How about some bad news for 7 train riders on Friday evening? As part of the never-ending work to install a communications-based train control system on the Flushing Line, weekend shutdowns will resume at the end of February. Luckily for Mets fans — if Mets fans can ever be described as lucky — the work has been scheduled to coincide with away games. Any time the Mets are on the road, there’s no 7 service; any time they’re home, trains run with no problems.
According to the MTA’s announcement, the work scheduled for these weekends will also involve two other projects: replacement of track panels and reconstruction of the Steinway Tube, including Sandy recovery work. “We understand that these service disruptions are inconvenient to the customers who depend on the 7 train and we appreciate their patience,” MTA NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco said in a statement. “We have made every effort to schedule these projects simultaneously to get as much work done as we can during these periods.”
Generally, the work will be focused around segments from 74th St. – Broadway to Times Square, but sometimes work extends from Willets Point to Flushing. There will be no 7 service between Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main St between 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 and 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 18, as well as between 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 22 and 5 a.m. Monday, February 24.
The work, says the MTA, is beyond the capacity of a FASTRACK treatment, and as a carrot to those left stranded, weekend N and Q service will be increased. Here’s what 7 train riders and Long Island City residents have to look forward to:
No service between Times Square-42 St and Queensboro Plaza on these dates unless noted with asterisk:
- February 28-March 3
- March 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31
- April 11-14
- May 2-5, 16-19 (No service between Times Square-42 St and 74 St-Broadway)
- May 30-June 2
- June 6-8, also reduced service between 74 St-Broadway and Queensboro Plaza (Service resumes early a.m. Sunday, June 8 for Puerto Rican Day Parade)
- June 20-23, 27-30, also reduced service between 74 St-Broadway and Queensboro Plaza
- July 18-21, also reduced service between 74 St-Broadway and Queensboro Plaza
That’s the long-term future. Now, after the jump, let’s dive into this weekend’s changes.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 17 to 4:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Brooklyn Bridge-bound 6 trains run express from Pelham Bay Park to Parkchester due to station work and platform demolition work at Castle Hill Avenue and Middletown Road stations.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Brooklyn-bound A trains run local from 59 St-Columbus Circle to W 4 St due to structural survey work in the Rutgers Tunnel.
From 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Brooklyn-bound C trains are rerouted on the F line in Manhattan and Brooklyn between W 4St and Jay St-MetroTech due to structural survey work in the Rutgers Tunnel.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Manhattan-bound E trains run express from 34 St-Penn Station to Canal St due to structural survey work in the Rutgers Tunnel.
From 12:15 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, and from 12:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Queens-bound E trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av due to track tie renewal north of Queens Plaza.
From 9:45 p.m. Friday, January 17, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Queens-bound F trains run on the M line from 47-50 Sts to Queens Plaza due to Second Avenue Subway construction.
From 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, G trains run every 20 minutes between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs, due to Fix and Fortify Sandy Recovery Work in the Greenpoint Tube. The last stop for some trains headed towards Court Sq is Bedford-Nostrand Avs. To continue your trip, transfer at Bedford-Nostrand Avs to a Court Sq-bound G train.
From 12:45 a.m. Saturday, January 18 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, J trains are suspended between Essex St and Chambers St in both directions due to cable work south of Bowery. For service to/from Bowery, Canal St, and Chambers St, use 4 or 6 trains at nearby stations. F trains provide connecting service via Bleecker St/ B’way-Lafayette St and Delancey-Essex Sts.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 18 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, L trains run every 24 minutes between Rockaway Pkwy and Broadway Junction due to track repairs south of E105 St. L service operates in two sections between 8 Av and Broadway Junction, and between Broadway Junction and Rockaway Pkwy. To continue your trip, transfer at Broadway Junction.
From 6:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Ditmars Blvd-bound N trains are rerouted on the D (express) from Stillwell Av to 36 St in Brooklyn due to design survey work near 20 Ave.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, January 20, Q trains are suspended in both directions between 57 St-7 Av and Parkside Av due to switch renewal north of Coney Island- Stillwell Av. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service between Parkside Av and Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr. For service to Manhattan, take a D, F, or N train from Stillwell Av. For service to Brooklyn, take either a D, F, or N train at 34 St-Herald Sq or a D, N train at Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.
From 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Queens-bound R train service is extended to Jamaica 179 St on the F line due to signal modernization work at Forest Hills-71 Av and Kew Gardens.
From 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Queens-bound R trains run express from Queens Plaza to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av due to track renewal work north of Queens Plaza.
10 comments
Anyone know how long it took in Paris, London, etc. when they installed CBTC on all their various subway lines?
These are always bad comparisons based on the fact that those systems don’t move no where near the same about of people over a 24 hour period each day of the week.
I think the bigger issue is that they shut down at night. Instead of working some weekends being able to work every night can get projects done a lot faster.
Being able to work for FOUR hours a night in London does help but a lot of time is wasted in setting up and closing down the work sites so weekend closings are necessary. Plus most of the work done over night is routine maintenance rather than for capital projects. You can get a heck of a lot done in a 48 hour close period
The Jubilee Line seemed to be closed almost every weekend for a long time whilst its signals were updated and at the moment the Northern line is having regular weekend closings etc. There are closures for parts of the line in 3 out of the next 4 weekends for example.
But at least the end is in sight and the closings are now more to do with testing which needs long periods of time rather than actual construction / installation
Enough is enough!!!! I’ve been riding the 7 for 30 years and for the past 20 years they’ve been doing BS track work on & off, get it together already!! What’s the point of all this if you’re still having permanent delays!!?? I can’t wait to move out of this crappy town. You can get more for your money elsewhere and a better quality of life
Relax Melvin, its only on weekends. Try being a R-train rider who lost their direct connection to the city for 14 months straight. At least this repair doesn’t f*ck up your daily rush hour commute.
Enough is enough!! They’ve been doing bogus track work for the past 20 years!!!! Get it together already!!
Track workers need pay to read the Daily News while sitting on platforms waiting for hours for a safety clearance.
One amendment to your listing of weekend work. I noticed some hastily printed flyers stating that the 1 trains is shut all weekend North of 96th St. Guess the FastTrack work on that line went fairly slow this week.
@NYCTSubwayScoop: Our crews were very productive during #FASTRACK on the #1 Line this week. A look at what they accomplished: http://t.co/8keldJ5lKX