LaGuardia Airport connectivity gets major boost as New York Gov. Hochul unveils transformative Q70 bus enhancements, including expressway bus lanes and increased service

New York City, New York – In a significant push to enhance connectivity to LaGuardia Airport, Governor Kathy Hochul, along with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), announced a substantial $160 million initiative aimed at revamping the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus service. This service, crucial for linking the airport with key transit hubs in Jackson Heights and Woodside, is set to undergo transformative upgrades to ensure faster, more frequent, and more dependable transportation for commuters and travelers alike.

“The transformation of LaGuardia airport into a world-class destination that is recognized for its excellence is an integral part of our bold vision for a new era in New York, and that starts with much needed enhancements in transportation to and from the airport,” Governor Hochul said. “This new funding will advance several transportation projects, provide new bus lanes, reduce congestion and overcrowding, and install new traffic lights to prioritize buses into the airport. I’m proud to celebrate these accomplishments and look forward to creating a world-class transit option.”

The planned improvements for the Q70 bus line include the installation of traffic signals that will give priority to the bus along Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway. This measure is expected to significantly cut down travel times. Another major enhancement will be the introduction of an exclusive bus lane on the northbound section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, extending from Northern Boulevard to Astoria Boulevard. This lane aims to boost service reliability and speed up travel between Jackson Heights and the airport.

Moreover, starting June 1, the frequency of the Q70 bus service will be increased during peak hours to handle the growing number of passengers. An innovative, designated bus pick-up and drop-off area near Terminal C will be established, featuring direct access roads to circumvent the bustling airport traffic. To further aid travelers, upgrades are also slated for wayfinding and lighting systems at key subway and rail stations connected by the Q70 service.

The initiative stems from a comprehensive transit analysis initiated by Governor Hochul in late 2021. This study was conducted by a team of top-notch engineering, construction, and transportation firms under the guidance of an independent panel of experts in transportation. The panel, which included notable figures such as Mike Brown, Janette Sadik-Khan, and Phillip A. Washington, recommended these enhancements after thorough deliberation.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “This proposal will fund the development of the faster, more reliable mass transit link the expert panel envisioned and passengers traveling to our world class LaGuardia Airport deserve. The installation of bus-only lanes on the expressway portions of the route will create a bus link that will be a fast trip to the airport with the bus able to avoid congestion.

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said, “Across the region, the Port Authority is making historic investments in new airport facilities that will be among the world’s finest. But the finest airports deserve equally modern and efficient public transportation connections, which is why the Port Authority is investing in vastly improved bus connections to LaGuardia Airport.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “There’s no reason a first-class New York travel experience should be limited to the new LaGuardia Airport. These common sense, road-tested bus improvements are going to make the ride to and from Queens a lot smoother and faster for tens of thousands of passengers.”

The funding proposal is slated for approval at the Port Authority Board of Commissioners meeting on March 27, marking a pivotal step forward in enhancing New York’s transportation infrastructure and ensuring LaGuardia’s status as a gateway fitting its city’s prestige.