Dec. 24, 2018 By Christian Murray
The MTA will not be providing 7 train service between Queensboro Plaza and 34 St-Hudson Yards on most weeknights during January and February—as well as for four weekends in January, the agency announced Friday night.
The abrupt announcement comes after nearly a decade of service changes and other interruptions on the line due to a massive signal system upgrade that was completed last month.
The MTA said that it discovered that some of the track needs to be replaced while completing the new signal system. The track work requires chipping out existing concrete, the installation of a temporary track structure and the pouring of new concrete.
The MTA assures riders that the track is currently safe but needs to be repaired for future reliability.
“The 7 line is a critical transit artery in Queens and we are doing everything we can to improve its reliability and performance,” said NYC Transit President Any Byford in a statement. “This is work that could not have been completed while we were installing the new signal system and it is absolutely critical it be completed soon.”
The MTA said that it will operate shuttle buses from Queensboro Plaza to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Avenue and from Times Sq to 34th Street-Hudson Yards during the closures. On weekends, W train service with operate between Ditmars Blvd and Whitehall St.
Riders have been complaining about hellish commutes in the past month, despite the completion of the new signal system. It prompted Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer to call on Byford to come to the neighborhood for a town hall and explain the poor service.
A town hall meeting has yet to be scheduled.
The following dates are when service between Queensboro Plaza and 34 St-Hudson Yards will be down.
Work will take place during the following weeknights from 11:45 PM to 5 AM:
January 2-4
January 7-11
January 14-18
January 21-25
January 28-February 1
February 4-8
Work will occur during the following weekends from 12:15 AM Saturday to 4:30 AM Monday:
January 5-7
January 12-14
January 19-21
January 26-28
During the weekend of January 26-28, train service will be suspended between 74th St-Broadway and 34 St- Hudson Yards.
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4 Comments
Well tomorrow the 7 train will be shutdown between 74thst-broadway and 34thst hudson yards, so no service in sunnyside, parts of jackson heights, long island city.
The MTA has been “working” on the 7 line for as long as I have been living in Sunnyside — that’s 38 years. For the past several years it has been “switching” problems, especially the Monday after a weekend of riders having to do the “7 train shuffle” so the MTA can fix signal switches.
The Hubble Space Telescope has lasted more than 20 years in space sending us information that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, the least that the MTA can do is install switches that work. Memo to the MTA: stop wasting our time and money — enough!!!!
Work on the 7 line for 4 to 6 weekends. Service to Manhattan disrupted. The 7 line has had service advisories for over 10 years running. What ever happened to the fast track program where signals and track were to be replaced with modern equipment quickly and efficiently? The 7 has been getting worse for decades it was voted the best train line in the MTA back in the early 2000’s. Now it is the worse even though the local population and train fare has grown drastically since back then. I work at Citifield since 2017 and use the 7 train to go to work. Earlier this month I worked the 4PM to 12AM shift I waited almost 30 minutes for a Manhattan bound 7. I live near 74th st. And Roosevelt Ave. I didn’t get home til 1AM a whole hour after leaving Citifield. Last year I would be home in 30 minutes. The train used to come every 15 minutes 4 trains in one hour. Now it comes every 28 minutes 2 trains in an hour. Less service = more overcrowding and longer commutes.
The 7 train has to be one of the worst train line in nyc , with all the assaults + delays
terrible.