The L train shutdown as it had been planned may be no more, but the MTA hasn’t scrapped plans to limit train service in the coming weeks. The 15 weekend closures that began in August will kick into full effect this wek, with weeknight service changes starting today.
On weeknights from January 28 through March 18, from 10:45 p.m. through 5 a.m., service will be halted between Eighth Avenue and Broadway Junction. The MTA suggests using the A, F, J, or M traveling between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and using the M14 bus as an alternative across Manhattan.
In Brooklyn, the MTA is running two shuttle bus routes: The first runs between Broadway Junction and Lorimer Street, connecting with the Marcy Avenue J subway stop. The second bus route will loop between the Marcy Avenue J stop, the Hewes Street J stop, the Broadway G stop, the Lorimer Street-Metropolitan Avenue G stop, and Bedford Avenue. The shuttle bus connections are free.
And say goodbye for now to Manhattan-Brooklyn (and vice versa) L train service on weekends. The train will not make trips between Eighth Avenue and Broadway Junction all February weekends, including the Monday of Presidents’ Day, and the first three weekends in March. The closures will last from 10:45 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
In lieu of direct service the MTA suggests using the A, C, or M trains with free shuttle service between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The L will still operate in Brooklyn between Broadway Junction and Canarsie Rockaway Parkway.
Free shuttle buses will also connect all L stations between Bedford and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues. The first of the three free routes will connect the Broadway Junction A, C, and J stops to the Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues M stop. The second will connect the Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues M and Lorimer Street-Metropolitan Avenue G stop. The third will loop between the Marcy Avenue J/M stop, the Broadway G stop, the Lorimer Street-Metropolitan Avenue G stop, and Bedford Avenue. In Manhattan, additional M14A bus service will be in effect on these weekends.
See the MTA’s breakdown of the service changes here.
The service changes, first noted by Gothamist, will take care of long-term reliability improvement work on the Canarsie Tunnel, which was significantly damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The outages will allow the MTA to make necessary repairs to tracks and switches, requiring the use of specialized equipment that needs access to the full track. Still confused by the subway hubbub? Check out Curbed’s subway explainer here.
Loading comments...