7 Train Disruptions To Last Up To 5 Weekends
As you have most likely heard by now, weekend service on the 7 line will be in complete shambles due to a major capital project involving the installation of new signaling and track switches. I am posting the press release to continue with the flow of updating the blog with the most recent news. Here is the press release courtesy of the MTA:
Long Island Rail Road to Provide Alternate Service at No Cost
Due to a major capital project involving the installation of new signaling and track switches along the Flushing Line, 7 train service will be suspended between Flushing-Main Street and Woodside-61st Street Station for up to five weekends beginning January 12-14 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday) and, beginning on Friday morning, January 11th until February 29th, weekday express service will be suspended (all 7 trains will run local).
A free-fare alternate service will be provided by MTA Long Island Rail Road trains (Flushing-Main St., Port Washington branch) and NYC Transit shuttle buses during this disruption. Passengers traveling between Flushing-Main Street and Manhattan are urged to use the Long Island Rail Road, which will run approximately every 15 minutes between approximately 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. For passengers traveling to Manhattan from stations between Flushing-Main Street and 61st Street – Woodside, Shuttle Bus service making all stops to 74th Street – Broadway will be available. Once there, customers can transfer to E F R trains into Manhattan. At 74th Street -Broadway, there will be additional E and F trains available between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday during these weekends.
The work being done is the second phase of a $76 million capital program to improve and upgrade the subway infrastructure along the Flushing Line. The line’s signal system is being modernized between Queensboro Plaza and 82nd Street-Jackson Heights as part of this project that also includes the reconfiguration of track switches in the vicinity of 74th Street-Broadway. The modernization of signals will allow faster and more efficient service while maintaining safe standards of operation.
When completed, the new signal system and switches will allow trains to cross between tracks and serve 74th Street-Broadway in the event that track work is being performed in the vicinity. Currently, trains cannot make this track change.
“We understand that 7 Line riders will face major disruptions of service while this vital work is being performed,” said NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts, Jr. “However, this work is necessary in order to bring state-of-the-art improvements to the operation of the 7 Line and will increase the availability of a major transfer point.”
“The Long Island Rail Road is poised and ready to provide alternative LIRR shuttle train service to accommodate 7 Line riders during the upcoming weekends as NYC Transit performs work to modernize its signal system,” said LIRR President Helena Williams. “While this alternate service is being provided, we ask our customers to be patient as our trains will be more crowded than normal.”
Long Island Rail Road staff will also be on hand to assist riders transferring between the subway and LIRR. NYC Transit personnel will be on hand at the Flushing-Main Street, 74th Street-Broadway and Woodside-61st Street 7 stations to help guide customers and to explain travel options:
– Customers who board at Main Street-Flushing and normally transfer at 74th Street to reach Manhattan should use the LIRR and transfer to the E at Penn Station.
– Customers who board at 61st Street-Woodside and are heading to Flushing-Main Street should use the LIRR, not the Shuttle bus, except during night hours.
– Customers boarding the LIRR at Penn Station should:
Go to the lower level, find an LIRR monitor (displaying Port Washington or Flushing-Main Street) and go to the track for the next Pt. Wash. or F.M.S. train– Local Shuttle Bus service runs at all times between Main Street – Flushing and Woodside-61st Street
– Flushing-bound Express Shuttle Bus service runs non-stop from 74th Street-Broadway to Main Street-Flushing between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday
– Overnight Express Shuttle Bus service runs non-stop between Main Street – Flushing and 61st Street – Woodside from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
SubTalk posters detailing the service changes will be posted at affected stations and onboard 7 trains. Brochures are available in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish.
For more information on this and other weekend construction work, riders can log on to www.mta.info and click on Service Advisories for information on the 7 line and for the entire Weekend Summary. While on line, customers may also listen to a TransitTrax podcast on the project at http://www.mta.info/nyct/transittrax.htm.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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