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| Q75 route question (118471) | |
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| (118474) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by Osmosis Jones on Thu Oct 9 17:28:28 2008, in response to Q75 route question, posted by trainsarefun on Thu Oct 9 16:53:36 2008. I think that it's going to be extended there by the end of next year. |
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| (118506) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by The I Man on Thu Oct 9 19:17:08 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by Osmosis Jones on Thu Oct 9 17:28:28 2008. Thats the plan |
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| (118585) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by trainsarefun on Thu Oct 9 22:29:58 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by Osmosis Jones on Thu Oct 9 17:28:28 2008. True, that has been the recent proposal. But why was the terminal originally picked to be so out of the way? |
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| (118700) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by The I Man on Fri Oct 10 20:39:25 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by trainsarefun on Thu Oct 9 22:29:58 2008. When the route started out in 1950 it was designed to connect between the then new 179 Street Subway Terminal, Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens. These formally rural areas were undergoing a major building boom and there was no transit at the time to serve them. The terminal at 69 Ave and 230 Street is right next to Alley Pond Park in the woods and is in one of the remotest areas in the whole transit system. The Q-75 actually was once a busy route. Looking at an old schedule printed in the 1960's, rush hour headway was only 6 minutes at the height of the rush hour, the line ran until 1AM and on Saturdays too.Two things caused ridership to severely drop: 1- The start of Express Bus Service(QM-1 and QM-1A). 2- The success of the then new Q-88 line, begun in 1975 and now the dominant route on 73rd Ave. Saturday service ended in the 80's and service was cut back to end at 9PM. Base service is only every 30 min and West of 188 Street the routes serves as a back up to the very busy Q-17, with very light traffic east of 188 ST. I hope that the extension becomes reality and service is not cut back further. Its a handy route to have in my area and a good alternative to the crowded Q-27 and long Q-88. |
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| (118715) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by trainsarefun on Fri Oct 10 23:48:13 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by The I Man on Fri Oct 10 20:39:25 2008. Thanks for the history lesson.The Q-75 actually was once a busy route. Looking at an old schedule printed in the 1960's, rush hour headway was only 6 minutes at the height of the rush hour, the line ran until 1AM and on Saturdays too. Actually, in terms of the route, I feel that if it were run north to QCC instead of making the turn on 69th Av to head east towards the park, there would be a good deal more demand, and hopefully the route could be a real draw. The Q27 route in that area needs all of the help that it can get, and the Q30 route gets clobbered with a lot of student traffic. It would be a handy alternative to the subway, and it might really work to the advantage of many commuters. Two things caused ridership to severely drop: 1- The start of Express Bus Service(QM-1 and QM-1A). Indeed. The busiest express route run by either NYCT or MTAB? Freakishly good service intervals on the QM1/A and QM2/A. I could see the express service really depressing Q75 ridership, especially when the off-peak express bus fare when Queens Surface still ran the routes was half-fare, and even more so in the pre-metrocard days. 2- The success of the then new Q-88 line, begun in 1975 and now the dominant route on 73rd Ave. I'm trying to figure that one out. Obviously, it's the bus to the malls in central Queens, and to Queens College, but on paper anyway, the Q75 route is fairly quick and direct to Jamaica, and the fastest way to the subway in the area (at least, if you time your trip right!). I hope that the extension becomes reality and service is not cut back further. Same here. It was on the official to-do list, and it really should happen, even if the service interval can't be improved right away. Its a handy route to have in my area and a good alternative to the crowded Q-27 and long Q-88. Indeed, my girlfriend lives in the area too, and it's a quick ride to 179th St and the subway. The service is always on-time, and there's always a seat on the F train, since it's just pulling in out of the relay. |
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| (118726) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by The I Man on Sat Oct 11 03:08:25 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by trainsarefun on Fri Oct 10 23:48:13 2008. Actually, in terms of the route, I feel that if it were run north to QCC instead of making the turn on 69th Av to head east towards the park, there would be a good deal more demandI agree. Problem is that that about 100 or so riders would lose their only transit service if the 75 were to continue straight on Springfield Blvd to QCC rather than making the right turn on 69 Ave and proceeding up the hill. I'm trying to figure that one out. Obviously, it's the bus to the malls in central Queens, and to Queens College, but on paper anyway, the Q75 route is fairly quick and direct to Jamaica, and the fastest way to the subway in the area (at least, if you time your trip right!). The 88 made new transportation options available and must have had a lot to do with changing travel patterns in the area. I agree that the 75 is still a great and more direct option. The off-peak schedule is easy to memorize too. Buses leave 165 St terminal and 230 Street every half hour on the hour and half hour. |
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| (118733) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by New Flyer #857 on Sat Oct 11 09:02:14 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by The I Man on Sat Oct 11 03:08:25 2008. I love the Q75. Here's what I think it should do:Begin at Forest Hills Station; the Q64 would be eliminated, or if necessary, would run at significantly reduced intervals; the Q75 would follow the route to its end then continue along Jewel Av until it hits 73 Av, then along its current route to Oakland Gardens, all the way around the east-most streets bordering the park; the east-most street at Horace Harding (before Alley Pond) IIRC is two-way, so it can get through. Then whatever the best path is to Queensborough. Everybody gets served, and direct service to Forest Hills is provided. Jamaica is served by the Q30 along Horace Harding, or it can be connected to at Utopia (where the Q31 is as well). |
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| (118743) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by Osmosis Jones on Sat Oct 11 13:23:50 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sat Oct 11 09:02:14 2008. I think that the Q75 should stay as is, and the Q64 should be extended to Fresh Meadows. |
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| (118746) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by mr_brian on Sat Oct 11 14:10:36 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sat Oct 11 09:02:14 2008. Problem: Jewel Avenue gets much narrower past 164 St (narrow to the point it was made a one-way) and it narrows again as it nears Utopia Parkway. Perhaps it's better to make it turn on 164 St to get to 73 Av and continue down 73 Av from there. |
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| (118791) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by trainsarefun on Sun Oct 12 00:53:34 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sat Oct 11 09:02:14 2008. Begin at Forest Hills Station; the Q64 would be eliminated, or if necessary, would run at significantly reduced intervals; the Q75 would follow the route to its end then continue along Jewel Av until it hits 73 Av, then along its current route to Oakland Gardens, all the way around the east-most streets bordering the park; the east-most street at Horace Harding (before Alley Pond) IIRC is two-way, so it can get through. Then whatever the best path is to Queensborough. Everybody gets served, and direct service to Forest Hills is provided. Jamaica is served by the Q30 along Horace Harding, or it can be connected to at Utopia (where the Q31 is as well).Like mr_brian, I think that it's fruitless to route a bus through a very residential area on narrow, one-way streets. So if that's the thought, you will have to make it slightly more meandering, although with the upshot of grabbing more fares. Turn south on to 164th St from Jewel Av, turn east on to Union Tpke, turn north on to 188th St, and follow remainder of Q75 route to Springfield Blvd, but proceed to terminal either at Queensborough Community College (via Q27 route) or Bayside LIRR station (via Q27 and Q31 routes). The downside is that the quick trip to the subway at 179th St is lost. The upside is that it's a potentially very useful route which hits many attractions: Bayside LIRR station/Bell Blvd shops/Queensborough Community College/Oakland Gardens, Fresh Meadows, and Electchester apartment buildings/St John's University/Queens General Hospital/Queens College/Forest Hills subway station and shopping. It would also add service to the overlapped sections of the Q46 local and Q65 local routes. |
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| (118812) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by New Flyer #857 on Sun Oct 12 13:30:07 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by trainsarefun on Sun Oct 12 00:53:34 2008. Ok. I wasn't trying to make a case for the exact routing west of 188 St in my post as much as I was trying to say that it's very, very possible to serve both Oakland Gardens and Queensborough CC, via (if I remember the name right) East Hampton Blvd (a two-way street that crosses Horace Harding right at the tip of Alley Pond Park. |
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| (118816) | |
Re: Q75 route question |
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Posted by trainsarefun on Sun Oct 12 14:08:40 2008, in response to Re: Q75 route question, posted by New Flyer #857 on Sun Oct 12 13:30:07 2008. I was trying to say that it's very, very possible to serve both Oakland Gardens and Queensborough CC, via (if I remember the name right) East Hampton Blvd (a two-way street that crosses Horace Harding right at the tip of Alley Pond Park.Going via E Hampton Blvd, though, is the most useless routing in the Oakland Gardens area; one side of the street is single-family homes and the other side is parkland south of the LIE, and then north of the LIE it's more single-family homes, with QCC still many blocks to the west. It just makes very little sense to send any bus route that way. The only route that makes sense through Oakland Gardens is via 73rd Av and Springfield Blvd. That goes along the main shopping corridors, and it also goes past the multi-family buildings in the area. Basically, the (few) people at the short segment of the current Q75 route east of Springfield Blvd would have to walk to Springfield Blvd under any feasible plan. After all, the problem with the current route endpoint is that it bypasses the heart of Oakland Gardens and the biggest trip generator in Oakland Gardens. |
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