke td (2018-05-22) 01.jpg|thumb|[[Q44 SBS (New York City bus)|Q44 SBS]] bus heading toward the Bronx through Kew Gardens Hills.]]
[[File:Main St Union Tpke td (2018-05-22) 01.jpg|thumb|A 2017 XD60 (6091) on the Bronx Zoo-bound [[Q44 SBS (New York City bus)|Q44 SBS]] at Main Street/Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens Hills in May 2018]]


In December 1936, North Shore applied for a franchise on route "Q-44" between Flushing and Jamaica via Main Street.<ref>{{cite news|title=Franchise Hearing: Motor Omnibus Lines, Queens|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201936%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201936%2520-%25207304.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=December 4, 1936|page=28|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060447/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201936/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201936%20-%207304.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 22, 1938, Q44 service began between Flushing–Main Street and Archer Avenue at the [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]] [[Long Island Rail Road]] station,<ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44start-Mar1938>{{cite news|title=Harvey Sees New Bus Route As Spur to Queens Shopping: Ceremonies Mark Opening of Jamaica-Flushing Transit Line|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25203153.pdf|access-date=January 8, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=March 23, 1938|location=Section Two|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060453/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%203153.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3003287;view=1up;seq=181|title=Eighteenth Annual Report For the Calendar Year 1938|publisher=Department of Public Service Metropolitan Division Transit Commission|year=1939|pages=171–172|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511032609/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3003287;view=1up;seq=181|url-status=live}}</ref> when Main Street was extended south to the Grand Central Parkway.<ref name=LIDaily-MainSt-Sept1938>{{cite news|title=Main Street Extension Is A 'Hot Potato': With Coming of Fall, Civic Leaders Are Again Demanding Action|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25205034.pdf|access-date=January 13, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=September 6, 1938|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060452/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%205034.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The company advertised the route as the shortest "from the entire North Shore" of Queens to Jamaica, running 15 minutes between terminals.<ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44-Courthouse-Feb1939>{{cite news|title=Buses to Pass Courthouse|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2520-%25201097.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=February 28, 1939|page=9|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060452/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939%20-%201097.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44Ad-March1938>{{cite news|author1=North Shore Bus Company|author-link=North Shore Bus Company|title=New Bus Line: Traveling Time Cut in HALF|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25203116.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=March 21, 1938|page=3|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060454/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%203116.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=North Shore Bus Company|author-link=North Shore Bus Company|title=Route Q-44: Flushing and Jamaica|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25200196.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=July 11, 1938|page=10|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060517/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%200196.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the opening of the [[Bronx–Whitestone Bridge]] in April 1939,<ref name=NYT1939>{{cite news |title=WHITESTONE SPAN OPENED BY MAYOR; New Bronx-Long Island Link Hailed as Symbol of City's Never-Ending Progress |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/whitestone-span-opened-by-mayor-new-bronxlong-island-link-hailed-as.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 30, 1939 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030452/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/whitestone-span-opened-by-mayor-new-bronxlong-island-link-hailed-as.html |url-status=live }}</ref> North Shore began operating bus service between West Farms Square in the Bronx and the [[1939 New York World's Fair]] in [[Flushing Meadows–Corona Park]] on July 1 of that year.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Bus Service In Bronx: Line Starts From West Farms Square and Runs to World's Fair|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/07/02/129146522.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 2, 1939|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061003/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/07/02/129146522.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 28, 1940, this route was combined with the Q44, running from [[Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike station]] (along the route that would become the {{NYC bus link|Q74}}) through Whitestone and along East 177th Street in the Bronx to Tremont Avenue and Boston Road at West Farms Square. An alternate branch ran to [[Westchester Square, Bronx]].<ref name=LIStar-NorthShoreZoneB-1942>{{cite news|title=For the Convenience of A, B and C Car Owners|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201942%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201942%2520-%25205404.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=December 22, 1942|page=7|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061003/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201942/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201942%20-%205404.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LIStar-Q44Bronx-UnionTpke-1940>{{cite news|title=New Bus Setup Links Bronx Span and Borough Hall: North Shore Extension Gives Service Via Flushing Center|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2520-%25204493.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=October 25, 1940|page=10|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061005/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201940/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201940%20-%204493.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bus Service to Whitestone|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2520-%25204912.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=October 25, 1940|page=11|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061015/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201940/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201940%20-%204912.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> By December of that year, the Q44 returned to Jamaica, running to the [[165th Street Bus Terminal]].<ref name=LIDaily-Q17-20-Dec1940/>
In December 1936, North Shore applied for a franchise on route "Q-44" between Flushing and Jamaica via Main Street.<ref>{{cite news|title=Franchise Hearing: Motor Omnibus Lines, Queens|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201936%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201936%2520-%25207304.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=December 4, 1936|page=28|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060447/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201936/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201936%20-%207304.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 22, 1938, Q44 service began between Flushing–Main Street and Archer Avenue at the [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]] [[Long Island Rail Road]] station,<ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44start-Mar1938>{{cite news|title=Harvey Sees New Bus Route As Spur to Queens Shopping: Ceremonies Mark Opening of Jamaica-Flushing Transit Line|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25203153.pdf|access-date=January 8, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=March 23, 1938|location=Section Two|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060453/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%203153.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3003287;view=1up;seq=181|title=Eighteenth Annual Report For the Calendar Year 1938|publisher=Department of Public Service Metropolitan Division Transit Commission|year=1939|pages=171–172|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511032609/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3003287;view=1up;seq=181|url-status=live}}</ref> when Main Street was extended south to the Grand Central Parkway.<ref name=LIDaily-MainSt-Sept1938>{{cite news|title=Main Street Extension Is A 'Hot Potato': With Coming of Fall, Civic Leaders Are Again Demanding Action|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25205034.pdf|access-date=January 13, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=September 6, 1938|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060452/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%205034.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The company advertised the route as the shortest "from the entire North Shore" of Queens to Jamaica, running 15 minutes between terminals.<ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44-Courthouse-Feb1939>{{cite news|title=Buses to Pass Courthouse|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2520-%25201097.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=February 28, 1939|page=9|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060452/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939%20-%201097.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LIDailyPress-Q44Ad-March1938>{{cite news|author1=North Shore Bus Company|author-link=North Shore Bus Company|title=New Bus Line: Traveling Time Cut in HALF|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25203116.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=March 21, 1938|page=3|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060454/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%203116.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=North Shore Bus Company|author-link=North Shore Bus Company|title=Route Q-44: Flushing and Jamaica|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201938%2520-%25200196.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=July 11, 1938|page=10|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215060517/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%200196.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the opening of the [[Bronx–Whitestone Bridge]] in April 1939,<ref name=NYT1939>{{cite news |title=WHITESTONE SPAN OPENED BY MAYOR; New Bronx-Long Island Link Hailed as Symbol of City's Never-Ending Progress |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/whitestone-span-opened-by-mayor-new-bronxlong-island-link-hailed-as.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 30, 1939 |access-date=November 4, 2007 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030452/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/whitestone-span-opened-by-mayor-new-bronxlong-island-link-hailed-as.html |url-status=live }}</ref> North Shore began operating bus service between West Farms Square in the Bronx and the [[1939 New York World's Fair]] in [[Flushing Meadows–Corona Park]] on July 1 of that year.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Bus Service In Bronx: Line Starts From West Farms Square and Runs to World's Fair|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/07/02/129146522.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 2, 1939|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061003/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/07/02/129146522.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 28, 1940, this route was combined with the Q44, running from [[Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike station]] (along the route that would become the {{NYC bus link|Q74}}) through Whitestone and along East 177th Street in the Bronx to Tremont Avenue and Boston Road at West Farms Square. An alternate branch ran to [[Westchester Square, Bronx]].<ref name=LIStar-NorthShoreZoneB-1942>{{cite news|title=For the Convenience of A, B and C Car Owners|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201942%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201942%2520-%25205404.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=December 22, 1942|page=7|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061003/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201942/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201942%20-%205404.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LIStar-Q44Bronx-UnionTpke-1940>{{cite news|title=New Bus Setup Links Bronx Span and Borough Hall: North Shore Extension Gives Service Via Flushing Center|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2520-%25204493.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=October 25, 1940|page=10|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061005/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201940/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201940%20-%204493.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bus Service to Whitestone|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2520-%25204912.pdf|access-date=January 9, 2016|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|date=October 25, 1940|page=11|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215061015/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201940/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201940%20-%204912.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> By December of that year, the Q44 returned to Jamaica, running to the [[165th Street Bus Terminal]].<ref name=LIDaily-Q17-20-Dec1940/>
Line 145: Line 145:


===Select Bus Service and service expansion===
===Select Bus Service and service expansion===
[[File:Q44 bendy bus on Main St jeh.jpg|thumb|A Q44 SBS bus in front of [[St. George's Church (Queens)|St George's Church]] in 2016]]
[[File:Q44 bendy bus on Main St jeh.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:NYCT Bus 2017 New Flyer XD60 6001.jpg|thumb|A 2012 Nova LFS Articulated (5924) at [[St. George's Church (Queens)|St George's Church]] in 2016, and a 2016 XD60 (6013) on the Jamaica-bound Q44 SBS at Main Street/62nd Road in Flushing.]]

[[File:NYCT Bus 2017 New Flyer XD60 6001.jpg|thumb|A Jamaica bound Q44 SBS in Flushing, Queens.]]


In 2004 and 2006, the Main Street corridor was identified as a potential route for Flushing-Jamaica [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) service, as part of the first phase of the MTA and DOT's [[Select Bus Service]] (SBS) plan.<ref name="q44 brt 2015-06-09">{{cite web | url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/downloads/pdf/2015-06-09-brt-flushing-jamaica-cb12.pdf | title=Q44 Select Bus Service: Queens Community Board 12 Transportation Committee | work=New York City Department of Transportation | date=June 9, 2015 | access-date=October 16, 2015 | archive-date=September 14, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914204014/https://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/downloads/pdf/2015-06-09-brt-flushing-jamaica-cb12.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYCBRT-2004">{{cite web|title=Bus Rapid Transit: NYCBRT Study|url=http://www.mta.info/mta/planning/brt/brt_presentation.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], [[New York City Department of Transportation]], [[New York State Department of Transportation]]|access-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050512082953/http://www.mta.info/mta/planning/brt/brt_presentation.pdf|archive-date=May 12, 2005|url-status=dead|date=2004}}</ref> The corridor was ultimately not included in the first phase of SBS routes.<ref name=DOTMTA-BRTSBSII-2009 /><ref name=MTA-Budget-Feb2008/> In February 2008, the MTA proposed an additional limited-stop service on the northern portion of the corridor between Flushing and [[Fordham Plaza, Bronx|Fordham Plaza]], provisionally named the Q94. Eliminating the required transfer to the {{NYC bus link|Bx9}} at East 180th Street, it was referred to as a "Super Limited", and would have also replaced the special {{NYC bus link|X32}} school service (since discontinued) between Queens and [[Bedford Park, Bronx|Bedford Park]].<ref name=MTA-Budget-Feb2008>{{cite web|title=MTA 2008 Adopted Budget: February Financial Plan 2008-2011|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/feb2008/0208_full.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 2008|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060955/http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/feb2008/0208_full.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYCDOT-FrdmPlzConceptDesign>{{cite web|title=Fordham Plaza: Conceptual Design Study|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/edc_fordham_plaza_conceptual.pdf|website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]]|publisher=[[New York City Department of Transportation]], [[New York City Economic Development Corporation]]|access-date=September 24, 2015|date=2010|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914145559/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/edc_fordham_plaza_conceptual.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Block|first1=Dorian|title=Upgrades for crowded subway & buses|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/upgrades-crowded-subway-buses-article-1.307787|work=[[Daily News (New York)]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 19, 2008|archive-date=December 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215081855/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/upgrades-crowded-subway-buses-article-1.307787|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bertrand|first1=Donald|title=Summer hike in subway, bus services|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/summer-hike-subway-bus-services-article-1.312417|work=[[Daily News (New York)]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 25, 2008|archive-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222192116/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/summer-hike-subway-bus-services-article-1.312417|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2004 and 2006, the Main Street corridor was identified as a potential route for Flushing-Jamaica [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) service, as part of the first phase of the MTA and DOT's [[Select Bus Service]] (SBS) plan.<ref name="q44 brt 2015-06-09">{{cite web | url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/downloads/pdf/2015-06-09-brt-flushing-jamaica-cb12.pdf | title=Q44 Select Bus Service: Queens Community Board 12 Transportation Committee | work=New York City Department of Transportation | date=June 9, 2015 | access-date=October 16, 2015 | archive-date=September 14, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914204014/https://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/downloads/pdf/2015-06-09-brt-flushing-jamaica-cb12.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYCBRT-2004">{{cite web|title=Bus Rapid Transit: NYCBRT Study|url=http://www.mta.info/mta/planning/brt/brt_presentation.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], [[New York City Department of Transportation]], [[New York State Department of Transportation]]|access-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050512082953/http://www.mta.info/mta/planning/brt/brt_presentation.pdf|archive-date=May 12, 2005|url-status=dead|date=2004}}</ref> The corridor was ultimately not included in the first phase of SBS routes.<ref name=DOTMTA-BRTSBSII-2009 /><ref name=MTA-Budget-Feb2008/> In February 2008, the MTA proposed an additional limited-stop service on the northern portion of the corridor between Flushing and [[Fordham Plaza, Bronx|Fordham Plaza]], provisionally named the Q94. Eliminating the required transfer to the {{NYC bus link|Bx9}} at East 180th Street, it was referred to as a "Super Limited", and would have also replaced the special {{NYC bus link|X32}} school service (since discontinued) between Queens and [[Bedford Park, Bronx|Bedford Park]].<ref name=MTA-Budget-Feb2008>{{cite web|title=MTA 2008 Adopted Budget: February Financial Plan 2008-2011|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/feb2008/0208_full.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 2008|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060955/http://web.mta.info/mta/budget/feb2008/0208_full.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYCDOT-FrdmPlzConceptDesign>{{cite web|title=Fordham Plaza: Conceptual Design Study|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/edc_fordham_plaza_conceptual.pdf|website=[[Government of New York City|nyc.gov]]|publisher=[[New York City Department of Transportation]], [[New York City Economic Development Corporation]]|access-date=September 24, 2015|date=2010|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914145559/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/edc_fordham_plaza_conceptual.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Block|first1=Dorian|title=Upgrades for crowded subway & buses|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/upgrades-crowded-subway-buses-article-1.307787|work=[[Daily News (New York)]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 19, 2008|archive-date=December 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215081855/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/upgrades-crowded-subway-buses-article-1.307787|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bertrand|first1=Donald|title=Summer hike in subway, bus services|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/summer-hike-subway-bus-services-article-1.312417|work=[[Daily News (New York)]]|access-date=December 26, 2015|date=February 25, 2008|archive-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222192116/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/summer-hike-subway-bus-services-article-1.312417|url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 164: Line 163:


== Incidents ==
== Incidents ==
[[File:MTA Main St Northern Bl 13.jpg|thumb|right|The intersection of Main Street and Northern Boulevard as seen on September 26, 2017, eight days after a crash between a Q20A and a tour bus. The crash damaged the building on the left, which has scaffolding on it as a result of the collision.]]
[[File:MTA Main St Northern Bl 13.jpg|thumb|right|The intersection of Main Street/Northern Boulevard as seen on September 26, 2017, eight days after a crash between a 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4178) on the Q20A and a tour bus. The crash damaged the building on the left, which has scaffolding on it as a result of the collision.]]
On September 18, 2017, during the morning rush hour, a private tour bus moving at a high speed collided with the back of a New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 Q20A bus turning from Main Street onto Northern Boulevard in Flushing. The bus then plowed into a [[Kennedy Fried Chicken]] restaurant at the corner of the intersection. The accident killed 3 people including the tour bus driver, and injured at least 17.<ref name=DNAInfo-BusesCrash-2017>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170918/flushing/flushing-bus-crash-northern-main-mta|title=3 Dead and 16 Hurt as 2 Buses Crash in Flushing, Officials Say|first1=Aidan|last1=Gardiner|first2=Trevor|last2=Kapp|first3=Katie|last3=Honan|date=September 18, 2017|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918233953/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170918/flushing/flushing-bus-crash-northern-main-mta|archive-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/nyregion/bus-crash-queens.html|title=3 Killed and More Than a Dozen Injured in Bus Crash in Queens|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|date=September 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 18, 2017|last2=Harris|first2=Elizabeth A.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918143025/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/nyregion/bus-crash-queens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The private charter bus company had been repeatedly cited for reckless driving.<ref name=DNAInfo-BusesCrash-2017/><ref name="NYDaily-Q20Crash-Sep2017"/> The charter driver was a former MTA bus driver, until he was fired in April 2015 after a crash in his personal automobile in which he pleaded guilty to [[driving under the influence]] and leaving the scene of the crash.<ref name="NYDaily-Q20Crash-Sep2017">{{cite news|last1=Ray|first1=Esha|last2=Crane-Newman|first2=Molly|last3=Dimon|first3=Laura|last4=Brown|first4=Stephen Rex|title=Tour bus driver races through Queens intersection and plows into MTA bus, killing three, injuring 17 others|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/killed-16-injured-mta-bus-tour-bus-collide-queens-article-1.3503764|access-date=September 19, 2017|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918223043/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/killed-16-injured-mta-bus-tour-bus-collide-queens-article-1.3503764|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rivoli|first1=Dan|last2=Parascandola|first2=Rocco|last3=Rayman|first3=Graham|title=Tour bus driver killed in Queens crash had license suspended after DUI crash that hurt three in 2015|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/tour-bus-driver-killed-queens-crash-2015-dui-conviction-article-1.3504636|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918233419/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/tour-bus-driver-killed-queens-crash-2015-dui-conviction-article-1.3504636|url-status=live}}</ref>
On September 18, 2017, during the morning rush hour, a private tour bus moving at a high speed collided with the back of a New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 Q20A bus turning from Main Street onto Northern Boulevard in Flushing. The bus then plowed into a [[Kennedy Fried Chicken]] restaurant at the corner of the intersection. The accident killed 3 people including the tour bus driver, and injured at least 17.<ref name=DNAInfo-BusesCrash-2017>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170918/flushing/flushing-bus-crash-northern-main-mta|title=3 Dead and 16 Hurt as 2 Buses Crash in Flushing, Officials Say|first1=Aidan|last1=Gardiner|first2=Trevor|last2=Kapp|first3=Katie|last3=Honan|date=September 18, 2017|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918233953/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170918/flushing/flushing-bus-crash-northern-main-mta|archive-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/nyregion/bus-crash-queens.html|title=3 Killed and More Than a Dozen Injured in Bus Crash in Queens|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|date=September 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 18, 2017|last2=Harris|first2=Elizabeth A.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918143025/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/nyregion/bus-crash-queens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The private charter bus company had been repeatedly cited for reckless driving.<ref name=DNAInfo-BusesCrash-2017/><ref name="NYDaily-Q20Crash-Sep2017"/> The charter driver was a former MTA bus driver, until he was fired in April 2015 after a crash in his personal automobile in which he pleaded guilty to [[driving under the influence]] and leaving the scene of the crash.<ref name="NYDaily-Q20Crash-Sep2017">{{cite news|last1=Ray|first1=Esha|last2=Crane-Newman|first2=Molly|last3=Dimon|first3=Laura|last4=Brown|first4=Stephen Rex|title=Tour bus driver races through Queens intersection and plows into MTA bus, killing three, injuring 17 others|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/killed-16-injured-mta-bus-tour-bus-collide-queens-article-1.3503764|access-date=September 19, 2017|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918223043/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/killed-16-injured-mta-bus-tour-bus-collide-queens-article-1.3503764|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rivoli|first1=Dan|last2=Parascandola|first2=Rocco|last3=Rayman|first3=Graham|title=Tour bus driver killed in Queens crash had license suspended after DUI crash that hurt three in 2015|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/tour-bus-driver-killed-queens-crash-2015-dui-conviction-article-1.3504636|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918233419/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/tour-bus-driver-killed-queens-crash-2015-dui-conviction-article-1.3504636|url-status=live}}</ref>



Revision as of 12:36, 11 August 2024

q20a, q20b
q44
Main Street Lines
A 2017 XD60 (5990) on the Q44 SBS in the Bronx and at Main Street/Northern Boulevard in Queens.
Overview
SystemMTA Regional Bus Operations
OperatorNew York City Transit Authority
GarageCasey Stengel Depot
VehicleQ20A/B:

Q44:

Began service1932 (Whitestone Branch service)
1937 (Q20 Flushing-College Point service)
1938 (Q44 Flushing-Jamaica service)
1940 (Q44 Bronx-Jamaica service)
1999 (Q44 limited-stop service; Q20A/B College Point-Jamaica service)
2015 (Q44 SBS)
Route
LocaleQueens and The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Communities servedQueens: Jamaica, Briarwood, Kew Gardens Hills, Queensboro Hill, Flushing, Whitestone, College Point[1]
The Bronx (Q44): Throggs Neck, Unionport, Parkchester, Bronx River, West Farms, Bronx Park[1]
StartJamaica, Queens – Merrick Boulevard
ViaMain Street, Union Street, Parsons Boulevard
Q44 (Bronx): East 177th Street
EndQ20A/B: College Point, Queens – College Point Boulevard & 15th Avenue
Q44: Bronx Zoo/West Farms Square – East 180th Street
LengthQ20A/B: 9.8 miles (15.8 km)
Q44: 13.9 miles (22.4 km)[1][2]
Service
Operates24 hours (Q20A, Q44)[3][4]
Weekdays only between 5 a.m. and 12 a.m. (Q20B)[3]
Annual patronageQ20A/B: 3,235,444 (2023)[5]
Q44: 4,715,292 (2023)[5]
TransfersYes
TimetableQ20A/B
Q44 SBS
← Q19
Q43
B46 SBS (by borough)
B44 SBS (by route number)
 {{{system_nav}}}  Q21
Q46
Q52 SBS
B46 SBS →

The Q20A and Q20B (collectively referred to as Q20A/B or Q20) and Q44 bus routes constitute the Main Street Line, a public transit line in Queens, New York City, running primarily along Main Street between two major bus-subway hubs in the neighborhoods of Jamaica and Flushing. The Q20A/B terminates in College Point at the north end of Queens. The Q44 continues north into the borough of the Bronx, terminating in the West Farms neighborhood near the Bronx Zoo. The Q44 is one of two Queens bus routes to operate between the two boroughs (along with the Q50).

The Q44 and Q20 were originally operated by the North Shore Bus Company from the 1930s to 1947; they are now operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations under the New York City Transit brand. In June 1999, the Q44 began limited stop service in Queens, with the Q20 split into two branches to provide local service. On November 29, 2015, the Q44 was converted into a Select Bus Service (SBS) route.

Route description and service

Q44

A 2016 New Flyer XD60 (6013) on the Q44 SBS at Hugh Grant Circle/Westchester Avenue near Parkchester station in the Bronx
A 2015 XD40 (7386) on the Jamaica-bound Q44 SBS used as a supplement to the normal articulated fleet

The current Q44 route begins at the intersection of Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue in Downtown Jamaica, Queens (or Jamaica Center), just south of the 165th Street Bus Terminal. This terminus is shared with the Q17. Traveling west along Archer Avenue, it passes the Jamaica Center station of the Archer Avenue subway and its bus terminal. At the Sutphin Boulevard subway station, which connects to the Jamaica station of the Long Island Rail Road and AirTrain JFK, the route turns north onto Sutphin Boulevard. It then turns west onto Hillside Avenue and north onto Queens Boulevard, interchanging with two stations of the IND Queens Boulevard Line.[1][4][6][7]

At Main Street the Q44 turns north, running the entire distance of the street between Queens Boulevard and Northern Boulevard in Downtown Flushing (also known as Flushing Chinatown). In Downtown Flushing is the Flushing–Main Street terminal, where several bus lines, the IRT Flushing Line subway, and the LIRR Port Washington Branch interchange. The Q44 shifts onto Union Street and Parsons Boulevard to 14th Avenue in Whitestone. It then enters the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge, sharing the bridge with the Q50. Throughout Queens, the Q44 provides limited-stop service, making intermittent stops primarily at major intersections and points of interest.[1][4][6][7]

After entering the Bronx, the Q44 and Q50 follow the Hutchinson River Parkway service road to just south of the Bruckner Interchange, making only two stops: one at Lafayette Avenue, and another one at Brush Avenue and Bruckner Blvd, where passengers can also connect to the Bx5 bus. While the Q50 turns east to follow the Bx5, the Q44 turns west onto East 177th Street (the Cross Bronx Expressway service road), running along either direction of the road. At the Parkchester subway station, the Q44 goes around the Hugh J. Grant Circle. The Q44 continues along East 177th Street until the interchange with the Sheridan Expressway, where it turns north onto Devoe Avenue. The Q44 stops at East Tremont Avenue near the West Farms Square subway station, and terminates at East 180th Street at the southern boundary of the Bronx Zoo. Buses lay over on a bridge over the Bronx River, before reentering service on Boston Road. Although the Q44's northern terminal is signed as "Bronx Zoo" (formerly "Bronx Zoo − West Farms Square"), the zoo is not accessible from this location; the closest entrance is several blocks north at Bronx Park South and Boston Road.[1][4][6][8]

Prior to 1999, the Q44 ran entirely local between Jamaica, Queens and West Farms, Bronx. It was the only bus service along Main Street in Queens.[9] Before the implementation of Select Bus Service in November 2015, the route ran entirely local along East 177th Street. Now it employs an equivalent to limited-stop service on East 177th Street, but with no additional local route operating along the street.[10]

A Q20/44 bus stop at Queensboro Hill Library

Select Bus Service stops

Station
Street traveled
Direction Connections
The Bronx
East 180th Street / Devoe Avenue
Bronx Zoo
Northern terminus NYC Bus: Bx9, Bx40, Bx42
Boston Road / East 180th Street Southbound station
East Tremont Avenue / East 177th Street Southbound

NYC Bus: Bx9, Bx21, Bx36
NYC Subway: "2" train"5" train trains at West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue

Devoe Av / Wyatt Street Northbound
Rosedale / Commonwealth Avenues
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Bidirectional

NYC Bus: Bx11

Beach Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Southbound

NYC Bus: Bx11

Taylor Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Northbound

NYC Bus: Bx11

Westchester / Virginia Avenues
Hugh J. Grant Circle
Southbound

NYC Bus: Bx4, Bx4A, Bx11, Bx36, Bx39
MTA Bus: BxM6
NYC Subway: "6" train"6" express train​ trains at Parkchester

Metropolitan Avenue
Hugh J. Grant Circle
Northbound
Newbold Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Northbound
Pugsley Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Southbound
Haviland Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Northbound

NYC Bus: Bx22 at Castle Hill Avenue

Castle Hill Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Southbound

NYC Bus: Bx22

Zerega Avenue
(East 177th Street/Cross Bronx Expressway)
Northbound

Note: This northbound Bronx bus stop is for drop-offs only.

Brush Avenue
(Bruckner Boulevard)
Bidirectional

NYC Bus: Bx5
MTA Bus: Q50

Lafayette Avenue
(Hutchinson River Parkway)

MTA Bus: Q50

Bronx–Whitestone Bridge
Queens
14th Avenue
(Parsons Boulevard)
Bidirectional

NYC Bus: Q20B, Q76
MTA Bus: QM2

20th Avenue
(Parsons Boulevard)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q76
MTA Bus: QM2

26th Avenue
(Union Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B
MTA Bus: Q34, QM2, QM20

31st Road / Bayside Avenue
(Union Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q16

35th Avenue
(Union Street)

NYC Bus: Q17, Q20A, Q20B, Q27, Q50
MTA Bus: Q25, Q34

38th / 39th Avenues
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q12, Q13, Q15, Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q20A, Q20B, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q48
MTA Bus: Q19, Q25, Q34, Q50, Q65, Q66

NICE Bus: n20G
NYC Subway: "7" train"7" express train​ trains at Flushing–Main Street
Note: The northbound stop at 38th Avenue is for pick-ups only, while the northbound stop at 39th Avenue is for drop-offs only.

41st Avenue / Kissena Boulevard
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q17, Q20A, Q20B, Q27, Q58
MTA Bus: Q25, Q34, Q65
NICE Bus: n20G
LIRR: Port Washington Branch at Flushing–Main Street

Elder Avenue
Queens Botanical Garden
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Booth Memorial Avenue
NewYork–Presbyterian/Queens
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Horace Harding Expressway / 60th Avenue
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q88

146th Street / 63rd Avenue
Queens College
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Melbourne Avenue
Queens College
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Jewel Avenue
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B
MTA Bus: Q64, QM4, QM44

73rd Avenue
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Union Turnpike
(Main Street)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q46
MTA Bus: QM1, QM5, QM6, QM7, QM8, QM31, QM35, QM36

139th Street
Archbishop Molloy High School
(Main Street)
Southbound

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B

Queens Boulevard / Manton Street
(Main Street)
Bidirectional

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, X63, X64, X68
MTA Bus: Q60, QM21
NYC Subway: "E" train"F" train"F" express train trains at Briarwood
Note: Bronx-bound buses stop at Main Street and Manton Street; Jamaica-bound buses stop at Queens Boulevard and 84th Drive near Main Street.

Hillside Avenue
(Sutphin Boulevard)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q43, X68
NYC Subway: "F" train"F" express train train at Sutphin Boulevard

Jamaica Avenue
(Sutphin Boulevard)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q43, Q54, Q56 (Q30, Q31 westbound only)
MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q25, Q34, Q40, Q41, Q60, Q65

Sutphin Boulevard
(Archer Avenue)

NYC Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q43, Q54, Q56 (Q24, Q30, Q31 eastbound only)
MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q25, Q34, Q40, Q41, Q60, Q65
NYC Subway: "E" train​​"J" train"Z" train trains at Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport
LIRR / AirTrain JFK: Jamaica

153rd / 158th Streets
Jamaica Center Bus Terminal
(Archer Avenue)

NYC Bus: Q4, Q5, Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q42, Q54, Q56, Q83, Q84, Q85
MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q25, Q34, Q41, Q65, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, Q114
NICE Bus: n4, n4X
NYC Subway: "E" train​​"J" train"Z" train trains at Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer

Merrick Boulevard
(Archer Avenue)
Southern terminus,
northbound station

NYC Bus: Q4, Q5, Q17, Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q84, Q85
NICE Bus: n4

At 165th Street Bus Terminal:
NYC Bus: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q17, Q30, Q31, Q36, Q76, Q77
MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q41
NICE Bus: n1, n6, n22, n24, n26

Q20A/B

A 2015 XD40 (7428) on the College Point-bound Q20A in Downtown Jamaica.

The Q20A and B services share the same routing as the Q44 between Jamaica and Whitestone, before diverging west towards their shared terminal in College Point near Flushing Bay. The Q20A branches off at 20th Avenue, running along the northern edge of the former Flushing Airport and serving a large shopping center. This route is shared with the Q76. The Q20B turns west farther north at 14th Avenue, running through a much more residential area. Both the 20th and 14th Avenue routes were part of the original Q20, which only ran between College Point and Downtown Flushing. Both routes provide local service, but the Q20A runs at all times, while the Q20B operates only on weekdays.[7][11]

History

Original route

Two 2012 Nova Bus articulated LFSs (5916 & 5928) in Flushing, Queens in July 2015, five months before implementation of Select Bus Service.

On February 15, 1932, North Shore Bus Company began operating a bus service to replace the Long Island Rail Road's Whitestone Branch.[12][13] This service was labeled the "Q35".[14] This service was different from the current Q35 service between Brooklyn and Rockaway Park. It ran from the Flushing–Main Street terminal, north along Linden Street (now Linden Place) and 127th Street to 14th Avenue through Flushing and College Point.[15][16] This is the routing of the current Q25 bus in the area.[7] The original Q35 then ran east along 14th Avenue[15] before following the current Q76 and Q15 routes[7] to Whitestone.[15]

On May 2, 1933, North Shore Bus began a shuttle service along Main Street between Main Street/Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Flushing and Horace Harding Boulevard (now the Long Island Expressway) in Queensboro Hill. This was the predecessor to Q44 service.[17] At the time, Main Street had yet to be extended south past Reeves Avenue (the north end of modern Queens College).[18]

On September 22, 1935, the North Shore Bus Company acquired, but did not merge with, the Flushing Heights Bus Corporation which operated the Q17 and the Q25 services between Jamaica and Flushing.[19][20] North Shore only acquired the Q25 on a temporary basis;[21] as compensation, the city assured the company that they would get a new route between Flushing and Jamaica via Main Street.[21] This was planned to go into service after the extension of Main Street, including a bridge over the Grand Central Parkway, was completed.[21] In 1937, several major bus route changes occurred. Queens–Nassau Transit took over the Q25 service and combined it with their Q34 route along Linden Place and 127th Street in College Point (predecessor to the northern portion of the current Q25). The Q35 was discontinued by North Shore, and was replaced by a new Q20 service.[21][22][23][24] The route of the Q20 was the same as the current route of the Q20B (via 14th Avenue), except that it continued north along 122nd Street (now College Point Boulevard) and followed the same looping route as the current Q25 (then Q34) near MacNeil Park at the north end of the borough.[23][25][26]

Start of Q44 service

A 2017 XD60 (6091) on the Bronx Zoo-bound Q44 SBS at Main Street/Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens Hills in May 2018

In December 1936, North Shore applied for a franchise on route "Q-44" between Flushing and Jamaica via Main Street.[27] On March 22, 1938, Q44 service began between Flushing–Main Street and Archer Avenue at the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road station,[28][29] when Main Street was extended south to the Grand Central Parkway.[30] The company advertised the route as the shortest "from the entire North Shore" of Queens to Jamaica, running 15 minutes between terminals.[31][32][33] Following the opening of the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge in April 1939,[34] North Shore began operating bus service between West Farms Square in the Bronx and the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park on July 1 of that year.[35] On October 28, 1940, this route was combined with the Q44, running from Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike station (along the route that would become the Q74) through Whitestone and along East 177th Street in the Bronx to Tremont Avenue and Boston Road at West Farms Square. An alternate branch ran to Westchester Square, Bronx.[25][36][37] By December of that year, the Q44 returned to Jamaica, running to the 165th Street Bus Terminal.[38]

On July 1, 1939, the Q20 became interlined with the Q17, meaning that south of Flushing the bus would continue via the Q17 route to the Jamaica−165th Street terminal.[25][39] The service was designated "Q17-20" or "Q20-17" and rollsigns would display Q17/20.[25][38][40][41] Beginning on June 8, 1942, due to restrictions on gasoline and tire usage during World War II, the service was truncated to 14th Avenue and 122nd Street in College Point.[25][42] Service north of 14th Avenue was restored on February 4, 1946.[40] The Q20 was separated from the Q17 during off-peak "base period" hours on January 27, 1947.[43] In March of that year, North Shore Bus would be taken over by the New York City Board of Transportation (later the New York City Transit Authority [NYCTA]), making the bus routes city operated.[44][45][46] The joint Q17-20 service later became popular among students of St. John's University, and residents from Jamaica Estates and Flushing Heights (now Kew Gardens Hills) shopping in Downtown Flushing.[2][47][48]

On February 3, 1957, the NYCTA separated the Q17 and Q20 services at all times, eliminated service north of 14th Avenue and 122nd Street (College Point Boulevard), and renamed the Q20 the Q44FS (Flushing Shuttle).[2][26][47][49] It was one of several routes using the "Q44" designation including the Q44 itself, the Q44A (now the Q46), the Q44B (a shuttle to Malba, Queens which has since been discontinued), and the Q44VP (later the Q74).[2][25][50][51]

During the 1964 New York World's Fair, special Q44 service was inaugurated, running to the Rodman Street entrance of Flushing Meadows Park. The routes, designated "Q44 WF" and marked "World's Fair", originated from either West Farms Square or 165th Street and made stops on the Bronx or Queens portions of the route respectively before terminating at the fair.[52][53]

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.[54][55] Queens Borough President Mario Cariello had sent a letter to the NYCTA asking for the change in service to be reversed on July 18. The NYCTA had made the change in service at his request in April. Cariello noted that many of his constituents had requested the change.[56]

In December 1967, the NYCTA transmitted a proposed extension of the Q44 by 4.33 miles (6.97 km) to serve Co-Op City and to make a minor change at the western terminal of the route due to the conversion of some streets to one-way to the Board of Estimate.[57] In October 1969, the General Superintendent of the NYCTA recommended modifying the route of the Q44 in the Bronx to eliminate its use of streets deemed to be "inadequate for bus passage." The route would be modified to run along East Tremont Avenue between Boston Road and Bryant Avenue, Bryant Avenue between Boston Road and East Tremont Avenue, and Boston Road between Bryant Avenue and East Tremont Avenue.[58]

Reroutes and institution of limited-stop service

On April 15, 1990,[59] the Q44FS was renumbered to Q20; at this time 20th Avenue service began, when the street was widened and the shopping center was constructed.[60] In September 1995, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) eliminated weekend service on the Q20, making it a weekday-only service.[61] On January 11, 1998, the Q44 began running on Archer Avenue between Merrick Boulevard and Sutphin Boulevard in both directions to provide direct access to the Long Island Rail Road's Jamaica station and to eliminate difficult turns on congested streets.[62] A new turnaround loop was set up using Archer Avenue, 168th Street, Jamaica Avenue, and Merrick Boulevard. Previously, southbound buses ran along Jamaica Avenue until Merrick Boulevard, and northbound buses ran along Archer Avenue and 153rd Street until they turned onto Jamaica Avenue. This change was presented to the MTA Board for approval in November 1997, and was initially going to take effect in December 1997.[63]

On June 27, 1999,[64] the Q44 began limited-stop service in Queens, with the Q20 split into two branches (Q20A and Q20B) to provide local service, with the Q20B providing service along the old Q20 route on 14th Street, and the Q20A providing new service along 20th Avenue. The addition of service along 20th Avenue was done at the request of owners of commercial developments on the avenue, such as BJ's and Target.[65] Weekend service was also restored on the Q20A. Since the Q44 became limited, the Q20 was extended south along Main Street to make local stops.[9] Prior to the change, Q20 service had run during weekdays only from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. at frequencies of 15 to 30 minutes.[66] At this time, the Q44 was shifted from its historical route in the neighborhood of Briarwood between Union Turnpike and Hillside Avenue. It had previously turned east onto the Grand Central Parkway service road and then turned south onto 150th Street towards Jamaica,[9][28][31][32][51] the same route employed since 1938 when Main Street dead-ended at the Grand Central service road.[30][67] It was rerouted to continue south via Main Street, and then via Queens Boulevard to Hillside Avenue.[9] Initially, Q44 buses made limited stops from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The changes in service on the Q44 and Q20 were made to increase ridership growth and to serve new markets.[65] On July 29, 1999, a meeting was held at Borough Hall, with officials of the MTA in attendance, to discuss the changes. Many riders spoke against the changes, noting that the change made it harder for senior citizens and people with disabilities who had used the stops along 150th Street, and that the change added an additional transfer to complete their trips, requiring an additional fare. A spokesperson for the MTA said that it had no plans to revert the change in service, and noted that the areas on Queens Boulevard and Main Street that the Q44 was rerouted to had increased in density.[68] Briarwood residents had organized and circulated a petition in opposition to the loss of bus service on 150th Street soon after the changes took effect. This change was announced to elected officials in late March 1999, and was approved by the MTA Board on April 15, 1999.[69]

On April 1, 2005, Q44 limited-stop service at Main Street and Sanford Avenue was discontinued, with service continuing to be provided by the Q20A and Q20B.[70]

Select Bus Service and service expansion

A 2012 Nova LFS Articulated (5924) at St George's Church in 2016, and a 2016 XD60 (6013) on the Jamaica-bound Q44 SBS at Main Street/62nd Road in Flushing.

In 2004 and 2006, the Main Street corridor was identified as a potential route for Flushing-Jamaica bus rapid transit (BRT) service, as part of the first phase of the MTA and DOT's Select Bus Service (SBS) plan.[6][71] The corridor was ultimately not included in the first phase of SBS routes.[72][73] In February 2008, the MTA proposed an additional limited-stop service on the northern portion of the corridor between Flushing and Fordham Plaza, provisionally named the Q94. Eliminating the required transfer to the Bx9 at East 180th Street, it was referred to as a "Super Limited", and would have also replaced the special X32 school service (since discontinued) between Queens and Bedford Park.[73][74][75][76]

Though the Q94 was never implemented, the Q44 route was included in the SBS Phase II study in 2009.[6][72][77] By 2013, the Q44 was the first route in Queens to have a full fleet of articulated buses;[78][79][80] the same buses (the Nova Bus LFS model) used on SBS service. In 2014, the 164th Street corridor (Q65) and the Parsons/Kissena corridor (Q25 and Q34) joined the Main Street corridor as potential SBS routes between Flushing and Jamaica.[81][82] The Q25 Limited and Q44 Limited were selected for further studies, with the Q44 prioritized due to its high ridership, interborough connection between Queens and the Bronx, and the width of Main Street to facilitate bus lanes.[1][83] As part of the conversion, eight stops in the Bronx were eliminated; those retained constituted 85% of passenger usage in the borough. Several limited stops in the Jamaica business district were also eliminated.[10] In addition, Q44 Limited stops at Guy R Brewer Boulevard/165th Street and Archer Avenue, Main Street and Northern Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard and 17th Avenue, Parsons Boulevard and 21st Avenue, and the southbound only stop at Whitestone Expressway and Center Drive were eliminated.[84]

On November 29, 2015, the Q44 SBS began service, operating 24 hours a day. The Q20A became a full-time route to replace the discontinued late-night-only Q44 local route.[1][85]

Bike racks

In January 2023, the MTA released a strategic action plan by the name of Extending Transit's Reach. As a part of this plan, the Q44 SBS was scheduled to receive bike rack installation on its buses.[86]

Bus redesign

In December 2019, the MTA released a draft redesign of the Queens bus network.[87][88] As part of the redesign, the Q44 would have become a "high-density" route called the QT44 and would be extended in the Bronx to Fordham Plaza Bus Terminal. The Q20 would have been replaced by a "neighborhood" route, the QT86, which would run from Linden Place in College Point to Cooper Avenue in Glendale, leaving the Main Street corridor at Vleigh Place. The 20th and 14th Avenue corridors would have been served by the QT64 and QT84, respectively.[89]

The redesign was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City in 2020,[90] and the original draft plan was dropped due to negative feedback.[91] A revised plan was released in March 2022.[92] Under the new plan, the Q44 would have still been extended to Fordham Plaza and the northbound stop for Kissena Boulevard would be removed. The Q20 would have still run on Main Street but would no longer have branches; the 20th and 14th Avenue corridors would be taken over by the Q76 and Q31, respectively. The northern part of the Q20 would have taken over the Q15's routing in Beechhurst, while its southern terminus would have been cut back to the Briarwood station.[93] A final bus-redesign plan was released in December 2023.[94][95] The Q20's branches would be combined into a single route, which would run at all times using the Q20B's existing routing via 14th Avenue; the 20th Avenue routing would be served by the Q76 and a new Q62 route. The Q20 would be diverted to serve the Mitchell-Linden Houses in Flushing, previously served by the Q34 (which would be eliminated). The Q20 would also be diverted upon entering Jamaica, following the Q60 towards Jamaica Avenue, and then heading right on Sutphin Boulevard. The Q44 would remain unchanged.[96]

Incidents

The intersection of Main Street/Northern Boulevard as seen on September 26, 2017, eight days after a crash between a 2009 Orion VII NG HEV (4178) on the Q20A and a tour bus. The crash damaged the building on the left, which has scaffolding on it as a result of the collision.

On September 18, 2017, during the morning rush hour, a private tour bus moving at a high speed collided with the back of a New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 Q20A bus turning from Main Street onto Northern Boulevard in Flushing. The bus then plowed into a Kennedy Fried Chicken restaurant at the corner of the intersection. The accident killed 3 people including the tour bus driver, and injured at least 17.[97][98] The private charter bus company had been repeatedly cited for reckless driving.[97][99] The charter driver was a former MTA bus driver, until he was fired in April 2015 after a crash in his personal automobile in which he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the crash.[99][100]

See also

References

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