September 16, 2020
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E Train Service at Two Stations to Be Temporarily Suspended as MTA Begins First Phase of Critical Track Replacement Work at End of Line in Queens |
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First Phase Begins Sept. 19; Replacement and Installation Over a Mile of Track at End of Subway Line in Queens Starts This Weekend Suspension to Last Six Weeks; Will Be Supplemented by Alternate Subway, Bus and Rail Service The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today issued a reminder that the temporary suspension at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer stations will begin Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first phase of track replacement at the end of the line in Queens. The work entails replacement and installation of more than 5,500 feet of track and over 7,800 feet of third rail. The track is reaching the end of its useful life and needs complete replacement, which will lead to improved reliability and better service throughout the line in Queens and Manhattan. The reminder follows extensive customer and community outreach in recent weeks following the initial announcement on Aug. 17. The start date and other project details have been communicated to customers, elected officials, major employers and other community members via a project microsite, station signage, social media and virtual community meetings held via video conference on Aug. 31 and Sept. 8. Additional outreach will continue throughout the duration of the project. This phase of the project is expected to take six weeks, continuing to the early morning hours of Monday, Nov. 2. Phase 2 of the project, which will restore some train service in the two-station project corridor, is scheduled to begin in early November and last until mid-December. “The MTA is changing the way we do construction, and that means getting work done faster and with less impact on our customers," said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development. “By doing this critical track work now while subway and AirTrain ridership is low we will get this stretch of the train upgraded in time to be ready when residents of southeast Queens – and all New Yorkers – return to riding the subways in larger numbers.” “Our mission is to provide the best experience for our customers,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim President New York City Transit. “Track replacement work is vital to ensuring safe and reliable service, which gets everyone where they need to be, on time. For our customers affected by this work, we have created alternative plans that we hope will keep your commute as normal as possible.” The service change seeks to minimize impacts to customers. The MTA is making these upgrades now and coordinating alternative travel options in order to prevent emergency track work and unplanned service changes that would create bigger disruptions for customers than the outage being planned. Since 2016, there have been 46 incidents between Jamaica-Van Wyck and Jamaica Center on the line because of track conditions, resulting in 713 delayed trains. The MTA is accelerating the project’s timeline by taking advantage of traditionally low late-summer ridership, as well as low airport travel and low general subway ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to minimize the disruption of the work and impact as few riders as possible. The impact on customers is further reduced due to the ongoing overnight subway shutdown between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., during which there is robust alternate service available on MTA buses. The work will require a temporary suspension of train service at two stations: Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av, and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer. These stations both have multiple connecting bus lines as well as subway service. Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av connects with the Long Island Rail Road’s Jamaica station. MetroCards will be honored at the Long Island Rail Road for travel to and from Jamaica and these stations during Phase 1:
For continuous service to and from Jamaica Center, customers are encouraged to transfer to and from buses between there and train stops on Hillside Avenue. Alternatives for customers traveling to the JFK AirTrain in Jamaica include the lines and the Long Island Rail Road. Detailed Service Information During Phase 1, which begins Saturday, Sept. 19, the following service changes will be in effect:
Customers are encouraged to use the following travel alternatives:
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