Jewel Avenue buses

The Q64 and QM4 bus routes constitute a public transit line in Queens, New York City, United States. The east-to-west Q64 route runs primarily on Jewel Avenue operating between the Forest Hills – 71st Avenue subway station in Forest Hills and 164th Street in Electchester. The QM4 route is an express bus route running from Midtown Manhattan to Electchester running via Third and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan and Jewel Avenue in Queens.

The Q64 and QM4 were originally operated by Queens-Nassau Transit Lines, Queens Transit Corporation, and Queens Surface Corporation from 1951 to 2005; they are now operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations under the New York City Transit brand.

Route description and service

The Q64 starts at the Forest Hills – 71st Avenue subway station in Forest Hills on the north side of Queens Boulevard at 71st Avenue. Then the bus route turns onto Jewel Avenue, crossing over the Grand Central Parkway and Flushing Meadows – Corona Park. The bus then travels through Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, and passes by Queens College. Before northbound buses reach their terminal at 164th Street and Jewel Avenue, they turn onto Parsons Boulevard, and 71st Avenue.^[5][6][7][8]

Eastbound QM4 service via Sixth Avenue begins at Sixth Avenue and 36th Street, and Third Avenue service begins at Third Avenue and 39th Street. The two routes then pick up passengers along their respective avenues. Sixth Avenue service turns onto 57th Street, before merging with Third Avenue service. Afterwards, the service moves onto 59th Street, and then turns onto the Queensboro Bridge crossing over the East River into Queens. Once in Queens, the bus continues along Queens Boulevard making no stops until it reaches Jewel Avenue. The bus drops off passengers along Jewel Avenue, and turns onto 164th Street, with its final stop at the Horace Harding Expressway. Westbound QM4 service begins at 164th Street and the Horace Harding Expressway, and then turns onto Jewel Avenue picking up passengers. Once the route reaches Queens Boulevard, the bus stops picking up passengers. The bus route then continues via Queens Boulevard until it turns onto the Long Island Expressway. It then goes under the East River through the Queens Midtown Tunnel. Once in Manhattan the bus splits into two routes, one via Third Avenue, and one via Sixth Avenue. The Sixth Avenue service drops off passengers and then turns via 57th Street, terminating at Third Avenue. Third Avenue service drops off passengers in Manhattan until its last stop at 56th Street.^[3][5][6][8] QM4 Third Avenue service only operates during rush hours in the peak direction.

History

Originally the Queens Valley association proposed an extension of the city's Q44A Vleigh Place shuttle bus to Forest Hills to give Kew Gardens Hills more bus service. This route was initially numbered as the Q75.^[9] On June 19 the transit officials told the Board of Estimate it wouldn't be advisable to extend that route. In response, Queens – Nassau Transit proposed the Q65A bus to run along Jewel Avenue between 164th Street to the Independent Subway in Forest Hills at Queens Boulevard. In an alternate proposal, Queens – Nassau Transit proposed having the route go to the 75th Avenue subway station, and the Queens Valley association opposed that proposal as 75th Avenue is a local station.^[10] The Q65A's introduction was also meant to help alleviate congestion at the Kew Gardens Union Turnpike subway station.

On November 1, 1951, bus service began on the Q65A.^[11] The route was originally a spur of the Q65, for which the bus route was named.^[12] On August 2, 1953, the Q65A's terminal route was changed. Originally Q65A bus traveled east on Jewel Avenue all the way to 164th Street, until they looped around at 165th Street. The route was changed so that they turn south on Parsons Boulevard, east on 71 Avenue, and then north on 164th Street until the route goes back to Jewel Avenue. The change was met with resentment from the local community due to the opening of Public School 200 at 164th Street and 71st Avenue.^[13][14] In 1964, City Councilman Seymour Boyers of Flushing proposed extending the Q65A to 188th Street and 73rd Avenue, via 164th Street and 73rd Avenue. The proposed extension would have provided additional access to Queens College, providing an alternate route to the Q17, would provide an access route to the World's Fair, and it would provide access to the IND subway station at 71st Avenue, which would have relieved congestion at the Kew Gardens subway station.^[15]

Service on the QM4 began on August 16, 1971 being operated by Queens Transit Corporation.^[16] Service was not originally given a number, but was called the Jewel Avenue–Flushing/Hillcrest Express. Originally some buses started at Kissena Boulevard not at the Long Island Expressway.^[17][18] The QM4 and Q65A were operated by Queens Surface Corporation from 1988 until MTA takeover in 2005.

MTA takeover

On February 27, 2005, the MTA Bus Company took over the operations of the Queens Surface routes, part of the city's takeover of all the remaining privately operated bus routes.^[19][20] On September 2, 2008, the Q65A was renumbered the Q64.^[21][22] Until 2010, the Q64 operated out of College Point Depot, but since then it has been operating out of Baisley Park Depot.^[23] On September 8, 2013, overnight service was added making the Q64 a 24/7 bus route, and eliminating the gap in service between 2:30 and 4:00 AM.^[24]

See also

• Queens Surface

References