Changes on  Line, 42 St  Will Take Effect Beginning in Early January 

MTA Coordinating Work to Make Sure Customers Always Have At Least One Crosstown Subway Option 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced forthcoming track and accessibility work along the Flushing  line and on the 42 St , detailing the alternative service changes that will accommodate customers while the necessary work is completed during the winter months.  

The Authority is taking advantage of lower ridership due to the pandemic to conduct vital work on the two Manhattan crosstown sections of track, with work on the 42 St  taking place during weekdays and work on the  line primarily taking place on weekends. This provides customers traveling across Midtown Manhattan an alternate subway option at most times throughout the duration of these projects. 

On the Flushing line, crews will replace track near the Grand Central-42 St station. The existing track has reached the end of its useful life and requires complete replacement, which will lead to improved reliability and better service at one of the busiest stations in the system. Crews will take advantage of track access to remove unused components of the old signal system now that the move to a modernized Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system has been completed. The work, which gets underway Jan. 9 and is expected to be completed by mid-March, will also be bring needed improvements to fan plants near the Steinway Tunnel. 

On the 42 St , crews will spend weekdays in January and the second half of February advancing structural work for the future ADA accessible Shuttle's new two-track, center-platform configuration. The work includes installation of piles and structural steel at Times Square-42 St and mezzanine demolition work at Grand Central-42 St. This work is part of the broader 42 St Connection Project which reimagines the Shuttle and brings accessible Shuttle service to customers with disabilities. 

"This is critically important work that will help us in our broader efforts at modernizing the signaling system and bringing full accessibility to one of the most trafficked parts of our entire system," said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development.  "The 42nd St work in particular is an example of how we're using this period of low ridership to improve an area that is generally one of the busiest in the system and doing work more efficiently during this challenging time."  

During weekends and select weekday overnight hours,  train service will be suspended between Queensboro Plaza in Queens and 34 St-Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Customers will have several alternative service options and the work will be completed on nights beginning at 11:45 p.m. and weekends in order to reduce customer inconvenience.  

Print and digital signage will be posted in stations and announcements will be altered accordingly to help inform customers in stations and on trains ahead of the scheduled work. 

Overnight subway service remains suspended until further notice between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. every night to facilitate system disinfecting. 

Alternative Service for Flushing Line Riders: 

• Customers will be directed to the  train for service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square-42 St; during the day on weekends between 7:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sundays,  service will also be available between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square 
• Free shuttle buses will provide service to all 7 line stations in Queens between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av 
• Customers may also transfer to the  lines at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av station 
• M34 buses provide service between 34 St-Hudson Yards and Times Square-42 St 
• On weekends, 42 St  service will be available between Grand Central-42 St and Times Square-42 St 

Schedule of Work 

Weekends 

From 1 a.m. Saturdays to 5 a.m. Mondays: 

January 9-11 

January 16-18 

January 23-25 

January 30- February 1 

February 20-22 

February 27- March 1 

Weeknights* 

From 11:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Overnight subway service remains suspended until further notice between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. 

*This work will occur every week, Monday through Thursday, from January 11-March 19 

Alternative Service for 42nd Street Shuttle 

During work hours, Shuttle service will be suspended in both directions. 

• Take the  line, which also serves Times Square-42 St and Grand Central-42 St 
• The Shuttle will operate all weekends when the Flushing  line is not running 
• On weeknights, there will be overlap between the  line work and the Shuttle work: between midnight and 1 a.m. During this hour, there will be no Shuttle train and no  train operating in Manhattan 
• Customers will be directed to use the M34 from 34 St-Hudson Yards 

Schedule of Work 

Weekdays 

From 5 a.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Saturday 

Overnight subway service remains suspended until further notice between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. 

January 4-9 

January 11-16 

January 18-23 

January 25-30 

February 15-20 

February 22-27