TRANSIT NEWS and Updates

Weekend Shutdowns Set For The 7 Line

For the next several weekends, 7 train service between Queens and Manhattan will be suspended due to major track work, MTA New York City Transit announced.

7 train service will be suspended between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza this weekend, from 11:30 p.m. Friday, Mar. 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, Mar. 8. This service change will be in effect each weekend through mid-April.

N and Q trains will serve as alternate routes to and from Manhattan; it was noted that Q trains will be extended to the Ditmars Boulevard N train station in Astoria from 12:01 a.m. Saturdays until 5 a.m. Mondays.

Free shuttle buses will connect 7 train riders between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. The shuttle buses will make stops at the following 7 train stations:

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

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

• Hunters Point Avenue—on 21st Street at 49th Avenue (to Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue) or on 49th Avenue at 21st Street (to Queensboro Plaza); and,

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

According to the MTA, the service change is necessary in order for crews to install new tracks between Hunters Point Avenue and Court House Square, replace an 80-year-old switch at Hunters Point Avenue, replace track near the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue station and renew rail at the Fifth Avenue station. Additionally, crews will be installing steel for a new transfer facility between the 7 and G trains at Court Square.

Other smaller jobs will be conducted while this section of the 7 train is out of service, including electrical and communications cable work and grouting projects. Customers are advised to allow for additional travel time.

For more information, consult the weekend service change notices in their local subway stations, call the New York City Transit Travel Information Center at 1-718-330-1234 or visit www.mta.info.

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. 3. 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:

Several J Trains Will

Run Short In Qns.

Manhattan-bound J trains will skip the Flushing Avenue, Lorimer Street and Hewes Street stations on Saturday, Mar. 6, and Sunday, Mar. 7, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For service to these stations, take the J train to Marcy Avenue, get a free ticket and transfer to a Jamaica-bound J train. For service from theses stations, take a Queens-bound J train to Myrtle Avenue, then transfer to a Manhattan-bound J train.

7 Trains Are Local

In Qns. Thru Friday

There will be no 7 express train service in both directions between Mets-Willets Point and Queensboro Plaza at all times beginning through 10 p.m. Friday, Mar. 5. Riders are advised to allow additional travel time.

Late Night Work Hits

E, F, V Lines In Qns.

Manhattan-bound E and V trains will be affected by signal work late night on Thursday, Mar. 4, and Friday, Mar. 5, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

During this period, Manhattanbound E trains will run on the F line between Roosevelt Avenue and Second Avenue, while Jamaica-bound E trains will run on the F line between Second Avenue and 47th-50th Streets, then normal from Fifth Avenue to Jamaica Center. After leaving 36th Street, Manhattan-bound V trains will run on the F line between 21st Street- Queensbridge to 47th-50th Streets.

For service to the Queens Plaza or 23rd Street-Ely Avenue stations, take the G train to Queens Plaza or Court Square; transfers are available at Roosevelt Avenue or 71st-Continental Avenues.

It was noted that all Manhattanbound F trains will run local service between 71st-Continental Avenues and 21st Street-Queensbridge on Thursday, Mar. 4, Friday, Mar. 5, and between Tuesday, Mar. 9 and Friday, Mar. 12, from 12:01 until 5 a.m. Riders are advised to allow for additional travel time.

Additionally, all Manhattan-bound E and V trains will run on the F line between 36th Street in Queens and West Fourth Street in Manhattan late nights on Monday, Mar. 8, through Friday, Mar. 12, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. These trains will not stop at Queens Plaza and 23rd Street-Ely Avenue.

For service to these stations, transfer to the G train at 36th Street, which will stop at Queens Plaza and Court Square/23rd Street-Ely Avenue.

No Weekend Express

On E, F In Queens

E trains will run local service in both directions between 71st-Continental Avenues and Queens Plaza, and all F trains will operate local service between 71st-Continental Avenues and 21st Street-Queensbridge, this weekend, from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 6, until 5 a.m. Monday, Mar. 8. Riders are advised to allow for additional travel time.

No G Trains Between L.I.C., Forest Hills

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

On Friday between 8:30 p.m. and midnight, G train riders heading to Brooklyn should ake the R train to Queens Plaza, then transfer to the E train to 23rd Street-Ely Avenue, where G train service is available. Travelers heading to Queens should transfer to the E train at Court Square then travel to Queens Plaza to pick up the R train, which will make all local stops.

For the remainder of the weekend, Queens, G train riders should transfer at Court Square to the E train, which will make all local stops between Queens Plaza and 71st-Continental Avenues.

N, W Trains Skip

Stops In Astoria

Astoria-bound N and W trains will skip the 39th Avenue, 36th Avenue, Broadway and 30th Avenue stations on Monday, Mar. 8 through Thursday, Mar. 11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

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

Rockaway Service

Altered On A Line

All A trains will be rerouted from Broad Channel to Rockaway Park this weekend, from 10:30 p.m. Friday, Mar. 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, Mar. 8. During this timeframe, free shuttle buses will provide alternate service between Far Rockaway and Beach 98th Street.

Riders can transfer between the shuttle buses and the A train at Beach 90th Street. The Rockaway Shuttle between Broad Channel and Rockaway Park will be out of service during this change, it was noted.

Q67 Buses Rerouted Due To L.I.C. Project

Due to the ongoing closure of the Borden Avenue bridge, 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 closure is expected to last through April 2010. Construction Causes

Detour On Q38 Bus

Ongoing reconstruction along 108th Street, 62nd Drive and the Horace Harding Expressway in Rego Park has also resulted in the detour of the Q38 bus through the area until further notice. All 62nd Drive-bound Q38 buses will not stop on 63rd Road at 108th Street and 62nd Drive east of 108th Street. Respectively, the buses will stop on 108th Street between 63rd Road and 63rd Avenue and on 62nd Drive west of 108th Street.

Roosevelt Isle Tram

Closed For Repairs

The Roosevelt Island tram was closed on Monday, Mar. 1 and will remain shutdown for the next six months due to ongoing repairs. In addition to F train service and the Q102 bus, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) will be offering special $1 shuttle buses to residents and visitors.

During peak morning weekday rush hours between 7 and 9:30 a.m., an RIOC bus will make depart on the hour and half-hour from the island to the Queens Plaza E, G, R and V subway station. During non-peak hours (from 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and from 7 to 11 p.m.), the shuttle bus will depart the island and run express to a bus stop on the west side of Second Avenue between 58th and 59th streets in Manhattan.

The shuttle bus service will operate hourly on weekends from 10 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.

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