Hunters Point/LIC-Midtown Tunnel Bus Update 2025

On January 29, 2025, the MTA approved the final Queens Bus Network Redesign to be implemented in summer 2025.

A Hunters Point/LIC-Midtown Tunnel route isn’t in the final plan, BUT our proposed Q103 Queens-Midtown Tunnel extension, is one of five routes under consideration for future implementation.

The MTA has confirmed the following:

• They are committed to continuing to investigate a Hunters Point/LIC-Midtown Tunnel route for potential future implementation.

• The Q103 is the route most feasible to extend through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

• While funding is a constraint, the primary challenges to implementing this route are operational.

  • A longer route requires more buses to operate and the MTA presently has fleet constraints that make an extension infeasible.

  • Current roadway design approaching and exiting the tunnel would lead to circuitous and costly routing in Manhattan without significant coordination with MTA Bridges & Tunnels.

  • At present, due to funding and fleet constraints, MTA NYCT has not explored with MTA Bridges and Tunnels whether these roadway changes would be feasible.

The Q103 Queens-Midtown Tunnel Extension

Our proposed route connects the Astoria waterfront and Hunters Point/LIC to transit points across the 34th St. corridor in Midtown Manhattan. Read more about the route.

What You Can Do

• Continue to sign & share our petition with your neighbors, community groups and social media accounts. While the petition has already been submitted, signatures demonstrate public support. Signers also receive email updates on our progress.

• Contact your city & state elected officials and tell them you would like the MTA to extend the Q103 bus through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Find your local elected officials contact information here.

• Share LICBUS with your friends, neighbors and community groups on social media.

• Contact us at licbus@yahoo.com for volunteer opportunities and press inquiries.

• Subscribe to our email list for updates.

Special Thanks To

We could not have gotten this far without letters of support from NY State Senator Kristen Gonzalez (59th District),  NYC Council Member Julie Won (26th District), US Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (NY 7th District) and Laura Rothrock, President, Long Island City Partnership. Thank you!

We also wanted to express our gratitude to Larry Penner, transit advocate, writer & historian, and former director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations & Program Management. Larry advised us on transit issues and wrote letters to the editor on our behalf. Sadly, Larry passed away on January 16, 2025 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He will be greatly missed.

Who We Are

LICBUS is a volunteer initiative, founded in 2022, to advocate for local MTA bus service connecting Hunters Point/LIC to Manhattan via the Midtown Tunnel as part of the Queens Bus Network Redesign.