Transit News and Updates

Extra LIRR Trains For New Year's

The Long Island Rail Road has announced that it will provide additional service to and from Penn

Station for the New Year's holiday.

The extra service includes 13

additional eastbound afternoon trains and 18 westbound evening trains on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31 and 14 additional eastbound trains from Penn Station on New Year's Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. The LIRR will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, Jan. 2.

Off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire weekend between New Year's Day and Sunday, Jan. 4. Additionally, a special Family Fare program will be in effect, in which up to four children between five and 11 years of age can ride for the advance purchase fare of 75 cents each when accompanied by a farepaying parent or guardian.

Weekly and monthly ticket holders only pay for the children. Youngsters under five ride for free.

As in prior years, alcohol will not be allowed on LIRR trains, stations and platforms on New Year's Eve and through the morning on New Year's Day. MTA Police will enforce this restriction.

Among the extra trains departing Penn Station being offered this Wednesday afternoon are as follows:

• the 12:55 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. trains on the Ronkonkoma branch stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, and Hicksville, then all stops to Ronkonkoma;

• the 1:52 p.m. and 3 p.m. trains on the Babylon branch stopping at Jamaica and Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon;

• the 2:09 p.m. train on the Port Jefferson branch stopping at Jamaica and Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington;

• the 2:26 p.m. train on the Port Jefferson branch stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica and New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington;

• the 3:24 p.m. train on the Port Jefferson branch stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville;

• the 3:40 p.m. train on the Port Washington branch stopping at Woodside and Flushing, then all stops to Great Neck; and,

• the 3:48 p.m. train on the Far Rockaway branch stopping at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale and Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway.

It was noted that the 5:59 p.m. train from Penn Station to Babylon will not operate on New Year's Eve. Riders can instead pick up the 6:05 p.m. train from Penn Station that will make all stops from Merrick to Babylon.

The 18 additional evening westbound trains to Penn Station will depart from stations on Long Island between 4:55 p.m. and 8:39 p.m. Two of these trains, the 7:07 p.m. train out of Great Neck and the 8:36 p.m. train out of Port Washington, will make all stops to Woodside before arriving at Penn Station. All other additional westbound trains will stop at Jamaica.

Included among the 14 additional eastbound trains departing from Penn Station early on Thursday morning are the following:

• the 12:42 a.m., 2:19 a.m. and 4:17 a.m. trains on the Port Washington branch stopping at Woodside and Flushing-Main Street, then all stops to Port Washington;

• the 2:44 a.m. train on the Long Beach branch stopping at Jamaica, Valley Stream and Lynbrook, then all stops to Long Beach;

• the 12:45 a.m., 2:03 a.m. and 3:54 a.m. trains on the Ronkonkoma branch stopping at Jamaica, Mineola and Hicksville, then all stops to Ronkonkoma;

• the 2:14 a.m. train on the Port Jefferson branch stopping at Jamaica and New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington;

• the 3:12 a.m. train on the Port Jefferson branch stopping at Jamaica and New Hyde Park, then all stops to Port Jefferson;

• the 1:10 a.m., 2:10 a.m., 2:59 a.m. and 3:29 a.m. trains on the Babylon branch stopping at Jamaica and Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon; and,

• the 1:29 a.m. train on the Montauk branch stopping at Jamaica and Rockville Centre, then all stops to Speonk.

For additional information, call the LIRR's 24-hour travel information center at 1-718-217-LIRR (TTY 1-718-558-3022) or visit www.mta.info/lirr.

Q67 Buses Rerouted Due To LIC Project

Due to the closure of the Borden Avenue bridge beginning on Monday, Jan. 5, the Q67 bus route will be detoured through Long Island City.

All eastbound Q67 buses heading to Maspeth will use their regular route along Hunters Point Avenue, traveling past their scheduled turn on 27th Street, before turning right onto 30th Street for two blocks to Borden Avenue. The buses will then turn left on Borden Avenue back to their regular route.

Westbound buses heading for Long Island City traveling on Borden Avenue will turn right on 30th Place and travel north to Hunters Point Avenue. The buses will then turn left on Hunters Point Avenue to continue their regular route.

The detour is expected to last through June 2009.

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 Tuesday, Dec. 30. Last minute changes to service and operating schedules may be made due to weather-related conditions or emergency repairs.

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

Local Service, Partial Closures On 7 Line

All 7 express trains will operate local service between Main Street and Queensboro Plaza on Tuesday, Jan. 6 through Friday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Riders are asked to allow extra travel time.

In addition, 7 train service will be suspended between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza this weekend, from 11:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5. Riders are advised to take the N or Q trains at Times Square or Queensboro Plaza as alternate routes (the Q train will be extended to Ditmars Boulevard during this period).

Shuttle buses will also operate in place of 7 train service between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. Riders can pick up the shuttle buses at locations near the following 7 train stations:

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

• 45th Road-Court House Square—on 23rd Street at Jackson Avenue;

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

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

Furthermore, Flushing-bound 7 trains will stop on the Manhattanbound platform at the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue and Hunters Point Avenue stations during late nights, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. between Jan. 6 and Dec. 31, 2009.

During each closure period, 7 trains will operate through this section every 20 minutes.

Section Of J Line Closed In Brooklyn

J train service will be suspended between Cypress Hills and Broadway Junction this weekend, from 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 until 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4. Shuttle buses will operate through this section during the scheduled shutdown.

Riders can transfer between the shuttle bus and the J train at Cypress Hills or Broadway Junction and the A or L trains at Broadway Junction. Free transfer tickets will be given to commuters who plan to re-enter the subway at either station.

As noted, the shuttle buses will stop at locations near the following J train stations:

• Cypress Hills—at the Q56 bus stop on Jamaica Avenue at Crescent Street;

• Crescent Street—on Euclid Avenue at Fulton Street (to Broadway Junction) or the B13 bus stop on Crescent Street at Fulton Street (to Cypress Hills);

• Norwood Avenue—at the Q24 bus stop on Atlantic Avenue at Logan Street (to Broadway Junction) or on Fulton Street at Norwood Avenue (to Cypress Hills);

• Cleveland Street—at the Q24 bus stop on Atlantic Avenue at Cleveland Street (to Broadway Junction) or on Fulton Street at Cleveland Street (to Cypress Hills);

• Van Siclen Avenue—at the Q24 bus stop on Atlantic Avenue at Hendrix Street (to Broadway Junction) or on Fulton Street at Van Siclen Avenue (to Cypress Hills);

• Alabama Avenue—at the Q24 bus stop on Jamaica Avenue at Broadway (to Broadway Junction) or the B40 bus stop on Fulton Street at Pennsylvania Avenue (to Cypress Hills); and,

• Broadway Junction—at the B25 bus stop on Fulton Street at Van Sinderen Avenue.

Short Rides For Some Bklyn.-Bound L Trains

L train service will be suspended between Eighth Avenue and Union Square in Manhattan this weekend, from 11:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5; and during late nights, Mondays through Friday, from 11:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. starting Monday, Jan. 5 and running through Friday, Jan. 16. Riders can transfer between the L train and the M14 bus at Union Square.

Furthermore, L train service will operate in two sections—between Union Service and Bedford Avenue and between Bedford Avenue and Rockaway Parkway—during this time period. All L trains will depart from the Eighth Avenue-bound platform at the Union Square, Third Avenue and First Avenue stations.

During this time period, all L trains will operate every 24 minutes in both sections. Riders can transfer between L trains at Bedford Avenue to continue their trip.

G Train Service Is Suspended In Bklyn.

G train service will be suspended between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets and Smith-Ninth Streets during late nights, Monday through Friday, from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. between Monday, Jan. 5 and Friday, Jan. 16.

For service to the Bergen Street, Carroll Street and Smith-Ninth Streets stations, take a Manhattanbound A train at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets to Jay Street, then transfer to a Coney Island-bound F train. For service from these stations, take the F train to Jay Street and transfer to a Queens-bound A train to Hoyt- Schermerhorn Streets.

During this service change, all G trains will operate in two sections— between 71st-Continental Avenues and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets. Riders can transfer between G trains at Bedford-Nostrand Avenues to continue their trip.

Additionally, G train service is suspended between 71st-Continental Avenues and Court Square this weekend, from 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5.

For service to Brooklyn, take the R train to Queens Plaza and transfer to the E, then take the E train to 23rd Street-Ely Avenue, where riders can transfer to the G train. For service to Queens, take the E train at Court Square to Queens Plaza, then transfer to the R train.

Weekday Shutdown On N, W In Queens

All Brooklyn-bound N and Manhattan-bound W trains will skip the 30th Avenue, Broadway, 36th Avenue and 39th Avenue stations on Monday, Jan. 5 through Friday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

For service to these stations, take the N or W trains to Queensboro Plaza, then transfer to an Astoriabound N or W train. For service from these stations, take an Astoria-bound N or W train to Astoria Boulevard, then transfer to a Brooklyn-bound N train or a Manhattan-bound W train.

Holiday Changes For Express Buses

Through Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, the QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18 and QM22 express buses will not stop on Sixth Avenue at 50th and 52nd streets in

Manhattan due to holiday traffic.

Riders of the Queens-bound

QM10, QM12 and QM22 can pick up the buses on Sixth Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets, while commuters using the Queens-bound QM15, QM16, QM17 and QM18 buses can board on Sixth Avenue at 48th Street.

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