Queens subway riders will soon see a spike in 7 train service, as MTA New York City Transit announced on Monday that it would increase service on the heavily used line between Flushing and Manhattan starting in April 2019.
Increased service comes after voiced transportation concern due to the L train’s impending shutdown and as part of the NYC Transit Fast Forward Plan — an effort to modernize the city’s entire subway and bus system.
“It’s extremely important for us to get the subway service alternatives right during the L tunnel reconstruction project, because we plan to accommodate up to 80 percent of diverted L riders on other subway lines,” said MTA NYC Transit President Andy Byford.
On weekdays, five additional round trips on the 7 train will be added between the hours of 8 and 11 a.m., and nine round trips will be added during and after the evening rush hour, from 5:30 p.m. until midnight.
“By adding service on the 7 line to prepare for more customers, we’re making sure that once the tunnel work begins, Brooklyn riders can get to where they need to go while Queens customers get the service they depend upon,” Byford noted.
Construction work on the L train tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan, which was damaged in 2012 during Hurricane Sandy, is scheduled to being in April 2019. The 7 line is expected to be one of several service alternatives for regular L train riders in Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Bushwick who can take the G train to Court Square in Long Island City, where they can then transfer to the 7, E or M trains, all of which serve midtown Manhattan.
