Merrick Boulevard buses

q5, q85

q5, q85
q5, q85 q5, q85
Merrick Boulevard; Jamaica−Rosedale
	A 2011 Nova Bus LFS (8062) on the Q5 terminating at Jamaica Center and a 2010 Orion VII NG HEV (4673) on the Q85 leaving Jamaica Center for Rosedale.
Overview
System	MTA Regional Bus Operations
Operator	New York City Transit Authority
Garage	Jamaica Depot
Vehicle	Nova Bus LFS; New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
Route
Locale	Queens, New York, U.S.
Communities served	Jamaica, South Jamaica, St. Albans, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale, Valley Stream
Start	Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer
Via	Merrick Boulevard
End	Rosedale:; Q5: Conduit Avenue/Sunrise Highway and Francis Lewis Boulevard (Rosedale LIRR station); Q85: 243rd Street and 147th Avenue; South Valley Stream, Nassau County – Green Acres Mall;
Length	Q5 (Jamaica to Rosedale): 5.6 miles (9.0 km); Q5 (Jamaica to Green Acres): 6.8 miles (10.9 km); Q85 (Jamaica to Rosedale): 6.2 miles (10.0 km); Q85 (Jamaica to Green Acres): 7.4 miles (11.9 km)
Other routes	Q4 (Merrick Boulevard−Linden Boulevard); Q84 (Merrick Boulevard−120th Avenue); n4 (Jamaica−Freeport); n4X (Jamaica−Freeport Express)
Service
Operates	24 hours
Annual patronage	Q5: 2,206,489 (2024); Q85: 1,967,460 (2024)
Transfers	Yes
Timetable	Q5 Q85
Route map
Local stops
107th Avenue
Local stops
Brinkerhoff Avenue
Local stops
115th Avenue
Intermittent stops
Baisley Boulevard / Merrill Street
Intermittent stops
Farmers Boulevard / 138th Avenue
Intermittent stops
221st Street
Q5 to Jamaica via Brookville Boulevard
Merrick Boulevard
Q85 stops via 243rd Street
Memphis Avenue
Q5 stops via Merrick Bl & Hook Creek Bl
241st Street
	Queens
	Nassau
Legend

The Q5 and Q85 bus routes constitute a public transit corridor running along Merrick Boulevard (also known as Floyd H. Flake Boulevard) in southeastern Queens, New York City. The routes run from the Jamaica Center transit hub and business district to Rosedale, with continued service to Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Nassau County. The Q4 and Q84 buses also serve the northern portion of the corridor, before diverging east along Linden Boulevard and 120th Avenue respectively. The Q4, Q5, and Q85 also provide limited-stop service along the corridor. The routes on the corridor mainly serve as feeder routes to New York City Subway services at Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer station.

The Q4, Q5, Q84, and Q85 routes were operated by Bee-Line Inc. and later the North Shore Bus Company until 1947. All four routes are now operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations under the New York City Transit brand. On June 29, 2025, all weekday Q5 service will terminate at 233rd Street, and all weekend daytime service will run to Green Acres, with its Rosedale branch replaced by the Q86. Weekday service to Green Acres will be provided by the Q87. The Q85’s Green Acres branch will be spun off into the Q89.