Opinion: Eliminating stops on the Q47 is a step in the wrong direction

The MTA recently eliminated a bus stop in front of the Bulova Corporate Center in Queens, a misguided move, according to Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech. Photo via Blumenfeld Development Group

By Tom Grech

When the Bulova Corporate Center in East Elmhurst prepared for the arrival of the Q47 bus line in 2019, it wasn’t just about building a bus stop. It was about building opportunities. The property owners invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to reconfigure the parking lot and accommodate bus access, with the clear understanding that this was a commitment to supporting the businesses at Bulova and the employees who power them. A smoother connection between one of our borough’s major employment centers and the rest of New York City would mean more commuters using mass transit and fewer cars on the road – benefits that would be seen beyond the 17-acre office complex.

Fast forward to 2025, and that investment has been effectively erased. The recently unveiled redesign of the Queens bus network eliminates the Q47 stop at Bulova altogether. For a corporate center that hosts more than a thousand employees every day — including staff at the Department of Corrections, Skanska, numerous firms and the headquarters of the Queens Chamber of Commerce — this change is more than an inconvenience. It is a step backward for our borough’s economy and for the city’s stated goals of reducing congestion and supporting sustainable transit.

Robust public transit is not a luxury — it is the backbone of Queens’ economic vitality. Companies decide where to locate not only based on rents and square footage, but also on whether employees and customers can reach them with ease. For Bulova tenants, many of whom draw staff from across the borough and beyond, the loss of a direct bus stop undermines that equation.

Public transit provides workers without cars a reliable, affordable commute, enables businesses to access a deeper and more diverse talent pool, and drives the local economy by connecting customers, clients, and partners. When transit access is diminished, the ripple effects are immediate and real – productivity declines, hiring becomes harder, and economic growth slows. It also means more cars on the road, increasing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

The intent of the bus network redesign — to modernize and streamline routes — is commendable. However, eliminating the Bulova stop ignores the everyday experiences of the thousands of employees and visitors who depend on it. Asking workers to walk three or four blocks may sound minor, but in practice it discourages transit use, especially for older employees, people with mobility challenges, or anyone commuting in harsh weather. Instead of taking the bus, many will default back to driving. That means more cars, more traffic, and more pollution — exactly the outcomes the city was trying to avoid.

Worse, this change sends a troubling message to businesses – that even when they invest heavily in alignment with the city and state’s transportation priorities, those commitments may not be honored. That erodes trust, and it risks discouraging future private-sector support for public initiatives.

That’s why the MTA must reconsider this decision. Restoring a Q47 stop at Bulova would not only honor the commitments made in the last decade but also send a clear signal that Queens businesses — and the thousands of workers they employ — matter in the city’s transportation planning. And in reconsidering this decision, the MTA will signal its willingness to listen to the commuters that it is bound to serve.

The Bulova Corporate Center is more than just an office complex. It is a hub of commerce, public service, and opportunity. Its tenants are critical to the functioning and growth of Queens. Leaving it underserved by transit undermines not only the companies and agencies that are stationed there, but also the broader economic and environmental health of the borough.

Tom Grech is the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.