TRANSIT NEWS and Updates

Subway Changes

The MTA has scheduled a number of service changes for several subway lines throughout the city due to construction work.

These service advisories are current as of Wednesday, Mar. 9. Last minute changes to service and operating schedules may be made due to weather-related conditions or emergency repairs. Check www.mta.info for schedule changes.

Rail lines which run through the area that will be affected include the following:

Fresh Pond Rd. Stop Closed This Weekend

All M trains will skip the Fresh Pond Road station on Saturday, Mar. 12, and Sunday, Mar. 13, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. due to ongoing platform repairs. Riders can transfer between the M train and several buses reaching Fresh Pond Road at the Forest Avenue station.

For service to Fresh Pond Road, depart at the Forest Avenue station and take either the B13 or B20 bus on Forest Avenue at Putnam Avenue or the Q58 bus on Fairview Avenue at Putnam Avenue. For service from Fresh Pond Road, take either the B13, B20 or Q58 buses at the stop on Putnam Avenue at Fresh Pond Road for service to the Forest Avenue station.

It was noted that riders picking up the buses at these stops will not be required to pay a fare to board.

7 Train Disruptions Weekdays, Weekends

Flushing-bound 7 trains will operate express service between Queensboro Plaza and 74th Street on Monday, Mar. 14, through Friday, Mar. 18, from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

For service to the 33rd Street, 40th Street, 46th Street, 52nd Street and 69th Street stations, take the 7 train to Woodside-61st Street or 74th Street, then transfer to a Manhattanbound 7 train. For service from these stations, take the 7 train to Woodside- 61st Street or Queensboro Plaza, then transfer to a Flushing-bound 7 train.

Additionally, there will be no 7 train service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square from 11:30 p.m. Monday night, Mar. 14, until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 15. For service between Queens and Manhattan, take the N train at either Queensboro Plaza or Times Square.

Shuttle bus service will be provided to connect 7 train riders between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. These buses will additionally stop near the Queens Plaza station for service to the E, F and R lines.

The shuttle buses will stop as follows:

 Queensboro Plaza—on Queens Plaza South at 27th Street;

• Queens Plaza—on Queens Plaza South at Jackson Avenue;

• 45th Road-Court House Square—on 44th Drive at 23rd Street (to Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue) or on 23rd Street at 44th Drive (to Queensboro Plaza);

• Hunters Point Avenue—on 21st Street at 49th Avenue; and

• Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue— on Vernon Boulevard at 50th Avenue.

Furthermore, all Manhattanbound 7 trains will operate local service between Mets-Willets Point and Queensboro Plaza on weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 9 to 10 a.m. through Friday, Apr. 29. Riders are advised to allow for additional travel time.

N Train Skips Stops; No Q Train In Qns.

Manhattan-bound N trains will skip the 30th Avenue, Broadway, 36th Avenue and 39th Avenue stations on Thursday, Mar. 10, Friday, Mar. 11 and Wednesday, Mar. 16, through Friday, Mar. 18, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.; and this weekend from 4 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 12, until 10 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 13.

During the weekday service change, there will be no Q train service between Ditmars Boulevard and 57th Street-Seventh Avenue. Q trains do not run to and from Astoria on weekends.

For service to the skipped stations, take the N train to Queensboro Plaza and then transfer to an Astoria-bound N train. For service from these stations, take the N train to Astoria Boulevard, then transfer to a Manhattan bound N train.

Additionally, there will be no N train service between Queensboro Plaza and 57th Street-Seventh Avenue in Manhattan overnights on Thursday, Mar. 10, Friday, Mar. 11, and Wednesday, Mar. 16, through Friday, Mar. 18, from 12:01 until 5 a.m. During this time period, N trains will operate in two sections—between Queensboro Plaza and Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard and between 57th Street-Seventh Avenue and Stillwell Avenue.

For service to and from Manhattan and Queens, take the 7 train at either Queensboro Plaza or 42nd Street- Times Square.

Late Night Switch For E, M Trains

E trains will run on the F line between 36th Street in Queens and West Fourth Street in Manhattan late nights on Thursday, Mar. 10, and Friday, Mar. 11, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.; and this weekend, from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 12, until 5 a.m. Monday, Mar. 14.

Furthermore, M trains will operate on the F line between 36th Street in Queens and 47th-50th Streets in Manhattan late night on Thursday, Mar. 10, from 10 p.m. until midnight.

As a result of these service changes, the E and M platforms at 23rd Street-Ely Avenue will be closed. Shuttle buses will provide alternate service between the 21st Street- Queensbridge station, 23rd Street-Ely Avenue and Queens Plaza stations.

Jamaica-bound E trains will resume service on its normal route following the 21st Street-Queensbridge station on the F line, while World Trade Center-bound E trains will rejoin the E line at the West Fourth Street station. Forest Hills-bound M trains will resume service on the M route at 36th Street in Queens, while Middle Village-bound M trains will resume normal service at 47th-50th Streets in Manhattan.

Rockaway Shuttle Shut This Weekend

The Rockaway Park Shuttle will not operate this weekend, from 10:30 p.m. Friday, Mar. 11, until 4:45 a.m. Monday, Mar. 14. During this time period, A trains will be rerouted in its place between Broad Channel and Rockaway Park; there will be no A train service between Broad Channel and Far Rockaway.

Shuttle buses will make all stops between Far Rockaway and Beach 90th Street, where riders can transfer to the A train.

Briarwood Bus Stop Relocated For Work

Due to road construction being conducted by the New York State Department of Transportation, the bus stop for the Q60, QM21 and X68 bus lines along Queens Boulevard westbound at Main Street has been temporarily discontinued. Construction is planned to continue through the fall of 2012.

The new temporary westbound bus stop for these lines is located on Queens Boulevard at 84th Drive.

For a complete list of service changes and last-minute updates, visit the MTA’s website at www.mta.info.