Straphangers who ride the No. 7 line will need to find another way to get between Queens and Manhattan in coming weekends after the MTA announced another round of service suspensions beginning this weekend.
The line, which is currently undergoing a $550 million facelift, isn't offering service between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza for five of the next six weekends.
The MTA says the suspensions are necessary to make upgrades to old signaling equipment that is between 50 and 90 years old. Officials say they hope to have the upgrades completed by 2017. Crews will also use the opportunity to replace worn-out sections of track.
“The ongoing work on the No. 7 remains absolutely critical to the line’s reliability, safety and longevity. We understand that these service disruptions are inconvenient to the customers who depend on the No. 7 train and we appreciate their patience,” said Carmen Bianco, MTA NYC Transit President 2. “When completed, this work will result in a more reliable subway line with the ability to run more trains and improve performance for growing neighborhoods in Queens.”
During the suspensions, riders can take free shuttle buses at affected stations to go to Queensboro Plaza, where they can take an N or Q train. Otherwise, they should take the E, F, and N trains servicing Queens. The Long Island Railroad will also cross-honor MetroCards in both directions between Penn Station and Woodside.
The last round of suspensions, which left riders in the lurch for more than 20 weekends in the spring and summer, angered riders and business owners hoping to capitalize on the Long Island City Festival in May.
Below are the weekends when service will be suspended. To see specific details about each suspension, refer to the MTA’s Weekender website.
- Oct. 18-20
- Oct. 25-27
- Nov. 8-10
- Nov. 15-17
- Nov. 22-24
