Q10 (New York City bus)

For additional information on the current bus service, see List of bus routes in Queens.

Q10 / Q10 Limited
Lefferts Boulevard−JFK Airport
Overview
System	MTA Regional Bus Operations
Operator	MTA Bus Company
Garage	JFK Depot
Vehicle	New Flyer Industries D60HF Galaxy (Articulated) New Flyer Industries XD60 Xcelsior (Articulated)
Route
Locale	Queens
Communities served	Queens: Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park
Start	Kew Gardens, Queens – Queens Boulevard / Kew Gardens Road & 80th Road
Via	Lefferts Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard
End	South Ozone Park, Queens – 149th Avenue & 150th Avenue JFK Airport – Terminal 5 (full route)
Length	8 miles (13 km)
Service
Operates	24 hours
Ridership	7,511,855 (2014)
Transfers	Yes
Timetable	Q10
Route map ← Q9  {{{system_nav}}}  Q11 →

The Q10 bus route constitutes a public transit line in Queens, New York City, United States, running primarily along Lefferts Boulevard between a transfer with the New York City Subway in Kew Gardens to Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Formerly privately operated by Green Bus Lines, the route is currently city-operated under the MTA Bus Company brand of MTA Regional Bus Operations.

Route description and service

The Q10 begins at the Kew Gardens Subway station at Kew Gardens Road and 80th Road. It then turns on 80th Road, and then onto Austin Street, and turns onto Lefferts Boulevard, where it continues until Rockaway Boulevard. Q10 locals turn onto Rockaway Boulevard, and then run via 130th Street, and then via 150th Avenue, and then it runs via the Van Wyck Expressway service road to Terminal Five. At Rockaway Boulevard, Q10 Limiteds continue via Lefferts Boulevard, until it meets the Airtrain JFK, and then turns via Pan Am Road, and then goes via the Van Wyck Expressway service road to Terminal Five. Q10 Limiteds operate every day from about 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. During the morning rush hour, some northbound Q10 locals start at 150th Avenue. During the PM rush hour, some Q10 locals start at Queens Boulevard and 80th Road, running to 150th Avenue or JFK Central Terminal.

Until 2006, an express service called the Q10A had run from the Kew Gardens subway station to JFK Airport Terminal Four, via the Van Wyck Expressway, operating non-stop from Kew Gardens to Federal Circle. There were six Q10A trips, all running toward JFK Airport during morning rush hours. The service was replaced by the Q10 Limited.

History

One of the few 2015-built New Flyer XD60 buses assigned to the Q10, in 2016.

The first iteration of the Q10 came about on April 28, 1921, and was operated by the Richmond Hill Bus Corporation. The New York City Department of Plant & Structures temporarily took over the route and named it DPS Route 53. Afterwards, the Q10 route number was assigned. Originally the Q10 had three destinations; one was at Old South Road, which is at the current intersection of the Belt Parkway and North and South Conduit Avenues at Lefferts, another was at Hamilton Beach, and the final destination was Richmond Hill Circle, which was not near Richmond Hill, and it was located about a half-mile south of 130th Street and the Belt Parkway.

In 1936, Queens was divided into four zones, for bus operating franchise purposes. With the new zone setup, one company would be awarded the franchise in each zone, with any remaining smaller operations acquired by the larger company. The Q10 fell into Zone C, the zone for Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, and the Rockaways, and the route was awarded to Green Bus Lines. On November 25, 1936, Q10 service began to be operated by Green Bus Lines.

In 1947, when Idlewild Airport opened, Green Bus Lines was awarded the exclusive transit rights which extended the Richmond Hill Circle line to Idlewild Airport.

Between 1990 and 1996, the Q10A was created, running express between the Kew Gardens subway station and JFK Airport, making no stops to Federal Circle. It only operated toward JFK Airport.

On January 9, 2006, the MTA Bus Company took over the operations of the Green Bus Line routes. Under the MTA on September 3, 2006, Q10A service was discontinued, due to low ridership and parallel service from the AirTrain JFK. The Q10A was replaced by the Q10 Limited, which made limited stops along the entire route, and ran on weekdays and on Saturdays. At that time, Q10 service to all JFK terminals except Terminal 4 was replaced by AirTrain JFK. On April 6, 2008, limited service was expanded to Sundays.

Beginning on September 4, 2011, Q10 local buses on the Lefferts Blvd branch were rerouted to remain on Lefferts Blvd south of Conduit Av, and to continue along Lefferts Blvd and Pan Am Rd into JFK Airport, where they returned to their regular route along 130 Place. The Conduit Avenue branch of the Q10 was disconinued and Q10 buses stopped accessing JFK Airport at 134th Street.

On May 30, 2012, due to construction at Terminal 4, the Q10 started terminating at a new stop at Terminal 5, near the former Terminal 6.

In spring 2013, 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses began replacing the standard 40-foot (12 m) buses on the route. The Q10 was the second route in Queens to receive articulated buses, after the Q44. The use of articulated buses received positive feedback from commuters, but opposition from some local residents and business owners to to potential traffic issues and loss of parking spaces.

On April 28, 2013, all Q10 buses that ran via Lefferts Blvd south of Rockaway Boulevard became limited-stop only, discontinuing stops at Sutter Avenue, 133rd Avenue, and 149th Avenue. A limited bus stop was added at 150th Avenue. At this time the hours of the Q10 Limited was expanded, running between 5:30 AM–11:30 PM weekdays, and 6:15 AM–11:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, similar to former Lefferts Blvd branch local service hours.

See also

• Media related to Q10 (New York City bus) at Wikimedia Commons
• Green Bus Lines