Service Changes Upcoming In Queens As MTA Modernization Continues

QUEENS, NY – The MTA announced Tuesday it will continue track maintenance and installation of a modern signaling system along the Queens Boulevard due to lower-than-normal ridership during the pandemic.

In particular, the MTA will improve the reliability of the 53rd St Tube pump system while also accelerating the signal modernization effort, power system upgrade and lighting improvements. The work being done on the pump system will ensure effectiveness in a key tunnel under the East River during major storms, the MTA said. The project was scheduled to start in mid-2021 and is now projected to finish a year ahead of schedule.

There will be service changes associated with this planned work beginning this weekend.

The work on the 53d St Tube will begin late Friday night and will require subway service changes beginning at 9:45 p.m. on select weeknights, ending the following weekday at 1 a.m. Weekend subway service changes will begin at 9:45 p.m. on Fridays and end each Monday at approximately 1 a.m.

E trains will run via F line between Roosevelt Av and West 4 St on the following dates:

• Oct. 9-12 weekend
• Oct. 12-16 weeknights
• Oct. 16-19 weekend
• Oct. 19-23 weeknights
• Oct. 23-26 weekend
• Nov. 20-23 weekend
• Dec. 11-14 weekend

Over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25-30) and the end-of-December holiday period (Dec. 26-Jan 4.) the 53rd St Tube will be closed and the following changes will be in effect:

• E trains will run via the F line between Roosevelt Av and West 4 St
• M trains will run via the J line between Essex St and Chambers St on weekdays

The following service changes will be in effect on the following weeknights, with no subway service between 50 St.-8 Av in Manhattan and Roosevelt Av in Queens:

• Dec. 7-11
• Dec. 14-18
• Dec. 21-24
• Jan. 4-8

During this time:

• E trains will run between Jamaica Center and Roosevelt Av
• F trains will run in two sections: 179 St to Roosevelt Av and 21 St-Queensbridge to Coney Island
• R and W trains will end early in Queens and Manhattan
• N trains will run local via lower Manhattan to replace R and W trains
• Shuttle buses to serve closed stations in Queens: Roosevelt Av to Queensboro Plaza, 21 St-Queensbridge-Queenboro Plaza-Court Square
• For Manhattan service to/from eastern Queens: E and F customers should transfer to/from the 7 at Roosevelt Av
• For Manhattan service to/from Long Island City, EFR customers should use the 7 or N at Queensboro Plaza