Second Ave. Sagas

Author: Benjamin Kabak

  • Weekend work affecting 17 subway lines

    The first train to roll down the Second Ave. tracks. (Photo: MTA Capital Construction / Rehema Trimiew)

    This week was a bit of a milestone for the Second Ave. Subway. While we were debating the fate of the Q train, the MTA quietly announced that the first train had rolled down the tracks underneath Second Ave. The work train you see above took the ride from the old tracks to the new near 63rd St. At some point soon — hopefully by the end of 2016 — New York City will finally have a piece of the Second Ave. Subway. What the future holds is up to Gov. Cuomo who appears unwilling to act and unwilling to lead.

    As you mull over our governor’s abandonment of the city’s transit system, get ready for weekend work. You know the drill.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, South Ferry-bound 1 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College bound 2 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, 3 trains are suspended in both directions between Crown Hts-Utica Av and New Lots Av. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service, and operate all weekend between Crown Hts-Utica Av and New Lots Av making all station stops.


    From 11:30 p.m. Friday, June, 5 to 7:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, 4 trains are suspended in both directions between Crown Hts-Utica Av and New Lots Av. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service, and operate all weekend between Crown Hts-Utica Av and New Lots Av making all station stops.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, 5 service is suspended in both directions between Eastchester-Dyre Av and E 180 St. Free shuttle buses operate all weekend between Eastchester-Dyre Av and E 180 St, stopping at Baychester Av, Gun Hill Rd, Pelham Pkwy, and Morris Park. Transfer between trains and shuttle buses at E 180 St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 4:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Pelham Bay Park-bound 6 trains run express from Parkchester to Pelham Bay Park.


    From 6:45 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 7, Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall bound 6 trains run express from Parkchester to Hunts Point Av.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Times Sq-42 St bound 7 trains run express from Mets-Willets Point to Queensboro Plaza.

    • To 111 St, 103 St, 90 St, 82 St, 74 St, 69 St, 52 St, 46 St, 40 St, and 33 St, take the 7 to Junction Blvd, 61 St-Woodside, or Queensboro Plaza and transfer to a Flushing-Main St bound 7.
    • From these stations, take a Flushing-Main St bound 7 to 61 St-Woodside, Junction Blvd, or Mets-Willets Point and transfer to a Times Sq-42 St bound 7.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Inwood-207 St bound A trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St.


    From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Inwood-207 St bound A trains run local from Canal St to 59 St-Columbus Circle.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 168 St-bound C trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, Brooklyn-bound C trains skip 50 St, 23 St, and Spring St. To/from these stations, take the E instead; transfer between trains at 42 St-Port Authority, 14 St, W 4 St-Wash Sq or Canal St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound D trains run express from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to 36 St.


    From 12:15 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 12:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer bound E trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, E trains run local between Forest Hills-71 Av and Roosevelt Av.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell bound F trains are rerouted via the E line from Roosevelt Av to W 4 St-Wash Sq, and then via the A line to Jay St-MetroTech.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, F trains run local between Forest Hills-71 Av and Roosevelt Av.


    From 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, L trains operate in two sections:

    • Between 8 Av and Broadway Junction.
    • Between Broadway Junction and Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy, every 24 minutes.
    • To continue your trip, transfer at Broadway Junction.


    From 5:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, M trains are suspended. J trains and free shuttle buses provide alternate service.

    • Free shuttle buses make all M line station stops between Metropolitan Av and Myrtle Av.
    • Use the J for service between Myrtle Av and Essex St.
    • Transfer between shuttle buses and J trains at Myrtle Av.
    • For direct service to/from Manhattan, use the L via transfer at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound N trains run express from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to 59 St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell bound N trains skip 49 St.


    From 10:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound Q trains run express from Prospect Park to Kings Hwy.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound Q trains skip 49 St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, Forest Hills-71 Av bound R trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, June 5 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, June 7 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, Bay Ridge-95 St bound R trains skip 45 St and 53 St. 36 St-bound R trains stop at 53 St and 45 St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, Bay Ridge-95 St bound R trains run express from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to 59 St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, Bay Ridge-95 St bound R trains skip 49 St.

  • Q Train Quandaries: Astoria and the Second Ave. Subway

    Photos from late May show the current progress on the Second Ave. Subway. The MTA says the project more than 80 percent completed and will open in December of 2016. (Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)

    Despite the ongoing drama with the 7 line extension — the MTA now anticipates opening the 34th St. station in September or October, 21 or 22 months late — the agency continues to push the party line that the Second Ave. Subway will open by the end of December of 2016. A recent media tour of the construction site revealed significant progress, and the MTA says the project is 82.3% completed. Still, Upper East Side residents I’ve spoken with are skeptical as the work has been marked by constant missed deadlines and broken promises.

    Meanwhile, across the East River in Queens, Astoria residents are beginning to take notice of the looming completion of Phase 1 of this project, and they’re worried. When the MTA first unveiled plans for the Second Ave. Subway, it was billed as a northward extension of the Q train from 57th St. and 7th Ave. to 96th St. and 2nd Ave. via preexisting tunnel to 63rd St. and new tunnel underneath 2nd Ave. This was 11 years ago when the W split the Queens load with the N train, and extending the Q north would have no affect on service to and from Astoria.

    Since then, the W has gone the way of the dodo and the Q serves a vital part-time link for Astoria subway riders. In fact, the BMT trains from Queens have seen massive growth over the past decade, and residents and politicians alike have called for more frequent service, especially during off-peak and weekend hours. Thus, the threat of a Q train service diversion has many nervous. Today, Dan Rivoli, the new Daily News transit beat writer, and Chris Sommerfeldt delved into this issue and for some reason, the MTA played its cards awfully close to its chest. The two write:

    In diverting the Q line to the East Side, NYC Transit has not decided if the N can handle riders in Astoria “or if there will need to be trains added,” according to an email obtained by the Daily News. The email was sent to at least two riders who inquired to the MTA about Q service in Queens by Joseph O’Donnell, outreach director for the megaproject.

    MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz stressed the transit agency is not planning a service cut. “While the route letters may change, and exactly what will happen hasn’t been determined yet, we have no plans to reduce service on the Astoria or any other line,” Ortiz said…

    Sen. Michael Gianaris of Astoria said that while the MTA’s assurances sound good, he wants to make sure capacity on the Astoria train lines is maintained. But given the crowds of waiting commuters he sees from his district office, “what they really should be doing is increasing service,” he said.

    As Rivoli and Sommerfeldt’s person-on-the-street interviewees note in the article, a service cut for Astoria seems ludicrous, and the MTA has maintained since eliminating the W in 2010 that the Second Ave. Subway opening would not lead to less service for Astoria. Still, I can see why some people in Queens may be unsettled by the MTA’s less-than-comforting remarks. At some point soon, the MTA should announce that some version of the W will return with part-time service into Astoria, and the MTA should consider restoring N express service in Manhattan during peak hours as well. For now, we don’t know what the service patterns will be, but in less than a year and a half we will. It should bring comfort to Queens even if the question remains unsettled for now.

  • Transit Prez Carmen Bianco set to retire in August

    The revolving door atop the MTA’s power structure continues to spin as New York City Transit President Carmen Bianco announced his plans to retire this summer. Bianco, 63, took over the role in April of 2013 when Tom Prendergast was elevated to MTA Chair, and he had previously spent over three years as the Senior Vice President of Subways. He was the seventh New York City Transit President and, outside of Howard Robers, the shortest-tenured one.

    As with any agency head, Bianco’s time as president has seen its ups and downs — though the downs were brought about by forces of nature largely outside of anyone’s control. As VP and later President, he led an agency working to overcome the damage wrought by Superstorm Sandy and developed the early years of Transit’s $4 billion Fix & Fortify spending plan. Meanwhile, on the positive side, the subways now serve up to 6 million riders per day, and overall daily NYC Transit ridership has topped 8.2 million. The team Bianco put into place is working to increase subway capacity too, though changes (cough cough open gangways cough cough) can’t come soon enough.

    MTA officials, meanwhile, praised Bianco and pledged to conduct a wide search for his replacement. “Carmen Bianco is a one-of-a-kind leader as well as a trusted friend, and while I understand why he is ready to retire now, we will all miss his detailed experience, his thoughtful perspective and his constant drive to make transit better for both our customers and our employees,” Prendergast said in a statement. “Through initiatives like establishing the FASTRACK program for subway maintenance and aggressively bringing new technology into the system, Carmen made the organizational culture of New York City Transit reflect the priorities that our customers expect. He will be missed.”

  • NYC-area lawmakers urge Cuomo to do something

    Gov. Nero is fiddling while Rome’s subway system is burning, but some New York City lawmakers aren’t taking it sitting down. Assembly representative James Brennan, architect of a plan to fund the MTA’s capital plan, has penned a letter to the Governor asking for resolution. Streetsblog posted the letter [pdf], and Brennan secured 24 other Assembly members and 10 State Senators as co-signers.

    Brennan and Co. do not hold back. I’ll excerpt at length:

    While this proposed statewide capital program represents a significant number, it still falls far short of what is generally acknowledged by the comptroller and other transportation experts as what is needed to keep New York’s most valuable economic asset—its unparalleled $1 trillion transit system—in a state of good repair and to continue modest expansion. It also must be considered in the context of its broader value to the economic health of its service regions with more than 14 million people, seven million workers and one that generates $1.4 trillion in GDP. Moreover, maintaining transit systems across the state contributes significantly to the upstate economy, given the number of suppliers and value-added services that exist in upstate New York to support the transit capital plans.

    The MTA’s daily ridership of 8.6 million has reached a 65-year all time high and is putting significant strain on the system. The Lexington Avenue subway alone carries 1.3 million people a day, exceeding the ridership of San Francisco, Chicago and Boston combined. The pressure on the MTA’s physical assets to serve this increasing ridership is starting to show, with equipment and facility-related train delays on the rise. Between October 2013 and October 2014, nearly 25% of all subway trains were late. Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road have similarly struggled in managing their aging assets.

    A fully-funded, five-year statewide capital plan will have far reaching impacts for the entire New York metropolitan and upstate regions, regardless of which borough or county one calls home. It will fund the purchase of modern buses, subway cars and commuter rail cars; the installation of computerized signals to increase capacity and reduce crowding; safety measures such as new subway track to prevent derailments and Positive Train Control to keep commuter rail passengers safe; and rider information like countdown clocks and “BusTime” technology that will help bring New York’s largely outdated system into the 21st Century and closer to on par with the world’s other leading cities.

    Our transit agencies have experienced a decrease in federal, state, and local monies for far too long. If new sources of funding are not identified soon, agencies will be forced to raise fares and tolls or reduce service to pay for much-needed infrastructure needs—taking more money from the pockets of millions of daily riders, many of whom have no other transportation options. Viable funding options exist to support these initiatives, and the time is now to take action.

    These lawmakers want action during the 2015 legislative session — which ends in less than a month. This is a direct challenge to Cuomo and the loudest one he’s received on the MTA’s capital plan so far. Will he act? I wouldn’t put money on it, but the pressure is mounting as days on the legislative calendar melt away.

  • Why the MTA’s cost and credibility gap matter

    When I was in Berlin last month, I stayed close to Unter den Linden, a wide boulevard that connects the former East Berlin to Museum Island and runs through the Brandenburg Gate where it becomes Strasse des 17. Juni as it passes through the Tiergarten. It’s a wide boulevard, and it’s the site of the German capital’s own transit megaproject. For €433 million, Berlin is building a 2.2-kilometer, 3-station U-Bahn extension that will finally join the U-5 with its U-55 progeny. Much like New York City, Berlin has had some issues delivering on-time projects, and this one is set to wrap in 2019. Still, the price is very, very right.

    In New York City, meanwhile, the MTA maybe might open the 7 line extension — all $2.4 billion worth of it — before the end of the third quarter of 2015, but a City Council hearing today, MTA officials noted that the project could be delayed until October. The MTA is beginning dispatch training and teaching train operators how to run 7 trains from Times Square to 34th St., but the opening date won’t be announced for “several weeks,” according to MTA Capital Construction head Michael Horodniceanu. “We are in the final 50-yard sprint of this project,” he said.

    The timeline is almost besides the point. The MTA is getting a little bit more track than Berlin and two fewer stations for nearly six times the cost. It’s stunningly disproportionate, and the 7 line isn’t alone. It’s not the most expensive subway project in the world on a per-mile basis because the 2nd Ave. Subway is. (The costs decrease a bit on a per-passenger basis, but the MTA’s cost scales are inexplicably high.) The MTA doesn’t talk much about these high costs and, tangentially, their inability to deliver anything on time, but well-positioned politicians have taken note of these issues.

    On Monday, in an attempt to convince the City Council to up its contributions to the MTA’s underfunded capital plan, agency CEO and Chairman Tom Prendergast faced a sometimes-provincial, sometimes-on point City Council. After clearly laying out the agency’s financial issues, Prendergast heard from some council members who demanded, without funding, as Ydanis Rodriguez did, a subway from 207th Street in Manhattan to Fordham or from those who don’t understand that capacity increases require investment in the form of hundreds of millions of dollars to implement CBTC. (Ryan Hutchins at Capital New York summed up the hearings.)

    But Prendergast, hat in hand, also faced some witheringly accurate criticism regarding the MTA’s project management skills. A certain line of argument came from Corey Johnson, the council member who represents the Hudson Yards area. Noting the 7 line extension delays, Johnson said, “It doesn’t inspire confidence” in the MTA’s ability to pull off large-scale projects. He didn’t even discuss costs (as expected since costs can be esoteric and don’t make for great sound costs).

    All in all though, this gets us to the MTA’s credibility gap. We know they can’t manage costs, and we’ve seen how they manage timelines. Every few weeks, the opening date for the 7 line extension has been pushed back so that, if revenue service begins in October, it will have been 22 months since Mayor Bloomberg’s ceremonial first ride. Meanwhile, the agency continues to insist the Second Ave. Subway will open in December of 2016, and the P.R. blowback if they miss that date will be tremendous.

    Overall, the MTA’s problem is one that affects its allies too. I want to argue vociferously for the MTA Capital Plan, but the agency needs to get out in front of these cost and time management issues. They have to assuage critics and proponents alike that they (a) recognize the problem and (b) are working to resolve it. Why does the Second Ave. Subway cost orders of magnitude more than similar projects throughout the developed world? We don’t know, but the MTA should be working its collective tail off trying to lower costs for future phases. Instead, their funding request includes $1.5 billion for a Phase 2 build-out with an indeterminate budget. That does not, as Johnson said, inspire confidence.

    There’s no doubt the MTA needs funding for the capital program. The alternative is bad service and high fares without technological advancements. But until the MTA can be efficient with its spending and deliver projects on time, politicians will have arrows in their quivers they can use at will. And can you really blame them?

  • Report: Albany set to punt on MTA Capital Plan, for now

    So, did you miss me? There’s nothing like coming back with some bad news.

    Since I’ve last had an opportunity to write up more than just the weekend service changes and a kitschy YouTube video on subway delays, I’ve been to Berlin, Stockholm, Chicago and Boston. I’ve ridden on a variety of transit systems, some better and more integrated than others, and I’ve had a whirlwind month of May as I prepare for my wedding in less than two weeks. I’ve missed a good amount of transit news too, and I’ll try to recap everything that’s happened in my absence, as well as provide some thoughts on those other systems I rode, over the next few days. Still, despite the three-week gap, the big story — the MTA’s 2015-2019 capital plan — may in fact be worse for the wear than it was before I left.

    The sad reality is that, as June dawns and New York’s lawmakers gear up to end their 2015 legislative session, Albany is unlikely to address the gaping $14 billion hole in the MTA’s capital plan. This utter failure in leadership comes amidst a period of record subway ridership and clear signs that the MTA needs support to both keep pace with demand and continue to grow to meet future needs. So far, the details on this development are slim, but Kenneth Lovett, the Daily News’ Albany bureau chief had a brief report on this latest development.

    He writes:

    New York state leaders are set to slam the brakes on the cash-strapped MTA’s push to fill a $14 billion hole in its $32 billion capital plan, the Daily News has learned. Several lawmakers say the political will is not there to address the issue before the legislative session ends later this month.

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been looking for help from state, federal and city governments as well as the private sector. The agency says failure to fully fund the 2015-2019 capital plan could imperil such projects as the next phase of the Second Ave. subway line construction, improvements to rails, switches and stations, and the purchase of new subway and commuter trains.

    MTA officials vowed to continue to press for the needed funding. “This is the highest priority for the MTA and we’re going to continue pushing it with everyone we can,” agency spokesman Adam Lisberg said. MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast and other agency officials have been meeting regularly with Gov. Cuomo’s office and members of the Legislature to try to come up with a plan to fill the $14 billion gap. But they’ve been unable to get the issue placed on the front burner of the end-of-session agenda.

    If the political will isn’t there now, it’s hard to see just when the will may arise. There’s been growing support for the Move New York fair tolling plan — support that hasn’t materialized since the now-disgraced Sheldon Silver torpedoed then-Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan in a closed-door session in 2008. Plus, in April, James Brennan had seemingly prepared to put forward his own plan to fund the capital program through gas and income tax increases and more contributions to the city. (City contributions remain a very controversial issue as the MTA, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer have been duking it out in recent weeks, but more on that in a day or two.) None of these efforts have led anywhere, and the city’s 8 million daily bus and subway riders will be left with an uncertain future.

    For now, the MTA’s ongoing projects aren’t in jeopardy. Nearly all were funded under previous capital plans, and the agency can still tap PAYGO resources, albeit at higher interest rates than otherwise would be available if Albany were to act. But down the road, if Albany continues to fail to find the political will to address the imperative needs of a majority of New York City residents and workers, the MTA will have to turn to fare hikes, service cuts and scaled-back plans. That means no future phases of the Second Ave. Subway, no MetroCard replacement and no signal system upgrades while the Mayor can forget about his unfunded plan for a Utica Ave. subway.

    It’s not surprising to hear Albany suffer from a lack of political will. Over the past few months, the state’s Assembly Speaker and Senate Majority Leader were arrested in corruption probes; the governor doesn’t show much outward support for transit; and the mayor has his security team drive him from the Upper East Side to Park Slope so he can go to the gym. While voting constituents need the subways, politicians who drive at a rate disproportionate to the electorate don’t understand the role the transit system plays in the city’s current and future success. So here we are in June, no closer to answer to a giant gap than we were in March, January or last November. The more things change indeed.

  • Weekend Work Affecting 16 Subway Lines

    I’ll fancy these up in the morning and will be back next week. 

    1
    From 11:30 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, 1 trains are suspended between 96 St and Van Cortlandt Park-242 St in both directions. Use the AC, M3, M100, and free shuttle buses instead.

    1
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, South Ferry-bound 1 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St. 

    2
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Wakefield-241 St bound 2 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.

    2
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 31, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College bound 2 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St.

    3
    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight, Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, Harlem-148 St bound 3 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.

    4
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 31, from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Woodlawn-bound 4 trains run express from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to 14St-Union Sq.

    4
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 31, from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Woodlawn-bound 4 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.

    5
    From 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 5 trains run every 20 minutes.

    6
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Pelham Bay Park-bound 6 trains run express from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to 14 St-Union Sq. For service to Canal St, transfer to the J at Chambers St-Brooklyn Bridge. For service to Spring St, Bleecker St, and Astor Pl, take the uptown 4 or 6 to 14 St-Union Sq and transfer to a downtown 4 local or 6. From these stations, take a downtown 4 or 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and transfer to an uptown 4 or 6.

    6
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 4:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Brooklyn Bridge-bound 6 trains run express from Pelham Bay Park to Parkchester.

    A
    Beginning 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, until Fall 2015, Brooklyn-bound A trains skip Rockaway Blvd. 

    · For Service To this station, take the Brooklyn-bound A to 88 St and transfer to a Far Rockaway or Lefferts Blvd-bound A.

    · For Service From this station, take a Far Rockaway-bound A to Aqueduct-North Conduit Av or a Lefferts Blvd-bound A to 104 St and transfer to a Brooklyn-bound A.

    A
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, A trains are suspended in both directions between Ozone-Park Lefferts Blvd and Rockaway Blvd. Brooklyn-bound A trains skip Rockaway Blvd and 88 St. Free shuttle buses provide alternate between 80 St and Lefferts Blvd. Transfer between shuttle buses and A trains at 80 St.

    A
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 31, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 31 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Brooklyn-bound A trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to Canal St.

    C
    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Brooklyn-bound C trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to Canal St. 

    D
    From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, May 30 to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, May 31, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound D trains are rerouted on the N line from 36 St to Coney Island-Stillwell Av.

    E
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, E trains are suspended in both directions between W 4 St-Wash Sq and World Trade Center. E trains are also rerouted via the F between W 4 St-Wash Sq and 2 Av.

    E
    From 12:15 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, and from 12:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Jamaica Center-bound E trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.

    E
    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 30 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, World Trade Center-bound E trains run local from Forest Hills-71 Av to Queens Plaza. Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer bound E trains run local from Roosevelt Av to Forest Hills-71 Av.

    F
    From 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 29, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Jamaica-179 St bound F trains are rerouted via the M line from 47-50 Sts to Roosevelt Av. 

    F
    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 30 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound F trains run local from Forest Hills-71 Av to 21 St-Queensbridge.

    J
    From 5:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30 J trains are suspended in both directions between Hewes St and Essex St. Take free shuttle buses instead. J service operates in two sections:

    · Between Jamaica Center and Hewes St.

    · Between Essex St and Chambers St, every 15 minutes.

    · Free shuttle buses provide alternate service between Hewes St and Essex St, stopping at Marcy Av.

    · Transfer between trains and free shuttle buses at Hewes St and/or Essex St. For service between Brooklyn and Manhattan, consider the AC or L via transfer at Broadway Junction.

    M
    From 5:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, M trains are suspended in both directions between Myrtle Av and Essex St. Take the JL and/or free shuttle buses instead. M service operates between Metropolitan Av and Myrtle Av. For direct service to/from Manhattan, use the L via transfer at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs.

    N
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Astoria-Ditmars Blvd bound N trains are rerouted on the D line from Coney Island-Stillwell Av to 36 St.  

    N
    From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound N trains are rerouted via the R line from Canal St to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr. 

    Q
    From 11:15 p.m. Friday, May 29 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound Q trains run express from Prospect Park to Kings Hwy.

    Q
    From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound Q trains are rerouted via the R line from Canal St to DeKalb Av.

    R
    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight, Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, R trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av. 

  • Weekend work affecting 13 subway lines

    Due to the Memorial Day holiday, many of this weekend’s service changes extend through Tuesday morning. Give yourself some extra time. You know the drill.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, South Ferry-bound 1 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Van Cortlandt Park-242 St bound 1 trains run express from Times Sq-42 St to 72 St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, and from 11:45 p.m. Monday, May 25 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College bound 2 trains run express from 14 St to Chambers St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, and from 11:45 p.m. Monday, May 25 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Wakefield-241 St bound 2 trains run express from Times Sq-42 St to 72 St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 6:00 a.m. Saturday, May 23, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, May 23 to 8:00 a.m. Sunday, May 24, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday May 24 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 25, Crown Hts-Utica Av bound 4 trains skip 138 St-Grand Concourse.


    From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 23 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Woodlawn-bound 4 trains run local from Grand Central-42 St to 125 St.


    From 6:00 a.m. Saturday, May 23 to 11:30 p.m. Monday, May 25, 5 trains are suspended in both directions between E 180 St and Bowling Green. Take the 2 and/or 4 instead. 5 shuttle trains operate all weekend between Eastchester-Dyre Av and E 180 St. 6 service is extended to Bowling Green.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 7 trains are suspended in both directions between Flushing-Main St and Mets-Willets Point. Shuttle buses operate between Flushing-Main St and Mets-Willets Point. Transfer between trains and shuttle buses at Mets-Willets Point.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, and from 11:45 p.m. Monday, May 25 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Inwood-207 St bound A trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St.


    From 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25, 168 St-bound C trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25, Brooklyn-bound C trains run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to Canal St.


    From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, May 15 to 10:00 p.m. Monday, May 25, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound D trains are rerouted on the N line from 36 St to Coney Island-Stillwell Av.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, E trains run local in both directions between Roosevelt Av and Forest Hills-71 Av.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22, to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound F trains are rerouted via the E line from Roosevelt Av to W 4 St-Wash Sq, and then via the A to Jay St-MetroTech. F trains run express from Roosevelt Av to Queens Plaza.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, F trains run local in both directions from Roosevelt Av to Forest Hills-71 Av.


    From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, Astoria-Ditmars Blvd bound N trains are rerouted via the R line from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to Canal St.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound N trains stop at 45 St and 53 St.


    From 11:15 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound Q trains run express from Prospect Park to Kings Hwy.


    From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 57 St/7 Av-bound Q trains are rerouted via the R line from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr to Canal St. 57 St/7 Av-bound Q trains stop at Jay St-MetroTech, Court St, Whitehall St, Rector St, Cortlandt St, and City Hall.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight, Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25, R service is extended to the Jamaica-179 St F station.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 22 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, and from 11:45 p.m. Monday, May 25 to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 36 St-bound R trains stop at 53 St and 45 St.

  • Video: A Subway Delay Story

    At Monday’s MTA Board committee meetings, the folks who oversee New York City Transit enjoyed a screening of this 8-bit take on the MTA’s service woes. It’s a 110-second summary of how a single delay can echo throughout the system. I’m not sure it really tells us anything new, but it served as an entry into the MTA’s new attempts at improving service on congested lines. Essentially, the MTA is going to use shorter pre-recorded announcements to cut dwell times and employees situated in stations to answer questions. It’s an incremental improvement but without a massive investment in the signal system, that’s among the best the beleaguered agency can do. After my Q train stopped at four red signals between 7th Ave. and De Kalb this morning, I’ll take whatever improvements we can get.

    On another note, I know many of you have been asking after me. After my vacation, I came down with a bad cold and have been catching up at work after my trip. I should be able to return to a semi-normal posting schedule over the next week. I’d love to offer up some views on my experiences riding the trains in Berlin and Stockholm. For better or worse, they stand in stark contrast to New York City’s subways. Thanks as always for sticking around.

  • Weekend work affecting 16 subway lines

    I picked a busy week to take vacation. This week’s Amtrak incident is horrific, and it’s led to many more unanswered questions and issues with national rail service. The fallout will reverberate for some time. We’ve learned as well that the city’s subway system is dirtier than the MTA claims — though that’s hardly a surprise to anyone who rides regularly. I’ll have full pieces on this and more starting Monday when I return from vacation.

    If you’ve wondered where I’ve been, I’ve spent the past week in Berlin and Stockholm. I’ve posted a series of photos on both my Instagram account and Facebook page. The Stockholm Tunnelbana is breathtaking, but Berlin’s Ghost Stations are just an incredible piece of fascinating history.

    Those running the Brooklyn Half tomorrow don’t have subway advisories to combat early in the morning, but the weather doesn’t sound too cooperative. Stay dry; run hard. I’ll see you all on Monday.

    (As an administrative note, many of you noted mistakes in last week’s service advisory post. These are sent to me via NYC Transit, and I just copy and paste them for this post. If there are errors, take it up with Transit, and check signs in your local subway station before planning weekend journeys.)


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Manhattan-bound 2 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Manhattan-bound 3 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 7:30 a.m. Sunday, May 17, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Manhattan-bound 4 trains run express from Franklin Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 6:00 a.m. Saturday, May 16, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, May 16 to 8:00 a.m. Sunday, May 17, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday May 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Woodlawn-bound 4 trains skip 138 St-Grand Concourse.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, 5 trains are suspended in both directions between Eastchester-Dyre Av and E 180 St. Free shuttle buses operate all weekend between Eastchester-Dyre Av and E 180 St, stopping at Baychester Av, Gun Hill Rd, Pelham Pkwy, and Morris Park. Transfer between trains and shuttle buses at E 180 St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15, to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Pelham Bay Park-bound 6 trains run express from 3 Av-138 St to Hunts Point Av.

    • To Brook Av, Cypress Av, E 143 St, E 149 St, and Longwood Av, take the 6 to Hunts Point Av and transfer to a Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall bound 6.
    • From these stations, take a 6 to 3 Av-138 St and transfer to a Pelham Bay Park-bound 6.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, May 17, and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 17 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Brooklyn-bound A trains run express from 125 St to Canal St.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Brooklyn-bound C trains run express from 125 St to Canal St.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound D trains are rerouted on the N line from 36 St to Coney Island-Stillwell Av.


    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, World Trade Center-bound E trains run express from 34 St-Penn Station to Canal St.


    From 12:15 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and May 17, and from 12:15 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer bound E trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Jamaica Center- Parsons/Archer bound E trains run local from Roosevelt Av to Forest Hills-71 Av, and World Trade Center-bound E trains run local from Forest Hills-71 Av to Queens Plaza.


    From 12:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, Jamaica-179 St bound F trains run local from Roosevelt Av to Forest Hills-71 Av. Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound F trains run local from Forest Hills-71 Av to 21 St-Queensbridge.


    From 5:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Chambers St-bound J trains run express from Broadway Junction to Myrtle Av.


    From 11:30 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, L trains are suspended in both directions between 8 Av and Lorimer St. Use AJM, M14, and free shuttle buses.

    • L service operates between Lorimer St and Rockaway Pkwy.
    • M service is extended to the 57 St F station, days and evenings.
    • Free shuttle buses operate between Lorimer St and the Broadway G station, stopping at Bedford Av, Marcy Av JM, and Hewes St J/M.
    • Transfer between free shuttle buses and JM trains at Marcy Av or Hewes St.
    • A free MetroCard transfer is available from the Broadway G to the Lorimer St JM station.
    • Consider using the A or J to/from Manhattan via transfer at Broadway Junction or the M via transfer at Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs.
    • M14A buses provide alternate service along 14 St between 8 Av and 1 Av, and connect with the JM at Delancey-Essex Sts station.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, May 16, and 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, M service is extended to the 57 St F line station.


    From 5:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, Manhattan-bound Q trains run express from Kings Hwy to Prospect Park.


    From 6:30 a.m. to 12 Midnight, Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Forest Hills-71 Av bound R trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Av.

    Rockaway Park Shuttle
    From 11:45 p.m. Friday, May 15 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, the Rockaway Park Shuttle is suspended. Shuttle buses provide alternate service between Rockaway Park and the Beach 67 St A station, stopping at Beach 105 St, Beach 98 St, and Beach 90 St. Transfer between shuttle buses and A trains at Beach 67 St.