Service Advisories

Before we delve into the weekend service advisories, a few points of clarification on some posts from the past few days:

• I took a tour of South Ferry on Thursday and guessed that it would be at least until 2014 before the 1 train’s terminal is back in service. The MTA on Friday said it could take up to three years to restore service. Such an estimate leads to me question whether spending $600 million to rebuild is the best use of funds. It’s a prickly topic, and one I’ll try to explore next week.
• Next, we have a follow-up on the MTA’s decision to kill the SBS’ flashing blue lights. According to a report on Transportation Nation, the MTA fielded a grand total of one complaint concerning the flashing blue lights before a group of Staten Island politicians decided to make an issue out of it. It’s hard not to see this move as retribution from a transit-hostile group of representatives who were upset that the MTA and DOT took away a lane of automobile traffic. The MTA will now have to spend more money than it should on an issue about which no one was really too worried. New York City politics at work.

Now, the fun stuff:

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Rector Street-bound 1 trains skip Dyckman Street due to floor tile installation at Dyckman Street.

From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street in the Bronx.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 19 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2 service operates in two sections due to track panel installation north of 219th Street in the Bronx:

• Between Flatbush Avenue and East 180th Street*
• Between East 180th Street and 241st Street

Customers may transfer between trains at East 180th Street.

*2 trains are rerouted to Dyre Avenue at East 180th Street during this time.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, there are no 3 trains between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 3 service operates between 148th Street and Franklin Avenue and via the 2 line between Franklin Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

Customers may transfer between trains and free shuttle buses at Franklin Avenue. Note: From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m., the 3 operates between 148th Street and Times Square-42nd Street only.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, there are no 4 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 4 service operates between Woodlawn and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center. Take 2 or 3 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Franklin Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 19 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, 4 trains operate local in both directions between 125th Street and Grand Central-42nd Street stations due to signal work between 42nd Street-Grand Central and 59th Street and track work near 86th Street.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, uptown 4 trains run express from 125th Street to Burnside Avenue due to station rehabilitation at 149th Street-Grand Concourse.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 19 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 5 service is suspended due to station rehabilitation work at 149th Street-Grand Concourse. Customers should take the 2 and/or 4 train instead.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21 (and the next 9 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.

• Use the E, N or Q* between Manhattan and Queens
• Free shuttle buses operate between Vernon Blvd-Jackson Avenue and Queensboro Plaza
• In Manhattan, the 42nd Street S Shuttle operates overnight

*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 19 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Coney Island-bound D trains run local from DeKalb Avenue to 36th Street due to switch replacement north of Atlantic Avenue.

From 9:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, 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 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Coney Island-bound F trains run express from 34th Street-Herald Square to West 4th Street due to electrical work at 34th Street.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Jamaica-bound F trains run express from Church Avenue to Jay Street-MetroTech due to work on the Culver Viaduct rehab and the Church Avenue Interlocking.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, there are no G trains between Church Avenue and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts due to work on the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation and the Church Avenue Interlocking. Customers should take the F instead.

• For F service, customers may take the A or C between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. and Jay Street-MetroTech.
• G service operates in two sections:
1. 1. Between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Aves and
2. 2. Between Bedford-Nostrand Aves and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. (every 20 minutes).

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 19 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Coney Island-bound N trains run local from DeKalb Avenue to 59th Street due to switch replacement north of Atlantic Avenue.

From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, January 19 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, January 20, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.

From 11 p.m. Friday, January 18 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 21, Brooklyn-bound Q trains run local from 34th Street-Herald Square to Canal Street due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square.

(42nd Street Shuttle)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, January 19, Sunday, January 20 and Monday, January 21, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.

It’s that time of year again, the time when a bunch of youngsters — and some oldsters — descend upon the subway without their pants on. Once upon a time, I participated in Improv Everywhere’s No Pants Subway Ride, but I’m over it. It was funny when it was a surprise, but now that it’s a Thing We Expect, the novelty has worn off. Plus, it’s flu season. Keep your pants on.

Anyway, if a little risque action is your thing, check out the info at Improv Everywhere’s website. Even as I’ve become more curmudgeonly about the whole thing, it is pretty funny to see those few unsuspecting straphangers react with amused confusion when a bunch of folks in underwear board the train. For those who want to avoid it, stay away from Union Square between 3 and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there are a bunch of other service changes. If you’re feeling generous, please try to go Long Island City this weekend. There’s no 7 service, and the G is running in two sections and every 20 minutes. There are a bunch of good businesses out there — including a really good beer bar — that need the support.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 12 to 9 p.m. Sunday, January 13, Rector Street-bound 1 trains skip 238th Street, 231st Street and 225th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, 242nd Street-bound 1 trains skip Dyckman Street due to floor tile installation at Dyckman Street.

From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street due to track panel installation north of 231st Street.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 12 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 2 service operates in two sections due to track panel installation north of Bronx Park East:

• Between Flatbush Avenue and East 180th Street*
• Between East 180th Street and 241st Street

Customers may transfer between trains at East 180th Street.

*2 trains are rerouted to Dyre Avenue at East 180th Street during this time.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, there are no 3 trains between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 3 service operates between 148th Street and Franklin Avenue and via the 2 line between Franklin Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

Customers may transfer between trains and free shuttle buses at Franklin Avenue.

Note: From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m., the 3 operates between 148th Street and Times Square-42nd Street only.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, there are no 4 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 4 service operates between Woodlawn and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center. Take 2 or 3 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Franklin Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 12 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, 4 trains operate local in both directions between 125th Street and Grand Central-42nd Street stations due to signal work between 42nd Street-Grand Central and 59th Street and track work near 86th Street.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 12 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 5 service is suspended due to signal work between 42nd Street and 59th Street and track work near 86th Street. Customers should take the 2 and/or 4 train instead.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14 (and the next 10 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.

• Use the E, N or Q* between Manhattan and Queens
• Free shuttle buses operate between Vernon Blvd-Jackson Avenue and Queensboro Plaza
• In Manhattan, the 42nd Street S Shuttle operates overnight

*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 6 a.m. Saturday, January 12, from 11:45 p.m. Saturday, January 12 to 6 a.m. Sunday, January 13 and from 11:45 p.m. Sunday, January 13 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, Manhattan-bound A trains skip Rockaway Avenue and Ralph Avenue due to platform area rehab at Utica Avenue.

From 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13, Manhattan-bound C trains skip Rockaway Avenue and Ralph Avenue due to platform area rehab at Utica Avenue.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14 , Coney Island-bound F trains run express from Jay Street-MetroTech to Church Avenue due to work on the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation and the Church Avenue Interlocking.

From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13, Brooklyn-bound F trains skip Avenue U and Avenue X due to platform edge survey south of Kings Highway.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, there are no G trains between Church Avenue and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts due to work on the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation and the Church Avenue Interlocking. Customers should take the F instead.

• For F service, customers may take the A or C between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. and Jay Street-MetroTech.
• G service operates in two sections: 1. Between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Aves and 2. Between Bedford-Nostrand Aves and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. (every 20 minutes).

From 12:45 a.m. Saturday, January 12 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, J service operates in two sections due to escalator replacement at Bowery station:

1. Between Jamaica Center and Delancey-Essex Sts.
2. Between Delancey-Essex Sts and Chambers Street, (every 20 minutes).

From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, January 12 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, January 13, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.

From 11 p.m. Friday, January 11 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 14, Brooklyn-bound Q trains run local from 34th Street-Herald Square to Canal Street due to electrical work at 14th Street-Union Square.

(42nd Street Shuttle)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, January 12, Sunday, January 13 and Monday, January 14, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.

Although Joe Lhota has left and Sandy dealt a significant amount of damage to the MTA’s bottom line, the agency is moving forward with its plan to restore nearly $30 million worth of services lost to the 2010 cuts. The first of those services come back on Sunday as a series of bus routes will return. Those are as follows:

Bx13	New Extension from East 161st Street to Bronx Terminal Market (149th Street and River Avenue)
Bx34	Restore daytime weekend service
B4	Restore full-time service to Knapp Street/Voorhies Avenue via Neptune Avenue, Sheepshead Bay Road and Emmons Ave/Shore Parkway
B24	Restore weekend service
B39	Restore daytime service between Williamsburg and Lower East Side
B48	Restore extension from Atlantic Avenue to Prospect Park (B, Q) Station
B57	Extend route from Carroll Gardens to Red Hook (Ikea) via Court Street, Lorraine Street and Otsego Street
B64	Restore extension from Cropsey Avenue to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue (D, F, N, Q) Station via Harway Avenue
B69	Restore weekend service
M1	Restore weekend service from 106th Street to 8th Street
M9	Extend north terminal from 23rd Street to 29th Street via 1st and 2nd Avenues and extend south terminal from City Hall to Battery Park City via Warren Street/Murray Street and West Street
M21	Restore weekend service
Q24	Restore extension from Broadway Junction to Bushwick Avenue via Broadway
Q27	Provide new overnight service from Horace Harding Expressway to Cambria Heights via Springfield Blvd
Q30	Provide new branch to Queensborough Community College
Q36	Extend alternate trips from Jamaica Avenue to Little Neck via Little Neck Parkway (This restores weekday service along route of previous Q79 route.)
Q42	Restore midday service from Jamaica Center to St. Albans via Archer Avenue}

Meanwhile, there are of course some weekend changes. No fake snow forecast to delay these this time.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, January 6, 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 5 and Sunday, January 6, the last stop for some uptown 1 trains is 137th Street. Customers may continue their trip by transferring at 137th Street.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 6, 2 service operates in two sections due to track panel installation north of Bronx Park East:

• Between Flatbush Avenue and East 180th Street*
• Between East 180th Street and 241st Street

Customers may transfer between trains at East 180th Street.

*2 trains are rerouted to Dyre Avenue at East 180th Street during this time.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 4 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 7, there are no 3 trains between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 3 service operates between 148th Street and Franklin Avenue and via the 2 line between Franklin Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

Customers may transfer between trains and free shuttle buses at Franklin Avenue.

Note: From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m., the 3 operates between 148th Street and Times Square-42nd Street only.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 4 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 7, there are no 4 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and New Lots Avenue due to switch replacement at Utica Avenue.

• 4 service operates between Woodlawn and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center. Take 2 or 3 trains between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Franklin Avenue.
• Free shuttle buses operate in two segments between Franklin Avenue and New Lots Avenue:
1. Local between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue.
2. Non-stop between Franklin Avenue and Sutter Avenue and local between Sutter Avenue and New Lots Avenue.

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, January 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 6, 5 service is suspended due to track panel installation of 219th Street and Gun Hill Road. Customers should take the 2 and/or 4 instead.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 4 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 7 (and the next 11 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.

• Use the E, N or Q* between Manhattan and Queens
• Free shuttle buses operate between Vernon Blvd-Jackson Avenue and Queensboro Plaza
• In Manhattan, the 42nd Street S Shuttle operates overnight

*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd. (See Q entry for hours of operation.)

From 10:45 p.m. Friday, January 4 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 7, uptown D trains run express from 145th Street to Tremont Avenue due to installation of electronics south of 167th Street.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, January 4 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 7, Coney Island-bound F trains are rerouted via the M After 36th Street, Queens to 47th-50th Sts. due to SAS work at Lexington Avenue-63rd Street.

From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, January 5 and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, January 6, Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. in order to augment service between Manhattan and Queens.

(42nd Street Shuttle)
From 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, January 5, Sunday, January 6 and Monday, January 7, 42nd Street S shuttle operates overnight due to weekend work on the 7 line.

With up to five inches of snow predicted for the New York City area, the MTA has canceled most of the weekend’s planned GOs. Still, the 7 line shutdown continues. Let’s take a look at what’s going on there.

For the next thirteen — 13! — weekends, there will be no 7 service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square. The shutdown will last each weekend from 11:45 p.m. on Friday through 5 a.m. on Monday. For Presidents Day weekend, the outage will continue until Tuesday morning. Essentially, the weekend of my 30th birthday is the next time the 7 train will run between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza over the weekend.

So why? This is all part of the MTA’s plan to install Communications Based Train Control on the 7 line. This will allow for more frequent service and countdown clocks. Right now, the MTA has to install fiber optics and computer equipment along the entire length of the 7 line, and the MTA is predicting service changes that will last for years. “We realize this will be an inconvenience,” the agency said in a statement, “but the work is necessary to modernize and improve the reliability of the 7 line.”

In the interim, the MTA recommends taking the E, F, N or Q trains. There will be a free shuttle bus between Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue and Queensboro Plaza with Q service extended to Astoria-Ditmars during the day. The 42nd St. Shuttle will operate overnight.

Meanwhile, with snow most — but not all — service changes have been canceled. The 7 and some work at Columbus Circle remain. Enjoy:

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, December 28 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 31 (and the next 12 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.

• Use the E, N or Q* between Manhattan and Queens
• Free shuttle buses operate between Vernon Blvd-Jackson Avenue and Queensboro Plaza
• In Manhattan, the 42nd Street S Shuttle operates overnight

*Q service is extended to Ditmars Blvd.

From 11 p.m. Friday, December 28 to 6:30 a.m. Saturday, December 29 and from 11 p.m. Saturday, December 29 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, December 30 and from 11 p.m. Sunday, December 30 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 31, uptown A trains run express from Canal Street to 125th Street due to ADA-related platform work at 59th Street-Columbus Circle.

From 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, December 29 and Sunday, December 30, uptown C trains run express from Canal Street to 145th Street due to ADA-related platform work at 59th Street-Columbus Circle.

New York City subway and buses are operating on a Sunday schedule on Tuesday for Christmas, and I’ll see you all later in the week. Enjoy your holidays.

We know it’s almost Christmas. We know the Culver Viaduct project is forever plagued with problems. We know Joe Lhota is leaving in nine days to try run for mayor. We know the R train has returned. And that’s about it.

There’s a whopping one service change worth knowing about this weekend. Otherwise, just watch this video of the Transit Museum’s model train show. It’s shot from the viewpoint of the trains themselves. You can catch the show at the Transit Museum outpost in Grand Central.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, December 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 24, Coney Island-bound D trains skip 167th Street, 161st Street and 155th Street due to track maintenance work at 167th Street.

We’re getting closer to Christmas. Without snow on the ground, it’s still easy to see that as weekend work has slowed to a crawl.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, December 15 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 17, Manhattan-bound A trains run local from Broadway Junction to Utica Avenue due to elevator work at Utica Avenue.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, December 14 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 17, Coney Island-bound D trains skip 167th Street, 161st Street and 155th Street due to track maintenance work at 167th Street.

From 11:45 p.m. Friday, December 14 to 5 a.m. Monday, December 17, R trains operate between Forest Hills-71st Avenue and 34th St and Q trains operate local in both directions on Broadway between Canal Street and 57th St-7th Avenue due to signal work in the Montague Tube and adjoining areas.