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MTA Announces January Weekend Service Changes Impacting Subway Lines in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Due to Accessibility and Track Upgrades

New York City Transit
Updated Dec 21, 2023 2:45 p.m.
7 Train

Weekend Service Changes Begin 12:01 A.M. Saturdays and End at 5:00 A.M. on Mondays

Free Shuttle Buses Provide Alternate Service Between Impacted Stations in Brooklyn and Queens

Long Island Rail Road to Honor NYC Transit Customers at Select Stations between Manhattan and Queens

See Maps of Weekend Service Changes Impacting Queensboro Plaza and 63rd Street

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today detailed weekend service changes to enable ongoing accessibility upgrades at Queensboro Plaza, including installation of new platform-mezzanine elevator steel and equipment, rehabilitation of stairs, and installation of safety, security and communication upgrades within the station during the weekends of Jan. 6 to 8, 13 to 15, 20 to 22, and 27 to 29 beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturdays until 5:00 a.m. on Mondays.

During those weekend all-track shutdowns at Queensboro Plaza Station, the following work activities will be performed:

  • Installation of new elevator (mezzanine to platform levels) equipment, cab, and glass.
  • Installation new roofing at upper platform level around the new elevator (mezzanine to platform levels).
  • Installation of main steel framing for new concrete landings around the new elevator shaft on the upper and lower platform levels.
  • At the upper platform level, lower platform level, and mezzanine level:
    • Rehabilitation of all stairs
    • Installation of OutFront Media Screens
    • Installation of fire alarm system
    • Installation of CCTV system
    • Installation of PA/CIS system 

New York City Transit Maintenance of Way personnel will also begin a multi-week project to replace track north of Prospect Park.

For the Jan. 6 to 8 weekend only, in addition to the work above, ongoing track replacement along the        line between 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center in Manhattan and 36 St in Queens will be taking place to remobilize equipment to transition onto the next phase of the project, requiring the suspension of the -Shuttle train.

Subway service changes are planned as follows for each weekend:

Queens & Manhattan

  • /trains will operate every eight minutes instead of every 12 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., a 50 percent increase to normal weekend service.
  • Overnight  trains will be rerouted via the  from Queens Plaza to 34 St-Herald Sq.
  •  trains will be rerouted via the line in both directions between 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av as per the ongoing direct fixation work.
  •  trains will operate between Main St and 74 St-Broadway every eight minutes during weekend peaks.
  •  42 St shuttle trains will operate all night between Times Square-42 St and Grand Central-42 St.
  •  trains will be rerouted to operate between 96 St/2 Av and Stillwell Av, every 12 minutes during the day.
  •  shuttle trains will operate between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd and 39 Av every 12 minutes during the day.
  •  shuttle trains will operate between 96 St and 34 St between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sunday mornings while  trains transition back to their normal route.

Brooklyn

  •  trains will operate between Prospect Park and Coney Island/Stillwell Av only due to track replacement north of Prospect Park in Brooklyn

Free shuttle buses will operate between:

  • 74 St-Broadway and Queens Plaza  
  • Queens Plaza and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av  
  • 39 Av () and Queens Plaza (There will also be a free walking transfer between the two stations)  
  • 34 St-Hudson Yards and Times Sq-42 St (Overnights only)
  • Between Atlantic Barclays and Prospect Park to replace the 
  • Q94 and Q95 bus service between Roosevelt Island or 21 St and Queens Plaza will operate as normal except Jan. 6 to 8

Saturday, Jan. 6 to Monday, Jan. 8

  • Free shuttle buses will replace  shuttle trains between Lexington Av/63 St and 21 St-Queensbridge, between Roosevelt Island and Queens Plaza, and the Q94, and Q95

The Long Island Rail Road will accept MetroCard and contactless fare payments as payment for trips between Flushing, Mets-Willets Pt, Woodside and Penn Station or Grand Central.


The MTA offers customers a variety of ways to receive real-time and planned service change information, as well as 24/7 customer support in their native language.

mta.info – The definitive source for real-time arrival information and service change information for each line or route in the MTA system. Customers can find current statuses on mta.info and upcoming planned service changes using our lookup tool at mta.info/alerts.

MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time train and bus arrival times and other travel information for all MTA services all in one place. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.

Email & Text Alerts – Customers can sign up for email and SMS alerts tailored to their specific commutes and travel times. They can also sign up for MTA newsletters like The Weekender, a weekly newsletter that covers major weekend planned service changes. Customers can sign up here
 
WhatsApp – Riders can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp for 24/7 customer assistance. With the help of Google Translate, NYC Transit staff offer real-time customer support in up to 108 languages.

511 – For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.