From runways to subways, Queens functions as a critical transit hub where multi-billion dollar airport modernizations intersect with a complex network of rail and bus lines serving millions of daily commuters.
Queens County is the largest of New York City’s five boroughs by land area and occupies the easternmost section of the City. Located at the western end of Long Island, adjacent to Brooklyn, it is bordered by the East River and Long Island Sound to the north and Jamaica Bay to the south. The borough spans 109 square miles of land, totaling 178 square miles when including its waterways.
The southern portion of Queens is defined by its connection to the water, featuring a low-lying terrain centered around Jamaica Bay and its vast tidal marshes. The Rockaway Peninsula acts as a natural buffer between the bay and the open Atlantic Ocean.
With a population of approximately 2.3 million, Queens represents the most diverse and second-largest economy within New York City. The borough maintains a robust economic foundation through a strategic balance of sectors—including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, construction, media production, and transportation—that collectively support an extensive regional workforce. According to the NYS DOT January 2026 Labor Market Briefing, employment in Queens County has grown to 1,159,600, an increase of 34,000 from the year 2025.
MTA Subway Connectivity
The Queens borough is an expansive transit epicenter, interwoven by a multi-modal grid that keeps New York City moving. At its core is a heavy reliance on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway, with mainstays like the 7, E, F, M, R, N, and W lines serving as the primary arteries for commuters.
Major transit hubs service Northern Queens, primarily focused around Long Island City, Flushing, and Jackson Heights, connecting the borough to Manhattan and other boroughs via subway and the LIRR Port Washington Branch. Key hubs include:
- Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street: A crucial transfer point for both local and express subway lines, serving as a primary link between northern and central Queens.
- Queens Plaza / Queensboro: A major complex serving Long Island City and providing key subway access over the Queensboro Bridge.
- Mets–Willets Point: A crucial hub for sporting events at Citi Field and recreational travel to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, served by the 7 train and seasonal LIRR service.
- Woodside (LIRR & 7 Train): A central transfer hub allowing commuters from northern Queens to transfer between the 7 subway line and the Long Island Rail Road for faster service into Penn Station or Grand Central.
Of note, the MTA’s 7 line, frequently referred to as the “International Express,” provides a vital 24-hour transit link between Flushing and Manhattan’s Hudson Yards. Operating primarily on elevated tracks through Queens, this line offers commuters and visitors an unparalleled vantage point of the borough’s vast multicultural landscape.
Few transit systems match the sheer scale and history of the New York City Subway. It is a world leader in station density and remains one of the longest networks ever built. Because it never sleeps, it provides a constant rhythm to the City, serving massive crowds at any hour. For those who call New York home, the subway is not just a convenience—it is a vital, permanent necessity.
In contrast, large portions of the borough, particularly in Northeast Queens, lack adequate subway options, creating ‘transit deserts’ where residents are forced to rely on overcrowded, unreliable transit other than the subway, largely due to inaccessibility and high traffic congestion, causing slow bus speeds.
MTA Bus Connectivity & Challenges
The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. A comprehensive bus network complements the rails, connecting diverse neighborhoods to key commercial hubs and international airports.
As stated in the MTA Hello, Queens Your Bus Network Redesign Summer 2025 Final Plan, in 2025 the MTA modernized its Queens bus system to ensure faster, more dependable trips for commuters. Its benefits are improved connections and a simplified network that decrease travel times; increased frequencies that create a better, all-day, frequent network to meet rider needs; balanced stop spacing to help speed up buses and improve reliability; and Bus Priority Projects on targeted corridors that maximize travel time savings and improve quality of service.
This revamp spotlights specialized routes like the LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS—a free Select Bus Service that links LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst to the transit centers at Jackson Heights and Woodside. High-volume corridors like Archer Avenue and Jamaica Avenue serve over 200,000 daily riders across 26 bus routes in the area.
However, despite the MTA’s efforts, such as the bus network redesign, the borough remains beleaguered by declining express bus options, particularly in areas like Northeast Queens. Even where parts of this region are served by express buses (such as the QM lines), these are viewed as insufficient to overcome the general lack of rail transit in this area.
With that said, there is an ongoing debate regarding the reactivation of the long-deactivated and abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch (RBB) of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) in Southeast Queens which has two separate proposals for public use of the land.
The QueensLink project would reactivate the abandoned rail infrastructure as a segment of the MTA subway system, creating a dual-purpose active rail line with accompanying park space and a bike path. The Queensway plan is a proposal to convert and develop the entire RBB rail infrastructure to construct a transit-free linear, elevated park.
As a transit hub, Queens connects NYC globally via JFK International and LaGuardia Airports managing high-volume domestic and international travel. Both airports, located within the borough, serve as essential points for travel and cargo.
Southeast Queens functions as a critical transit artery and serves as the primary entryway to JFK International Airport, managing massive travel volumes through its extensive infrastructure, primarily through the integrated GatewayJFK district. Its robust infrastructure includes the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) hub at the Jamaica Station, the AirTrain JFK, key subway lines (A, E, F), and major arteries like the Van Wyck Expressway and Belt Parkway—all of which are undergoing a significant evolution through ongoing infrastructure improvements driven by multi-billion dollar redevelopment projects and systemic transit overhauls.
The Port Authority NY & NJ 2024 Airport Traffic Report details that over 39,000 people are employed at JFK International Airport. The airport contributes about $35.7 billion to the NY metropolitan region’s economy, supports about 158,000 total jobs, and generates over $15.7 billion in annual wages.
While JFK International Airport and Southeast Queens serve as a vital economic and logistical gateway, residents in the area often face significant transit and infrastructure challenges due to the airport’s role in handling over 62 million annual passengers.
GatewayJFK is a public-private partnership providing neighborhood services, improvements and advocacy for the district’s off-airport cargo community and all who live, work or visit the area. A vital link in the global supply chain, GatewayJFK is a distinct and unique NYC neighborhood of major economic significance to the region, the nation, and the world.
To support its thriving, diverse community, Queens is spearheading new urban planning initiatives that make getting around easier. These infrastructure investments are bridging connectivity gaps and cementing the borough’s reputation as a highly accessible hub. Major projects, such as the $1.9 billion investment in Southeast Queens streets, are focused on upgrading infrastructure and investing in Southeast Queens streets.
Rail and Light Rail Connectivity
The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Jamaica Station complex is the primary hub of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), serving over an astounding 200,000 daily passengers and over 1,000 daily trains. It is the fourth-busiest commuter railroad station in North America, connecting the JFK AirTrain, local NYC Subway lines, local buses, and all branches of the LIRR, except the Port Washington line.
The Jamaica Station serves as the central transfer point for Long Island commuters traveling to Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn. It features six high-level platforms and ten tracks, enabling efficient cross-platform transfers.
As the central transfer point for most LIRR branches, the Jamaica Station connects directly connects to the Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport subway station (E, J, Z trains), numerous MTA bus routes, and the AirTrain JFK (for JFK Airport access).
The JFK AirTrain is the high-speed, automated, elevated people mover system that operates between JFK International Airport, LIRR trains at Jamaica Station, and the New York City Subway.
It also serves as a free on-airport service connecting all JFK airline terminals, rental car facilities, hotelshuttles, and airport parking lots. If using public transportation to or from the airport, there is currently a $8.75 charge for entering or exiting the Jamaica and Howard Beach AirTrain stations.
“Since the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey opened AirTrain JFK in 2003, the airport’s vital mass transit system has established Queens as one of the region’s most important transit hubs connecting air travelers at JFK International Airport to both the subway and the Long Island Rail Road. Operated and maintained by Alstom, the Port Authority’s AirTrain JFK supports more than 210 local jobs and delivers reliable, round‑the‑clock service across its 8.1‑mile network for up to 80,000 passengers each day, underscoring its contribution to Queens’ continued evolution as a critical gateway for the region, the City, and the global aviation network,” said George Carroll, Site Director for Alstom at AirTrain JFK.
Future Hub Upgrades & Developments
In January, Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to advance major transit initiatives to improve New Yorkers’ commutes as part of her 2026 State of the State.
As part of the Governor’s FY27 Executive Budget, $50 million has been committed to fund the planning and design of a reimagined LIRR Jamaica Station. The project will turn the aging 113-year-old site into a modern, integrated gateway for subway, rail, and airport commuters. Governor Hochul said that the station is well overdue for an upgrade, since its last renovation over two decades ago. This investment is part of a larger transit push that includes funding for the westward expansion of the Second Avenue subway.
While the reimagined Jamaica Station project is currently in the in the conceptual and design phase, key improvements, outlined by Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, aim to enhance transit flow, reduce platform bottlenecks, update wayfinding, expand customer amenities like concessions, and provide a more seamless connection for the millions of commuters who depend on this station.
In April, Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA announced the launch of customer engagement survey for the project to reimagine Jamaica Station. The survey is aimed at travelers, visitors, JFK Airport employees, and commuters who use the station for non-airport-related travel. “We know that Jamaica Station can be so much more than it is today, and by advancing this customer survey, we’ll have the insights of the riders who use it to help guide a long overdue redesign that transforms the customer experience and delivers Southeast Queens an integrated, best-in-class station for all who use it,” said Hochul.
In recent years, Jamaica Station has seen a significant increase in LIRR service following the opening of Grand Central Madison and completion of the Main Line’s new third track. Today, 790 trains stop at Jamaica, an increase of 54 percent over the 481 that stopped there before Grand Central Madison opened.
Port Authority of NY and NJ Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re not just transforming JFK’s terminals and roadways – we’re taking a hard look at how people actually move to and around the airport every day, including at critical hubs like Jamaica Station.”
The IBX Initiative
These initiatives support a larger transit goal that includes advancing the Interborough Express (IBX). The IBX is a light rail project currently in its design phase. The project will be built along the existing LIRR-owned Bay Ridge Branch and CSX-owned Fremont Secondary—a 14-mile freight line that extends from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Jackson Heights, Queens. It will provide end-to-end travel in just 32 minutes, offering transfers to 17 subway lines. This project will reduce congestion while expanding economic opportunities for residents and workers in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Rockaway Line Resiliency
The MTA is repairing the aging Rockaway Line to increase climate resilience and prevent a repeat of the seven-month service suspension caused by Superstorm Sandy. This critical link serves 9,000 daily riders and connects 125,000 residents on the Rockaway peninsula to the rest of New York City.
Queens’ Transit Challenges
Despite the current upgrades and planned long-term modernizations for major hubs like Jamaica Station, Queens transit hubs still face a strained transit landscape.
Following the extensive 2025 overhaul of the Queens bus network, many daily commuters are reporting a decline in express service. Passengers using express routes, such as the QM25, have described the post-redesign experience as a significant downgrade, characterized by severe overcrowding and, in many instances, slower, more erratic commutes.
While the MTA has accelerated accessibility projects—including new elevators and raised platforms, many subway stations in Queens and across the City remain inaccessible, requiring passengers to check maps before every trip. Consequently, there are growing demands for the MTA to accelerate accessibility upgrades.
As of April 2026, the debate between the proposed QueensLink project and QueensWay plan remains active and controversial. While the City has begun moving forward with the park-focused QueensWay, supporters of the transit-oriented QueensLink continue to push for a vision that integrates both rail and trails.
Addressing these gaps in New York City’s public and aging infrastructure is essential to creating a reliable, equitable transportation system for all Queens residents and commuters entering and exiting the borough, as well as the surrounding boroughs and Long Island.
