No. 7 line work causes weekend woe

For Whitestone resident James Lizzul, his hour-long trip on the No. 7 subway line into Manhattan on Memorial Day weekend became a multi-hour trek.
This has happened to Lizzul and thousands of other weekend riders frequently this past year because the No. 7 line is often suspended for construction from Queensboro Plaza all the way to Times Square in Manhattan.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday May 27 until Monday morning May 29, commuters had to find their way by bus, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), express bus, car or N-train into Manhattan.
For Lizzul, 18, an intern at the Federal Home Loan Bank in New York, his options are limited – the LIRR or express bus – but these modes of transportation cost more and take longer.
“The No. 7 train runs a lot more frequently, so waiting for [an express bus or LIRR train] is an added inconvenience,” Lizzul lamented.
In the past two years, the 7-line has been shut 25 times during the weekend for construction, and in 2003, the line was shut for seven consecutive weekends.
Many Queens residents have had enough. “I’ve lived in Long Island City for eight years, and I’m appalled at the No. 7 train service,” said Dana Matteson. “I can’t believe they would shut down the subway on a holiday weekend.”
“The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has snubbed the borough of Queens once again,” said Councilman Eric Gioia during a press conference blasting the MTA for suspending weekend service during the recent Memorial Day weekend.
Mets fans are also worried that construction could disrupt train service during the weekends that the team plays at Shea Stadium. So far, construction and home games have not coincided, and the Transit Authority (TA) has tried to not suspend service when the Mets are at home, said TA spokesperson James Anyansi.
“We try as much as possible to inconvenience as few customers as possible,” Anyansi said. “If it’s an emergency, it has to be done. In this case it’s not,” he said, explaining that track work is currently being done at the Hunters Point station.
“This work is capital construction on the New York City transit subway system, and is part of our $10 billion capital rebuilding program, which is aimed at upgrading and maintaining our tracks, stations, and signal systems. Our goal is to provide our customers with safe and reliable service,” Anyansi said.