You can take the A if you want to get to Harlem, but from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night this week, you can’t take the A train to get to Inwood. FASTRACK arrives shortly in upper Manhattan, and the A train won’t operate north of 168th Street.
This one’s pretty easy: Take the 1 train to nearby stations or take the M4 bus for direct service to the A train stations. Next up is an overnight closure on the IND from 53rd St. to Roosevelt Ave., but that’s not until mid-March.
You know the drill.
From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, February 23 to 9 p.m. Sunday, February 24, uptown 1 trains skip 225th Street, 231st Street and 238th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.
From 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street in the Bronx.
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, there are no 2 trains between 3rd Avenue-149th Street and 96th Street due to station work at 149th Street-Grand concourse, track maintenance at 96th Street and tunnel lighting in the Harlem River tube. Downtown 2 trains operate local between 96th Street and Times Square-42nd Street.
Free shuttle buses operate:
During this time, 2 trains will operate in two sections:
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, 3 service is suspended due to station work at 149th Street-Grand Concourse, track maintenance at 96th Street and tunnel lighting in the Harlem River tube. 2 trains make all 3 station stops between 96th Street and Franklin Avenue. 4 trains make all 3 station stops between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue. Free shuttle bus operates as a local between 96th Street and 148th Street.
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, 4 service is extended to New Lots Avenue and operates as a local in Brooklyn due to work on the 2, 3, 5 line.
(Overnights)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, February 23 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 24 and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, February 24 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, downtown 4 trains run express from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to track tie block work near 96th Street and 103rd Street.
From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, there are no 5 trains between East 180th Street and 149th Street-Grand Concourse due to station work at 149th Street-Grand Concourse, track maintenance at 96th Street and tunnel lighting in the Harlem River tube.
Free shuttle bus operates across 149th Street between 3rd Avenue-149th Street and 149th Street-Grand Concourse. 5 train service operates in two sections:
Note: 5 trains from Manhattan skip 138th Street-Grand Concourse, take the 4 instead.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, downtown 6 trains run express from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to track tie block work near 96th Street and 103rd Street.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25 (and the next four weekends), there is no 7 train service between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to Flushing Line CBTC work. Customers may take the E, N, Q and S (42nd Street shuttle) and free shuttle buses as alternatives.
*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, February 23 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, Queens-bound A trains run local from Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts to Utica Avenue due to platform edge and tile work at Utica Avenue.
(Overnights)
From 11:15 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23, from 11:15 p.m. Saturday, February 23 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 24 and from 11:15 p.m. Sunday, February 24 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, Manhattan-bound E trains run express from Forest Hills-71st Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue due to ADA work at Forest Hills-71st Avenue.
From 10:45 p.m. Friday, February 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 25, Queens-bound N trains run express from Canal Street to 34th Street-Herald Square due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square and 34th Street-Herald Square.
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, Queens-bound R trains run express from Canal Street to 34th Street-Herald Square due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square and 34th Street-Herald Square.
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, Manhattan-bound R trains run express from Forest Hills-71st Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue due to ADA work at Forest Hills-71st Avenue.
From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 23 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, February 24, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.
(42nd Street Shuttle) (Overnights)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, February 23, Sunday, February 24, Monday, February 25, and Monday, February 25, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.
Before I get to the service advisories, let me share with you a story about why New Yorkers grow so frustrated with the MTA. Tonight, I was heading back to Brooklyn from near Chambers St., and a quick glance at Subway Time showed me that I had around 12 minutes to go before my next 2 train. That’s fine. I expect a long enough wait late on a Friday night there.
It wasn’t though late enough for anything to be in front of us. The 4 wasn’t yet running local in Brooklyn, and I knew how long it had been between trains because that information is now available in the one device I carry around with me in my pocket. So we left Nevins St. and then crawled to a stop before Atlantic Ave. I could have walked between those two stations faster, but the automated announcement proclaimed “train traffic ahead of us.” Everyone on that train knew there was no train traffic ahead of us, and yet there we were being told that. Why not just tell the truth about the delay? Why treat customers like cattle?
Anyway, that’s my mini-rant for the weekend. Onto the service advisories. Note that many of these run through 5 a.m. on Tuesday and that trains will operate on a Saturday schedule on the Presidents Day holiday this Monday.
From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, February 16 to 9 p.m. Sunday, February 17, uptown 1 trains skip 225th Street, 231st Street and 238th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.
From 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street in the Bronx.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19, uptown 4 trains skip 138th Street-Grand Concourse due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
(Overnights)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 16,
From 11:45 p.m. Saturday, February 16 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 17,
From 11:45 p.m. Sunday, February 17 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, February 18, and
From 11:45 p.m. Monday, February 18 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19:
Downtown 4 trains run express from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to rack tie block work near 96th Street and 103rd Street.
From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, February 16 to Monday, February 18, there are no 5 trains between East 180th Street and Bowling Green due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19, downtown 6 trains run express from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to track tie block work near 96th Street and 103rd Street.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19 (and the next five weekends), there is no 7 train service between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to Flushing Line CBTC. Customers may take the E, N, Q and S (42nd Street shuttle) and free shuttle buses as alternatives.
*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)
(Overnights)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 16,
From 11:45 p.m. Saturday, February 16 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 17,
From 11:45 p.m. Sunday, February 17 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, February 18, and
From 11:45 p.m. Monday, February 18 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19:
Uptown A trains run express from Canal Street to 145th Street due to ADA work at 59th Street-Columbus Circle.
From 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, February 16, Sunday, February 17 and Monday, February 18, uptown C trains run express from Canal Street to 145th Street due to ADA work at 59th Street-Columbus Circle.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, February 16 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 18, Manhattan-bound E trains run local from Roosevelt Avenue to Queens Plaza due to track tie block and plate renewal south of Roosevelt Avenue.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 19, Coney Island-bound F trains are rerouted via the M line after 36th Street, Queens to 47th-50th Sts due to station work at Lexington Avenue-63rd Street for SAS project.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 18, Jamaica-bound F trains run express from Church Avenue to Jay Street-MetroTech due to work on the Culver Viaduct Reconstruction and the Church Avenue Interlocking.
From 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17, Jamaica-bound F trains run express from Avenue X to 18th Avenue due to rail and platform edge survey south of Ditmas Avenue.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, February 16 5 a.m. Monday, February 18, Manhattan-bound F trains run local from Roosevelt Avenue to 21-st Street-Queensbridge due to track tie block and plate renewal south of Roosevelt Avenue.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 15 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 18, there are no G trains between Church Avenue and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts due to work on the Culver Viaduct Reconstruction and the Church Avenue Interlocking. Customers should take the F instead.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, February 16 to 5 a.m., Monday, February 18, downtown Q trains run local from 34th Street-Herald Square to Canal Street due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 16, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, February 17 and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, February 18, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.
(42nd Street Shuttle) (Overnights)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, February 16, Sunday, February 17, Monday, February 18, and Tuesday, February 19, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.
For subway and New York City bus riders, everything should run smoothly on Monday morning, the MTA announced Sunday night. After a February storm dumped nearly a foot of snow on the five borough, Transit expects a normal commute come the rush hour. Subway lines that were running local instead of express will be restored to express service, and the longer, articulated buses will be back in service.
Some railroad passengers, though, will be less lucky. Nine of 11 LIRR routes will run “near-normal” Monday service. The Ronkonkoma Branch, however, will not run east of Ronkonkoma, and the Montauk Branch will not run east of Speonk. For Metro-North, the Hudson and Harlem Lines will operate normally, as will the New Haven Line between Stamford and Grand Central. North of Stamford, though, Metro-North will run around half of its normal Monday rush service. Trains will run on the Danbury and New Canaan branches but not on the Waterbury branch. For the full Metro-North rundown, check the MTA’s service alert.
With snow sort of pelting the area, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that Metro-North will cease service after 10 p.m. tonight. Here’s what the press release says:
Because of the accelerating severity of the storm as well as projected snowfall accumulations of more than a foot, Metro-North Railroad will begin a suspension of train service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines at approximately 10 p.m. This service suspension will continue until further notice.
With the significant increase in snowfall and high winds, the risk of a train becoming disabled with customers on board also increases significantly. Therefore, it is important to stop service at this time to ensure customer safety and to allow Metro-North employees to conduct aggressive snow fighting operations to keep the right of way as clear as possible. Road conditions have also deteriorated, with many road closures in Metro-North’s service territory.
In addition, Grand Central Terminal will close after the last trains arrive, approximately midnight.
The MTA has stressed that there are no plans to suspend service on any of the subway lines that run overnight, but some express routes are operating on local tracks to allow for underground train storage. Whether this Metro-North shutdown is too conservative is open for debate, but the MTA does not want to risk a power outage stranding a train in the snow.
With snow set to arrive — at some point? by this evening? eventually? — the MTA has announced that all weekend subway work is canceled. Barring any drifts that build up in the system’s at-grade sections, service will run as per the normal weekend schedule. There is however a catch: The 7 train to Manhattan remains suspended.
According to Transit, in order to protect trains and remove them from the Corona Yard, 7 service will operate between Main Street and Queensboro Plaza with a train shuttle connection to Vernon-Jackson Avenues. The 7 will not run into Manhattan beginning at around midnight and ending when trains can be safely returned to the Yard, but no earlier than late morning tomorrow. In the meantime, the 42nd St. Shuttle will run all night, and N service — but not the Q — will allow for connections from Manhattan to the 7 at Queensboro.
In other weather-related news, Metro-North has issued a series of service advisories, and the LIRR will halt service if snow piles start to reach 10 inches or more. The MTA, Gov. Cuomo and the mayor have all urged New Yorkers to travel out of the city earlier rather than later today.
After Friday’s water main break, things are slowly returning to normal for the BMT Broadway line. The N and Q trains are running their normal service patterns, but the R is still diverted due to the water situation. Meanwhile, weekend work continues apace. The FASTRACK scheduled for the N and D trains in Brooklyn was canceled, but everyone else is a go.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 8 a.m. Saturday, February 2, uptown 1 trains run express from 72nd Street to 96th Street due to work on a new compressor plant at 91st Street.
From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, February 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday, February 3, Rector Street-bound 1 trains skip 238th Street, 231st Street and 225th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.
From 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street in the Bronx.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 2, uptown 2 trains run express from 72nd Street to 96th Street due to work on a new compressor plant at 91st Street.
(Overnights)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, February 2, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, February 2 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, February 3 and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, February 3 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, downtown 4 trains run express from 14th Street-Union Square to Brooklyn Bridge due to track maintenance at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, uptown 4 trains run express from 125th Street to Burnside Avenue due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, February 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, downtown 4 trains run local from 125th Street to 14th Street-Union Square and uptown 4 trains run local from Grand Central-42nd Street to 125th Street due to signal work between Grand Central-42nd Street and 59th Street and track work near 86th Street.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, 5 service is suspended. There are no 5 trains between East 180th Street and Bowling Green due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
For service between:
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, downtown 6 trains run express from 14th Street-Union Square to Brooklyn Bridge due to track maintenance at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. February 4, uptown 6 trains run express from 3rd Avenue-138th Street to Parkchester due to ADA work at Hunts Point Avenue.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4 (and the next seven weekends), there is no 7 train service between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to Flushing Line CBTC. Customers may take the E, N, Q and S (42nd Street shuttle) and free shuttle buses as alternatives.
*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, Queens-bound A trains run local from 59th Street to West 4th Street, then are rerouted via the F line from West 4th Street to Jay Street/MetroTech due to cable work north of Jay Street-MetroTech.
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3, Brooklyn-bound C trains are rerouted via the F line from West 4th Street to Jay Street-MetroTech due to cable work north of Jay Street-MetroTech.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m., Monday, February 4, downtown E trains skip 23rd Street and Spring Street due to cable work north of Jay Street-MetroTech.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, Jamaica-bound F trains skip 14th Street and 23rd Street due to electrical work at 34th Street-Herald Square.
From 11:15 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, Coney Island-bound F trains are rerouted via the M after 36th Street, Queens to 47th-50th Sts due to station work at Lexington Avenue-63rd Street for SAS project.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, February 1 to 5 a.m. Monday, February 4, Coney Island-bound F trains run express from Jay Street-MetroTech to Church Avenue due to work on the Culver Viaduct Reconstruction and the Church Avenue Interlocking.
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts due to work on the Culver Viaduct Reconstruction and the Church Avenue Interlocking. Customers should take the F instead.
From 5:30 a.m. Saturday, February 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, February 3, there are no J trains between Crescent Street and Jamaica Center due to structural steel repair and painting north of Cypress Hills. Free shuttle buses and E trains provide alternate service via Jamaica-Van Wyck.
From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 2 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, February 3, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.
(42nd Street Shuttle)(Overnights)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, February 2, Sunday, February 3 and Monday, February 4, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.
The Broadway Line will be without overnight service this week. (Click to enlarge)
The BMT Broadway line enjoyed a FASTRACK-free 2012, but the pleasures of uninterrupted overnight service come to end this evening at 10 p.m. Until 5 a.m. each night this week, there will be no service along the BMT Broadway line throughout Manhattan. As FASTRACK goes, this is one of the easier treatments with the three-block walk from 59th St. and 5th Ave. to 57th St. on the F representing the longest gap between the Broadway Line and any other train line in Manhattan.
As far as service changes, here’s what’s happening:
The folks who have it the worst here are those trying to go from Manhattan to Astoria. A simple one-train ride now because a three-seat ride involving a trip up to 42nd St. and a short stint on the 7. Anyone traveling to Brooklyn via the Brighton Line should be able to replicate their usual one-seat ride with a short walk, and those looking for N service can turn to the D instead. All in all, it’s not terrible.
The next FASTRACK treatment will be on the A Line north of 168th Street for four consecutive weeknights from Monday, February 25 to Friday, March 1.
I have a bunch of links for you this weekend that didn’t make into lengthier posts this week. Let’s run ’em down:
With the TWU still urging a systemwide slowdown, MTA interim Executive Director Tom Prendergast has penned a letter [pdf] formally opposing such a move. “Implementing possible solutions to improving safety rashly and without proper evaluation can potentially create hazards that may result in serious injury and/or death,” he writes. Plus, he says, such a slowdown can reduce system capacity and is against Transit rules. A slowndown would be quite costly, and at Streetsblog, Charles Komanoff ran down the numbers. This fight will continue.
Next up, we have a Crains New York interview with Chris Ward. The former Port Authority head spoke about the challenges facing PATH as it recovers from Sandy. In an odd soundbit, he said, “Sandy knocked the hell out of PATH while the MTA benefited from the fact that it has an aging system that is very mechanical, as opposed to PATH, which is newer and all electric and got fried.” I’m not quite sure what that means, but he has some interesting insights into the state of the system. More on that next week.
Finally, a pair of one-offs: Joe Lhota wants to bring back the commuter tax. Curbed took a look at the Pennsylvania Railroad’s giant Hudson Bridge that never was.
And now, some service advisories for your weekend.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, January 26, uptown 1 trains run express from 72nd Street to 96th Street due to work on a new compressor plant at 91st Street. – Oh, hey there, acknowledgment of the once and former 91st St. station.
From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 26 to 9 p.m. Sunday, January 27, Rector Street-bound 1 trains skip 238th Street, 231st Street and 225th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.
From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street in the Bronx.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, January 26, uptown 2 trains run express from 72nd Street to 96th Street due to work on a new compressor plant at 91st Street.
(Overnights)
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, January 26, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, January 26 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, January 27 and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, January 27 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, downtown 4 trains run express from 14th Street-Union Square to Brooklyn Bridge due to track maintenance at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, uptown 4 trains run express from 125th Street to Burnside Avenue due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 26 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, downtown 4 trains run local from 125th Street to 14th Street-Union Square and uptown 4 trains run local from Grand Central-42nd Street to 125th Street due to signal work between Grand Central-42nd Street and 59th Street and track work near 86th Street.
From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, 5 service is suspended. There are no 5 trains between East 180th Street and Bowling Green due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, downtown 6 trains run express from 14th Street-Union Square to Brooklyn Bridge due to track maintenance at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28 (and the next eight weekends), there is no 7 train service between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to Flushing Line CBTC. Customers may take the E, N, Q and S (42nd Street shuttle) and free shuttle buses as alternatives.
*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 26 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, Manhattan-bound A trains run local from Broadway Junction to Utica Avenue due to elevator work at Utica Avenue.
From 6:30 a.m. Saturday, January 26 to 11 p.m. Sunday, January 27, uptown C trains run express from Canal Street to 145th Street due to track maintenance north of 42nd Street and electrical systems installation north of 34th Street.
From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, there is no Bronx-bound D service at 34th Street-Herald Square, 42nd Street-Bryant Park, 47th-50th Sts and 7th Avenue due to track maintenance north of 42nd Street and electrical system installation north of 34th Street.
From 9:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, Jamaica-bound F trains are rerouted via the M from 47th-50th Sts to Roosevelt Avenue due to station work at Lexington Avenue/63rd Street for SAS project. F trains run express from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Avenue.
From 10:45 p.m. Friday, January 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 28, Queens-bound N trains run express from Canal Street to 34th Street-Herald Square due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square.
From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, January 26 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, January 27, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.
From 10:45 p.m. to midnight, Friday, January 25, from 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, Queens-bound R trains run express from Canal Street to 34th Street-Herald Square due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square.
(42nd Street Shuttle)(Overnights)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, January 26, Sunday, January 27 and Monday, January 28, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.
With the three-day weekend and a quick jaunt down to Philadelphia on my agenda, I didn’t have a chance to post this ahead of time, but as FASTRACK continues for four nights, news about this week’s treatment is still timely. For the first time in its short history, FASTRACK is descending upon a part of the subway system not too close to its neighboring lines. This week’s work focuses on the 2 train’s Nostrand Ave. line from Franklin Ave. to Flatbush Ave.
The details: From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night this week, there will be no 2 trains south of Franklin St. The 2 is heading to Utica Ave., and the B44 Limited is being tasked with picking up the slack. Service on the 3 train will end early, and the fare-free buses will make limited stops from the Nostrand Ave. subway stop to Flatbush Ave. The 4 train is running local from Borough Hall to New Lots Ave.
This FASTRACK tests a basic assumption of the program. As the MTA says, “These FASTRACK efforts have been designed around the careful determination that there is adequate alternate means of transportation, including enhanced services along some bus lines during work periods.” Here, the MTA is running some extra buses and urges riders to consider Q train service. Unfortunately, corresponding stations on the Q’s Brighton Line are between 0.8 miles and 1 mile away from the 2 train’s Nostrand Ave. line. This is, so far, the largest distance between a FASTRACK’d line and the nearest active line.
Ultimately, this problem of adequate service could have been solved ahead of time had the MTA and NYC DOT managed to implement Select Bus Service along the B44 in less than four years, but you know how that goes. If anyone out there is experiencing significant problems due to this FASTRACK, I’d love to hear from you. Next week, we get the BMT Broadway line’s first FASTRACK.