Nine stations along the 50-year-old Rockaway and Far Rockaway branches of the A subway line will receive multimillion dollar makeovers, alternately shuttering the stops through the end of the year, according to MTA New York City Transit.
The first two phases of the project began on September 8 and 14, and affect the Rockaway-bound platforms of the Beach 67th, Beach 44th and Beach 25th Streets and the Manhattan-bound platforms at Beach 105th and Beach 90th. The Rockaway-bound stops will be closed until mid-January 2010, while the northbound stations will reopen in late December.
Following the initial closings, the opposite platforms will be shuttered and then the same work will occur at Beach 60th, 36th and 98th Streets and, finally, Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue.
The $117 million project will result in new canopies over stairs and subway platforms; new mezzanine and platform floors; replaced platform edges and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant tactile warning strips; the installation of vandal-resistant fluorescent lighting; a redesign of the areas surrounding station booths; and new public address systems. Additionally, track panels will be replaced along the Rockaway stretches of the line and ADA elevators will be installed at Far Rockaway-Mott.
Throughout the rehabilitation, MTA NYC Transit is only closing alternate stations so that customers are, at all times, only one stop away from a completely operational station.
While the project will require several weekend closures of either the Far Rockaway or Rockaway Park branch, free shuttle buses will be provided, MTA NYC Transit said.
