Astoria-Ditmars Blvd Bound Trains and Flushing-Main St Bound Trains Skip Queensboro Plaza Station for One Week
Free Shuttle Buses Provide Alternate Service Between Impacted Stations in Queens and Manhattan During Weekend Service Changes
Long Island Rail Road to Honor NYC Transit Customers at Select Stations between Manhattan and Queens
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today detailed 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 beginning Saturday, March 9 through Monday, March 18 at 4:00 a.m.
During the service changes, the following work activities will be performed:
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Installation of new elevator equipment, cab, and glass.
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Installation of new roofing at upper platform level around the new elevator.
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Installation of main steel framing for new concrete landings around the new elevator shaft on the upper and lower platform levels.
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Rehabilitation of stairs.
At the upper platform level, lower platform level, and mezzanine level:
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Installation of OutFront media screens
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Installation of fire alarm system
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Installation of CCTV system
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Installation of PA/CIS system
Subway service changes are planned as follows:
Weekends (Saturday, March 9 at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, March 11 at 4:00 a.m. and Saturday, March 16 at 12:01 a.m. through Monday, March 18 at 4:00 a.m.)
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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.
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Overnight trains will be rerouted via the from Queens Plaza to 34 St-Herald Sq.
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trains will operate between Main St and 74 St-Broadway. Trains will operate every eight minutes during weekend peaks.
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trains will be rerouted to operate between 96 St-2 Av and Stillwell Av. Trains will operate every 12 minutes during the day.
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shuttle trains will operate between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd and 39 Av. Trains will operate every 12 minutes during the day.
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trains will be rerouted via the line in both directions as per the ongoing direct fixation 63 St Line track replacement work.
Free shuttle buses will operate between:
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Queens Plaza and 74 St-Broadway
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39 Av and Queens Plaza
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Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av and Queens Plaza
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Times Sq-42 St and 34 St-Hudson Yards (Overnights only)
The Long Island Rail Road will accommodate subway riders at no additional cost for trips between Flushing, Mets-Willets Point, Woodside and Penn Station or Grand Central.
Weekdays (Monday, March 11 at 4:00 a.m. through Friday, March 15 at 11:59 p.m.)
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Flushing-Main St bound trains will skip Queensboro Plaza.
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Astoria-Ditmars Blvd bound trains will skip Queensboro Plaza.
More About the Project
The project being carried out by the MTA consists of building two elevators, one connecting the street and mezzanine level and another connecting the mezzanine to both platforms. The project will also consist of:
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Expansion of the mezzanine by approximately 2300 sq ft, improving customer flow within the station
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New lighting for the expanded mezzanine
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Updates to the pedestrian bridge
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New boarding areas compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including new platform edges
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Upgrades to existing street and station stairs to current ADA standards
The project for building an accessible entrance on the south side is budgeted for $74 million and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2024.
The station’s accessibility upgrades will also include security and communication enhancements such as a fire alarm system, installation of a new security camera system, a new public address system, and digital information screens, offering better communication with clearer announcements and greater access to information via digital screens.
The Queensboro Plaza accessibility project is one of many improvements coming to the Line, across Manhattan and Queens, as outlined here.
Additional weekend service changes are anticipated later this year. Customers are advised to sign up the MTA Weekender, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday to inform customers of weekend service changes throughout the transit system. Service notifications will also be available on the MTA website, the MYmta app and social media. Customers can also sign up for text and email alerts at MTA Service Alerts.
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.