MTA to Shut Down J, Z Train Lines in Queens for Much of Summer Due to Repairs – NBC New York (47)

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Friday that it will begin the final phase of critical track replacement work at the end of the J and Z subway lines in southeastern Queens beginning Friday, June 1. July.

The project will replace nearly 2.4 miles of track between the 121st Street and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer stations in Jamaica, with no service on the J and Z lines for approximately 10 weeks. During that time, normal service will be provided on the E line at Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport.

The project will be completed by the end of September and will include the complete replacement of the 40-year-old track, with an updated design to increase durability and improve service quality, according to the MTA.

Full access to the slopes will be necessary, forcing service suspensions.

The agency will provide free alternate bus service between the 121st Street J Station and the Jamaica-Van Wyck E Station. MetroCards will be accepted at Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations between Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica Station and Southeast Queens. Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer stations have multiple connecting bus lines and are served by the E line.

“Replacing the tracks in this area of ​​Queens will bring us closer to our goal: giving New Yorkers the modern subway system they deserve,” said MTA President and CEO Janno Lieber. “We appreciate our customers’ patience as we make the necessary updates to improve the reliability and speed of J and Z service.”

The replacement work replaces the direct fixing track, in which the rails are fixed directly to the concrete roadway. Conventional tracks, which are the best known, have the rails on wooden or concrete sleepers. To replace 12,500 feet of direct-attached track, the concrete roadway must be completely rebuilt, with the exception of 3,000 feet of track, which would be replaced in-kind, according to the MTA. Once the final phase of track replacement is complete, the total number of tracks replaced in this area of ​​Queens will be 18,800 feet, approximately 3.6 miles.

“Improving the customer experience is the North Star,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “The fastest and most effective way to complete this project requires 24/7 access to the slopes. The short-term change of service will provide more reliable service for years to come.”

The MTA will post print and digital signs at stations, along with announcements at stations and on trains prior to scheduled work. Customer service notifications will be made on trains, posted at affected stations and on the MTA website. Information about service changes and other travel planning resources are available on the project webpage, which will be updated as needed.

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