Service Changes are Part of Subway Action Plan, Station Repairs and Other Ongoing Maintenance, and Upgrade Work for Improvements on Multiple Lines

These weekend service changes are part of the MTA Subway Action Plan, station improvements in Queens and Manhattan, and ongoing maintenance, repair and upgrade work throughout the MTA New York City Transit subway system to maintain and upgrade track, signal, station and other infrastructure in order to provide customers with safe and reliable service.  More information on the 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program is available here.

This weekend, work crews will be dispersed throughout the entire subway system to perform a variety of critical tasks in the areas of track replacement and maintenance, signal modernization, station enhancements, electrical upgrades and communication improvements.  All this work is aligned with the MTA Subway Action Plan, a comprehensive plan to stabilize and modernize the subway system by attacking the key drivers of 79 percent of delay-causing major incidents and strategically targeting additional personnel and equipment to focus on critical parts of the system.   

For a simple, graphical guide that makes it easy to visualize how this weekend maintenance, upgrade and repair work will affect subway service – and what alternative travel options are recommended – consult The Weekender at web.mta.info/weekender.html. The Weekender is accessible through the MTA website by clicking the “Weekender” tab within the Service Status Menu, and is also available as a free app for iPhone and Android devices.

TripPlanner+ is an online tool that provides customized travel guidance based on available service and takes weekend service diversions into account.  In addition, customers can receive customized subway status emails or texts by signing up at www.MyMTAalerts.com.

At all times until winter 2018-19, downtown trains skip 238 St due to station improvements.  As an alternative, take the Bx9 to 231 St, or take an uptown train to 242 St and transfer to a downtown . 

From 3:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, downtown trains skip 176 St, Mt Eden Av, 170 St, 167 St and 161 St-Yankee Stadium due to track replacement near 167 St.  As an alternative, use an uptown  to complete your trip.  Transfer at 149 St-Grand Concourse or Burnside Av.    

From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, trains run every 16 minutes between 125 St and Woodlawn due to track replacement near 167 St. The last stop for some trains headed toward Woodlawn is 125 St.  Transfer at 125 St to continue your trip. 

From 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, downtown trains run local from 125 St to Grand Central-42 St due to track replacement. 

At all times until late winter 2018-19, trains will skip 28 St in both directions due to MTA’s Enhanced Station Initiative project.  The 28 St station is one of the oldest in the subway system, opening in October 1904. For alternate service, use nearby  stations along Park Avenue South at 33 St or 23 St.  Or use the nearby 28 St  station on Broadway.  Local buses are also available along Lexington and Madison avenues.  For a graphical guide to these alternate travel directions, click here.

From 9:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, downtown trains skip 33 St and 23 St due to station enhancements at 28 St.  As an alternative, use an uptown  local or  to complete your trip.  Transfer at 14 St-Union Sq or Grand Central-42 St.  As a reminder, the 28 St station is closed in both directions for renovations until late winter 2018-2019.    

Beginning 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, service ends early between E 180 St and Bowling Green due to track replacement near Grand Central-42 St.  Take the  or . 

From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, trains run every 20 minutes between Eastchester-Dyre Av and Bowling Green due to track replacement near Grand Central-42 St.  Downtown trains run local from 125 St to Grand Central-42 St. 

At all times until January 2019, trains will skip 167 St in both directions due to MTA’s Enhanced Station Initiative project.  As an alternative, customers are advised to use the nearby stations at 170 St , 167 St , or 161 St-Yankee Stadium.  Use the Bx1 or Bx2 along Grand Concourse and transfer to the subway at 170 St  or 161 St-Yankee Stadium with a MetroCard.  Use the Bx35 along E 167 St and transfer to the  at 167 St station with a MetroCard.  For transfers to another bus, ask the bus operator for a MetroCard Bus Transfer, which can be used on another local bus ride within two hours.  For return trips, ask the station agent for a transfer to the bus.  For a graphical guide to these alternate travel directions, click here.

From 9:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, and from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and Sunday, Dec. 30,  trains run between 168 St and W 4 St, and via the  to/from 2 Av, the last stop, due to electrical improvements.  trains replace  service between W 4 St and Euclid Av. For Spring St, Canal St, or Chambers St, take the  or .  For Fulton St, take the .  Transfer between trains at W 4 St.   trains make all  stops between Jay St-MetroTech and Euclid Av.  Transfer between  and  trains at W 4 St or 2 Av. 

At all times until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31,  trains are rerouted via the  in both directions between Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av and W 4 St, where they continue on their regular  route to World Trade Center. Customers traveling to and from Forest Hills-71 Av may take the . Customers traveling to and from Brooklyn may transfer from the  line to the .  trains continue to serve Queens Plaza except during overnights, when free shuttle buses provide service by making stops at 21 St-Queensbridge, Court Sq and Queens Plaza. Customers going to/from Lexington Av/53 St  or 5 Av/53 St  can use the nearby 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Center station or take the  to 51 St. 

 trains are being rerouted due to signal and power upgrades, and maintenance and repairs on signals, tracks and electrical infrastructure in and around the 53^rd Street  Tunnel. Crews are installing rails, plates, tie blocks and track ties, performing preventive switch maintenance, and upgrading communications, signals and electrical infrastructure, such as installing communications and power cables. Ridership is significantly lower during this holiday week compared to other periods, and the schedule’s efficiency means an entire month of weekend work can be accomplished in a single five-day period. This work is part of an ongoing signal modernization project on the Queens Boulevard  Line, which when completed will enable New York City Transit to address overcrowding and heavy ridership by operating more trains, adding passenger capacity and more frequent service.  For more information, refer to this press release. A graphical guide to these alternate service directions is available here.

From 10:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, service between Bergen St and Coney Island-Stillwell Av is replaced by the  via transfer at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts due to electrical improvements.   trains from Manhattan will make all  line station stops from Jay St to Euclid Av, the last stop.  Queens-bound  trains originate at Euclid Av, making local  station stops to W 4 St, where trains resume regular service.  For York St, use the nearby High St  station.  For East Broadway, 2 Av, and B’way-Lafayette St, use the Brooklyn-bound  via transfer at W 4 St or Jay St-MetroTech.  For Delancey St, take the  via Futon St.        

From 9:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, service will operate to/from Coney Island-Stillwell Av, replacing the  in Brooklyn due to electrical improvements.  Transfer between  trains at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts.     

Beginning 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7,  trains will run between Broad St and 121 St due to a critical track and switch reconstruction project near Jamaica Center. Free shuttle buses will run between the 121 St  and Jamaica-Van Wyck  stations. Transfer between trains and shuttle buses at Jamaica-Van Wyck and/or 121 St. During this reconstruction project, crews will rebuild a portion of the  line, including all tracks and switches, near the Jamaica Center  terminal to ensure safe and reliable service.  Upon completion, customers will benefit from a smoother, more reliable ride. For more information, refer to this press release. A graphical guide to these alternate travel directions is available here. 

From Friday, Dec. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, shuttle buses and  trains replace  trains due to track replacement.   service is suspended.  Free shuttle buses run between Metropolitan Av and Myrtle Av all weekend.  For service between Myrtle Av and Delancey-Essex Sts, take the .            

At all times until spring 2019, Coney Island-Stillwell Av-bound trains skip Fort Hamilton Pkwy, New Utrecht Av, 18 Av, and 20 Av, due to station rehabilitation work on the Sea Beach Line.  When finished, this will yield a better travel experience for customers, including the installation of elevators at 8 Av and New Utrecht Av stations, providing mobility-impaired customers with better accessibility, upgraded communication systems, installation of Help Point intercoms, new stairways and handrails, reconstructed platforms and overpasses, repairs to canopies and columns, and artwork.  For service to these stations, use a Manhattan-bound  train.  Transfer at Bay Pkwy or 8 Av.  For New Utrecht Av-62 St, take the .  Transfer between  and  trains at 36 St.   

At all times until July 2019, trains will run local in both directions between 59 St and 36 St in Brooklyn due to structural rehabilitation work to repair and replace steel columns, lighting, ventilators, and deteriorated concrete, and perform water mitigation work to address water seepage in the express tunnel between the 59 St and 36 St stations.   trains will stop at 53 St and 45 St in both directions.

At all times until February 2019, trains will skip Broadway and 39 Av in both directions due to MTA’s Enhanced Station Initiative project.  When this project is completed, customers will benefit from critical structural and safety repairs and improvements to concrete and steel features such as columns, beams, platforms, walls and stairs. There will also be other improvements and upgrades such as improved waterproofing, a reconfigured mezzanine area including new glass barriers, new security cameras, LED lighting for increased light and energy efficiency, and enhanced signage for easier navigation including digital, real-time service change and train and bus arrival information.  For alternate service, use the nearby open Astoria line stations at 30 Av, 36 Av, or Queensboro Plaza via the Q102 bus.  For a graphical guide to these alternate travel directions, click here.