Q43 Bus Schedule: NYC MTA Route Map, Stops, Fare & Live Bus Time
The Q43 bus schedule is for the NYC MTA Queens Rush bus service between Jamaica / Sutphin Boulevard and Floral Park / Hillside Avenue 268 Street via Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue. This guide explains the official timetable, MTA Bus Time live tracker, route map, major stops, Q43 Rush stop rules, Floral Park vs Jamaica direction, OMNY fare, holiday notes, school-day notes, subway/LIRR/AirTrain transfer planning, accessibility and the common mistakes that make riders miss the bus.
Q43 Daily Check Board — Use This Before Walking to the Stop
rush-stop toolStart here if you need the next Q43 bus. The Q43 is no longer just a regular all-stops local page. It is shown by MTA as Rush bus service, and the timetable notes that all trips make rush stops only. Your first job is to confirm the correct direction, exact stop, rush-stop eligibility, live arrival and fare before you leave.
Search Q43
Use the route code Q43. Do not confuse it with Q1, Q36, Q76, Q82 or Q44-SBS along nearby Queens corridors.
Pick direction
Choose to Floral Park 268 St or to Jamaica LIRR / Archer Av-Sutphin Blvd before reading any time.
Confirm rush stop
Q43 trips make rush stops only. If your old local stop is gone, use Q1, Q3 or Q76 where MTA directs local Hillside service.
Open Bus Time
Use MTA Bus Time for your exact stop, live arrival, vehicle movement and active service alerts.
Check transfer plan
At Jamaica, build time for subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK and bus transfers.
Tap the same way
Use the same OMNY card, phone, wearable or OMNY Card for connected trips so your transfer is recognized.
Need the next Q43 at your exact stop right now?
📍 Open Q43 Bus TimeQuick Answer: What Is the Q43 Bus Schedule?
The Q43 is an MTA Queens Rush bus route labeled Floral Park – Jamaica. It runs mainly via Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue, connecting Jamaica transit hubs with Hillside Avenue communities and Floral Park near the Nassau County border. The official timetable gives key scheduled timepoints, while MTA Bus Time gives the stop-level live arrival at your actual stop.
To Floral Park
Use this direction when riding east toward Hillside Av / 267 St, Little Neck Pkwy, Commonwealth Blvd, Springfield Blvd or Floral Park.
To Jamaica
Use this direction when riding west toward Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica LIRR, subway and AirTrain JFK connections.
Rush-stop service
Q43 makes rush stops only. It is faster than an old all-local pattern, but you must confirm the stop still serves Q43.
Subway + rail transfers
Jamaica connections include subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK and many Queens bus routes.
Rush bus fare
MTA local, limited, rush and SBS bus fare rules apply. Tap OMNY at the front door.
Stop-change risk
After the Queens redesign, old Q43 local-stop habits can be wrong. Use the official stop list and Bus Time.
Best Q43 workflow: open the official MTA Q43 timetable, choose Floral Park-bound or Jamaica-bound direction, confirm your stop is a current Q43 rush stop, check Bus Time, verify OMNY payment, then leave with extra buffer for Jamaica transfers or Hillside Avenue traffic.
Official Q43 MTA Tools for Schedule, Map, Stops, Fare and Live Times
Use these links for final verification. This guide explains the route in practical language, but MTA controls the official timetable, stop list, map, fare policy, live arrivals, accessibility and alerts.
Q43 Route Overview: Jamaica to Floral Park via Hillside Avenue
The Q43 connects Jamaica’s transit hub with Hillside Avenue, Hollis, Queens Village, Bellerose/Floral Park-side stops and the eastern Queens edge near North New Hyde Park. It is especially useful for riders connecting between Jamaica subway/LIRR/AirTrain access and the long Hillside Avenue corridor.
Jamaica terminal area
Key western stop area is Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd, useful for Jamaica LIRR, subway, AirTrain JFK and bus transfers.
Hillside Avenue corridor
Major stops include Parsons Blvd, 169 St, 180 St, Francis Lewis Blvd, 212 St, Springfield Blvd and 231 St.
Floral Park end
The eastern terminal area is around Hillside Av / 267-268 St, near Floral Park and the Nassau County border.
⚠️ Q43 is Rush service
The official timetable states that all trips make rush stops only. Do not assume every old local Hillside Avenue stop is still a Q43 stop.
Q43 Rush Stop Rules: What Changed for Hillside Avenue Riders
MTA’s Queens redesign page explains that the Q43 keeps its Floral Park to Jamaica routing but operates as limited-stop Rush service on Hillside Avenue west of Braddock Avenue. Local service on the corridor is covered by other routes, including Q1, Q3 and Q76 in the redesign plan.
Rush service
Use Q43 when your stop is on the current Q43 Rush stop list and you want the Floral Park-Jamaica Hillside corridor.
Local-stop backup
If Q43 no longer serves your local stop west of Braddock Avenue, check Q1, Q3 or Q76 as applicable.
Stop list matters
Confirm the current stop list in Bus Time or on the Q43 Rush page before waiting.
💡 Practical rule
If you are standing at a Hillside Avenue stop and do not see Q43 on the stop sign or in Bus Time, do not wait for it. Use the local route that serves that stop.
Q43 Schedule Summary: Weekday, Saturday, Sunday and Overnight Notes
The Q43 timetable has separate weekday, Saturday and Sunday tables. It includes overnight service, Monday-only and non-Monday notes for some trips, plus school-day notes. Use this table for orientation only. The official PDF and Bus Time should control the final trip decision.
| Service day | Direction | Major timepoint pattern | Approx. first / last shown | Before leaving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | To Floral Park 267 St | Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd → Hillside Av 180 St → Francis Lewis Blvd → Springfield Blvd → 267 St | Starts around midnight and continues through late night. | Check Mon / xMon notes for early overnight trips. |
| Weekday | To Jamaica LIRR | Hillside Av 268 St → 257 St / 81 Av → Union Tpke / Commonwealth → Hillside Av → Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd | Starts after midnight and continues through late night. | Use Bus Time for exact stop and Jamaica transfer timing. |
| Saturday | Both directions | Same route family with Saturday spacing and weekend timing. | Separate Saturday table in official PDF. | Do not use weekday peak assumptions on Saturday. |
| Sunday | Both directions | Separate Sunday table with different spacing and late-night planning. | Separate Sunday table in official PDF. | Check holiday notes because some holidays follow Sunday or Saturday schedules. |
⏱️ Frequency shortcut
MTA’s Q43 Rush page lists new peak-direction frequency examples such as about 4 minutes in the AM peak, about 8 minutes midday, about 6 minutes in the PM peak, and wider spacing overnight or late evening. Always use Bus Time for the stop-level live answer.
Q43 Stops and Route Map: Archer, Sutphin, Hillside, Springfield and Floral Park
The current Q43 stop list is shorter than an all-local route because it is Rush service. Exact stop and direction matter. A rider standing at the wrong Hillside Avenue stop may watch other buses arrive while Q43 never stops there.
Major stops to Floral Park
Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd, Sutphin Blvd / Jamaica Av, Sutphin Blvd / Hillside Av, Hillside Av / Parsons Blvd, 163 St, 169 St, 180 St, 189 St, Francis Lewis Blvd, 212 St, Springfield Blvd, 88 Av, 231 St, Winchester Blvd, 235 Ct, 239 St, Commonwealth Blvd, 250 St, Little Neck Pkwy, 256 St, 261 St, 264 St and 267 St.
Major stops to Jamaica
Hillside Av / 268 St, 264 St, 261 St, 258 St, Little Neck Pkwy, 249 St, Commonwealth Blvd, 240 St, 235 Ct, Winchester Blvd, 231 St, Manor Rd, Springfield Blvd, 212 St, 205 St, 188 St, 179 Pl, 169 St, 164 St, Parsons Blvd, Sutphin Blvd / Hillside Av and Sutphin Blvd / Jamaica Av.
Exact stop matters
Use the stop name or posted stop code in Bus Time. “Hillside Avenue” alone is not enough because Q43 uses selected rush stops.
Stop-side checklist
- Route sign: confirm the stop sign lists Q43.
- Direction: check whether the bus is going to Floral Park or Jamaica.
- Rush-stop rule: Q43 will not serve every local Hillside Avenue stop.
- Stop code: use the posted stop code in Bus Time where possible.
- Transfer buffer: add walking time at Jamaica for subway, LIRR, AirTrain and bus connections.
⚠️ Map warning
This embedded map is for discovery only. Use the official MTA route page, Q43 Rush stop list, Bus Time and current alerts for final boarding.
Q43 Live Tracker: How to Use MTA Bus Time Correctly
MTA Bus Time is the fastest way to check live Q43 arrivals. The timetable gives the planned pattern, while Bus Time shows your exact stop, live arrival estimate, direction, nearby stops and vehicle movement.
Search Q43
Open Bus Time and search Q43. Avoid searching only “Hillside bus” because several routes share the corridor.
Choose direction
Select to Floral Park 268 St or to Jamaica LIRR / Archer Av-Sutphin Blvd before choosing a stop.
Select exact stop
Use the stop name, map pin or posted stop code. This avoids waiting at a local-only stop.
Read alerts
If arrivals look wrong, check detours, construction, weather, traffic and MTA service status.
Ready to check live arrivals at your Q43 stop?
⏱️ Open Q43 Bus TimeQ43 Fare and OMNY: Rush Bus Fare, Transfers, Cash and Kids
Q43 uses MTA local/limited/rush bus fare rules. Most riders can tap a contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device or OMNY Card at the front door. Use the same payment method for connected trips so your transfer is recognized.
| Fare topic | What Q43 riders should know | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Base fare | MTA lists subway and local, limited, rush and SBS bus fare at $3 for most riders. | Confusing Q43 Rush service with express bus fare. |
| OMNY | Tap at the front door with a contactless card, phone, wearable or OMNY Card. | Switching cards or devices and losing transfer tracking. |
| Transfer | Use the same card or device for both legs of the trip. | Paying with one device on the bus and another at the subway. |
| Cash | Exact change is accepted on local/limited/rush buses. Ask for a paper transfer if you need one. | Using bills, expecting change or forgetting to ask for a transfer. |
| Children | Children under 44 inches ride free with a fare-paying adult under MTA rules. | Not checking child height rules before family trips. |
⚠️ Same-card transfer rule
Use the same card, phone, wearable or OMNY Card for every leg of the trip. Switching payment methods can create an extra charge.
Q43 Holiday, Monday and School-Day Notes
The official Q43 timetable includes reference notes for Monday-only, non-Monday and school-day trips, plus holiday service rules. These notes matter most for overnight trips, school-related trips and holiday work shifts.
- Mon: the trip only runs on Mondays.
- xMon: the trip does not run on Mondays.
- SD: the trip runs only when schools are in session.
- When schools are closed: trips marked SD do not operate.
- Major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day use Sunday schedule.
- Independence Day and Presidents Day: the timetable lists Saturday schedule.
- Reduced weekday holidays: Martin Luther King Day and Friday after Thanksgiving use reduced weekday schedule.
💡 Transfer rule
For Jamaica subway, LIRR or AirTrain JFK connections, take one earlier Q43 when possible. A live bus can still arrive later than a tight rail or airport connection allows.
Q43 Connections: Subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK and Queens Bus Transfers
The Q43 is valuable because it feeds riders into Jamaica’s major transit hub. The route can connect Hillside Avenue and Floral Park riders with subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK and many Queens bus routes, but transfer timing should never rely on a printed bus time alone.
Subway connection logic
Jamaica and Hillside Avenue stops can connect riders toward subway stations around Sutphin, Parsons, 169 St and 179 St corridors.
Rail connection logic
Jamaica LIRR connections need walking and platform time. Do not plan a same-minute bus-to-train transfer.
AirTrain JFK planning
For airport trips, add time for bus arrival, walking to AirTrain, airport movement, check-in and security.
⚠️ Wrong-route trap
Several Queens routes share parts of Hillside Avenue or Jamaica. Do not board only because the bus is on the right street. Confirm the destination sign says Q43 and matches your direction.
Accessibility and First-Time Rider Help for Q43
For seniors, wheelchair users, riders with mobility devices, caregivers, students and first-time Queens riders, the safest habit is to confirm route, direction, exact stop and fare before leaving home. At the stop, stand where the operator can see you and check the destination sign before boarding.
- Before leaving: use the Q43 timetable and Bus Time together.
- At the stop: wait near the bus stop sign and be visible to the operator.
- Mobility needs: ask for ramp, lift or kneeling help when needed.
- Vision support: ask the operator to call your stop if you need help.
- Caregiver tip: share route number, direction, exact stop name and stop code, not just “Hillside Av.”
- Late-night tip: Request-A-Stop may be available on local bus routes from 10 PM to 5 AM when the operator can stop safely.
Need official MTA bus accessibility help?
♿ Open Bus AccessibilityCommon Q43 Schedule Mistakes That Waste Time
Waiting at an old local stop
Q43 is Rush service and does not serve every local stop. Confirm the stop sign and Bus Time.
Wrong direction
Floral Park-bound and Jamaica-bound stops can be on different sides of Hillside Avenue.
Street-name guessing
There are many Hillside Avenue intersections. Use the stop code, not only the street name.
PDF-only planning
The PDF shows key timepoints. Bus Time shows your exact stop-level arrival.
Payment mismatch
Using different OMNY devices can break transfer tracking.
Ignoring Mon / xMon / SD notes
Some trips have Monday-only, non-Monday or school-day notes. Check them before relying on a trip.
Related BusSchedules.org Guides for MTA Riders
These related guides help Q43 riders continue planning with official MTA tools, Queens SBS examples, Bus Time workflows and subway/bus fare guidance.
Q43 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the Q43 bus route?
The Q43 is an NYC MTA Queens Rush bus route between Floral Park and Jamaica via Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue.
Where can I find the official Q43 bus schedule?
Use the official MTA Q43 timetable. It includes weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, reference notes, fare information and key timepoints.
How do I track the Q43 bus live?
Open MTA Bus Time and search Q43. Choose the direction to Floral Park or to Jamaica, then select your exact stop.
Does the Q43 go to Jamaica?
Yes. Westbound Q43 trips go toward Jamaica LIRR / Archer Av-Sutphin Blvd, with transfer access to subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK and many bus routes.
Does the Q43 go to Floral Park?
Yes. Eastbound Q43 trips go toward Floral Park / Hillside Av near 267-268 St.
Is Q43 local or Rush service?
MTA lists Q43 as Rush bus service. The timetable notes that all trips make rush stops only, so confirm your stop before waiting.
What are the main Q43 stops?
Main stops include Archer Av / Sutphin Blvd, Sutphin Blvd / Jamaica Av, Hillside Av / Parsons Blvd, 169 St, 180 St, Francis Lewis Blvd, Springfield Blvd, 231 St, Little Neck Pkwy, Commonwealth Blvd and Hillside Av / 267-268 St.
How much is the Q43 bus fare?
MTA lists the fare for subway and local, limited, rush and Select Bus Service buses at $3 for most riders. Reduced-fare riders should check current MTA rules.
Can I use OMNY on the Q43?
Yes. Tap a contactless card, phone, wearable device or OMNY Card at the front door. Use the same card or device for transfers.
Does the Q43 run on weekends?
Yes. The official Q43 timetable includes Saturday and Sunday service tables. Weekend spacing and trip times differ from weekday service.
What does SD mean in the Q43 timetable?
SD means the trip runs only when schools are in session. When schools are closed, trips marked SD do not operate.
Why is my Q43 bus not showing in Bus Time?
The trip may not have started, the wrong stop or direction may be selected, live data may be temporarily unavailable, or an alert or detour may affect arrival information.
Is BusSchedules.org the official MTA website?
No. BusSchedules.org is an independent rider guide. Always verify final schedules, stop changes, fares, accessibility details and alerts directly with MTA.
Final Rider Summary: Best Way to Use the Q43 Bus Schedule
The best way to use the Q43 bus schedule is to open the official MTA Q43 timetable, choose the correct direction, confirm your stop is a current Q43 Rush stop, and then use MTA Bus Time for live arrivals. The route connects Floral Park and Jamaica via Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue.
Remember the big three: the PDF shows timepoints, Bus Time shows stop-level arrivals, and Q43 is Rush stop service. For subway, LIRR, AirTrain JFK, work, school or late-night trips, check live arrivals and alerts before leaving.
Official Q43 timetable · MTA Bus Time Q43 · Q43 Rush page · MTA fare guide