August 21, 2025
St. John’s University students who travel to the Queens, NY, campus by bus will notice some changes to their traditional routes when Fall semester classes begin September 3.
As part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA), Queens Bus Network Redesign, modifications have been made to bus routes that serve the campus along both Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike.
Changes went into effect on June 29. It is the first significant redesign of Queens bus routes in decades, the MTA says, prompted by the borough’s growth and changing travel patterns.
Queens is New York City’s most bus-reliant borough, with more than 800,000 people riding its 124 routes daily.
"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, the division of the MTA that operates the city’s 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.”
Of interest to the St. John’s community, the redesign adds a new category of bus route. “Rush” routes are designed to get riders to their destinations faster with limited-stop portions added to traditional local routes.
Changes to Bus Service Along Utopia Parkway
Q30 and Q75 Rush Service
Riders of buses that travel along Utopia Parkway will notice the Q30 Rush and Q75 Rush routes. Heading to campus from the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station in Jamaica, these limited-stop buses stop at Utopia Parkway and Kildare Road (Gate 1); and at Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike only. Traveling to Jamaica, buses stop at Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike; and at Utopia Parkway and 82nd Avenue (Gate 8) with continuing limited-stop service to the LIRR station.
Q31 Local Service
Riders who require local service along Utopia Parkway should take the Q31 to and from the Jamaica LIRR station. Heading to campus, the Q31 stops at Utopia Parkway and Kildare Road (Gate 1), and at Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike. Heading to Jamaica, riders can board the Q31 at Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike; at Utopia Parkway and Stadium Road (Gate 2); and at Utopia Parkway and 82nd Avenue (Gate 8).
Changes to Bus Service Along Union Turnpike
Q46 and Q48 Rush Service
Riders of buses that travel east and west along Union Turnpike will notice Q46 Rush and Q48 Rush service. Both routes travel between the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike subway station and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Glen Oaks, but now have limited-stop service west of 188th Street. Traveling to and from Kew Gardens to the campus, buses stop at Union Turnpike and Utopia Parkway only.
Q45 Local Service
The new Q45 route offers local service between Kew Gardens and 188th Street in Fresh Meadows. Traveling east to Fresh Meadows, buses stop along Union Turnpike at 168th Street, 173rd Street, and Utopia Parkway. Traveling west to Kew Gardens, buses along Union Turnpike stop at Utopia Parkway, 174th Street, and 168thStreet.
Interactive maps of all the routes are available at the Queens Bus Network Redesign website.