Updates straight from the MTA
“Fixing the Rutgers Tunnel
The Rutgers Tunnel is made up of two “tubes,” each of which carries the train under the East River between the East Broadway station in Manhattan and the York St station in Brooklyn. The Rutgers Tunnel is one of 11 that were substantially damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and the last one that we need to rehabilitate. In addition to fixing the infrastructure and equipment that were damaged, we’ll also fix and fortify multiple systems within the tunnel, as well as install end-to-end mobile phone infrastructure to allow for cellular service.
This kind of work is time- and labor-intensive, but we’re phasing the project to minimize the impact to our riders, and we’re providing as much alternative service as possible so you can get around during the work.
The project will begin with three weeks of work in September. There will be service changes on the and lines every night and all weekend during those three weeks, with additional weeks planned in October and November. Beginning in early 2021, there will be four months of continuous work that will require similar service changes.
Here’s everything you need to know about what we’re doing, and about the best ways for you to get where you need to be while we work.
Benefits for you
Our work to fix the Rutgers tunnel and its infrastructure will help make transit more reliable, resilient and accessible, for years to come. The improvements we’re making range from protections against future extreme weather events to ADA and circulation enhancements to the East Broadway station.
Better service reliability
- New tracks, ties and third rail
- New fiber optic cable and signaling equipment
Long-term resiliency
- Rehabilitated pump room to increase pumping capacity
- New cable racking system to relocate cables above flood levels
- Rehabilitated fan plant to improve ventilation
Better accessibility
- New accessibility features at East Broadway station include:
- Raised platform boarding areas
- Tactile platform edge warning strips
- Widened staircase from mezzanine to platform for improved circulation
Project Schedule and Impacts to E and F Service
While we’re doing this work, we’ll need access to the tunnel and its track. That means we can’t run train service through the tunnel while we’re working. On nights and weekends for three weeks beginning September 14 and one week each in October and November, and on nights and weekends for four months in early 2021, there will be no train service at the East Broadway or York St stations. To provide as much subway service as possible, we’ll reroute and trains in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
We’ll reroute and trains nights and weekends during:
- Weeks of September 14, 21, and 28
- One week in mid October
- One week in mid-to-late November
Then, in early 2021 service changes will be in effect for four months.
How E and F service will operate while we work
- F trains will be rerouted on the A/C line between Jay St-MetroTech in Brooklyn and W 4 Street in Manhattan
- F trains will be rerouted on the E line between W 4 Street and 36 Street in Queens
- E trains will be rerouted on the F line between 36 Street in Queens and Delancey St-Essex St in Manhattan, the first/last stop for all E trains in Manhattan. This change allows us to maintain subway service at 2 Av and Delancey St-Essex St.
While we work, the East Broadway and York St stations will be closed to customers. The World Trade Center E station will also be closed during work hours. We’ll provide free shuttle bus service at East Broadway and York St so that you can get to a nearby subway station. The Chambers St A/C station and Cortlandt St N/R station will also serve as alternative points of entry into the system.
East End Gateway and LIRR Concourse
The 33rd Street Corridor will be widened and redesigned and accessible from a new entrance pavilion.
Project Overview
The East End Gateway and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Concourse project will include higher ceilings, new wayfinding signage, and improved access and circulation for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who traverse the corridors of Penn Station each day.
The project is widening the LIRR Main Concourse from 30 feet to 57 feet and raising the ceiling height to 18 feet. The widened corridors will allow for greater social distancing and a safer commuter experience. It includes a dramatic new entrance plaza near 7th Avenue that will introduce natural light into the station environment. The new entrance will comprise three escalators and a staircase and afford views of the iconic Empire State Building. The project provides much-needed direct access to the LIRR Main Concourse and New York City Transit’s A/C/E and 1/2/3 subway lines.
Phase I construction is progressing without disruption to train service and with minimal impact to the overall passenger experience. Phase I will be complete with the opening of the new entrance around the end of 2020. Phase II work will entail the widening and improving of the LIRR concourse –with targeted completion in Q1 of 2023.
Reconstructing the Jamaica E line track
The track that E trains use to travel between Jamaica-Van Wyck and Jamaica Center is past it’s useful life—it’s been in place since the 70’s and 80’s. We inspect this track regularly, and we made temporary fixes in 2018, but over the last four years track conditions have caused 713 delays. So we’re going to completely replace it to bring you much more reliable E service.
Here’s everything you need to know about the project and how to get around while we work.
Project timing and phases of work
We’ll need 12 weeks to do this work, and there will be two phases of service changes. We are taking advantage of low airport travel and subway ridership to accelerate the timeline for this project and minimize impact on customers.
Phase 1 (September 19 until November 2020): To start, we’ll need full access to the tracks. While we work, there will be no E service at Sutphin Blvd and Jamaica Center at all times. (The J and Z lines will continue to serve these stations.)
Phase 2 (Dates to be determined): Once we finish Phase 1, we’ll be able to bring service back at these stations but still have additional track reconstruction work to complete. While we work, E trains will run to Jamaica Center at all times but operate on a single track there. This limits the number of trains we can run so customers should expect reduced frequencies on weekdays. We will keep you posted as we finalize these plans.
Service change and alternate travel options
There will be no E service at Sutphin Blvd-Parsons Av-JFK Airport and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer. During these closures, J Z trains still serve these stations. The last stop on most E trains will be Jamaica-Van Wyck station.
During weekdays, we will send some E trains to 179 St F to both prevent congestion at Jamaica-Van Wyck and increase service to nearby stations on the F. Both Sutphin Blvd and Parsons Blvd on the F line are a ten-minute walk from stations without E service.
During rush hours, E trains will run every 8 minutes to each station. Middays and evenings they will run every 10-15 minutes. During weekends, all E trains will run to Jamaica Van Wyck every 12 minutes.
Customers who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices requiring elevators should take trains to Jamaica-Van Wyck E for Q54, Q56, Q60 bus service that connects to stations without E service.”
For the full articles tap HERE
Safe Travels,
The Moovit Team