Major MTA Changes Ahead For Brooklyn, Queens Riders

BROOKLYN, NY — The MTA canceled three planned weekend shutdowns of the G train in December after finishing a major round of repairs ahead of schedule, according to the agency.

The G runs between Queens and Brooklyn, serving neighborhoods including Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope and Kensington.

The cancellations follow months of pressure from North Brooklyn residents, small business owners and elected officials, who urged the agency to move G train construction to overnight hours whenever possible.

What Work Did The MTA Finish?

Crews have been upgrading the G line's signals, installing cables and other equipment while also carrying out track maintenance, structural repairs and accessibility work.

The signal project will continue, but the latest phase finished early enough for the MTA to remove the December shutdowns from its schedule.

The shutdowns have repeatedly cut into weekend customer traffic in Greenpoint and other neighborhoods along the line.

A July survey of 36 Greenpoint businesses found an average 22 percent decline in weekend sales during four shutdown periods from July 2025 through June 2026.

91 percent of businesses reported lower sales during every shutdown period surveyed, while 39 percent said they cut employee shifts or hours during shutdown weekends.

Some owners reported needing one to two weeks to recover revenue lost during a single shutdown weekend.

What Happens To The G Next?

The December shutdowns have been canceled, but G train riders still face service disruptions this fall and potentially into next year.

Two weekend closures remain scheduled for Oct. 16-19 and Oct. 23-26, according to Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler.

More weekend closures are anticipated in the new year as the MTA continues work on the line.

“I’m relieved the MTA has cancelled its three weekend G train shutdowns in December after months of pushback from neighbors, local business owners, my office, and other elected officials,” Restler told Patch in a statement.

He said he will continue urging the MTA to schedule future G train repair work overnight rather than on weekends.