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MTA to Perform Electrical Repairs on E/M East River Tunnel Between Dec. 26 & 31; 24/7 Service Outages on E and M Lines

New York City Transit
Updated December 8, 2022 5:45 p.m.

Line Service Changes Effective 4:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26 through 5 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31

Trains Operate on Sunday Schedule, Monday, Dec.26; Service Changes Effective Tuesday, Dec. 27 5:30 a.m. through 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30

 

View Subway Map of Line Closure

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced a 24/7 service outage on the and lines along the 53 St tunnel to perform maintenance and signal upgrades over five consecutive days that will improve service reliability and infrastructure resiliency. The work will consist of electrical work in pump rooms, which support drainage of water and reduces service delays caused by rain and flooding. Crews will also continue to work on the Lexington Av/53 St escalator replacement, which began in October, and signal upgrades as part of the Queens Blvd and 8 Av CBTC installation work. 

From 4:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26 through 5 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, trains will be rerouted via the line between Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av and W 4 St-Washington Sq, and   trains will not operate between Delancey St-Essex St and Forest Hills-71 Av.

 

  • trains will operate normally between Jamaica Center- Parsons/ Archer and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av. trains will run via the line between Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av and W 4 St in both directions.
  • For 50 St, 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, 34 St-Penn Station, 23 St and 14 St, take the a c lines or use nearby f stations along 6 Av.
  • There is no service at 7 Av. Service on the and lines operate as usual.
  • trains operate normally between Middle Village-Metropolitan Av and Delancey St-Essex St. Tuesday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., trains are extended via the lines from Delancey St-Essex St to Chambers St.
  • On Monday, December 26, the subway runs on a Sunday schedule due to the holiday, which means service will only operate between Middle Village-Metropolitan Av and Delancey St-Essex St. customers may transfer to/from the at Delancey St-Essex St for service to/from Midtown Manhattan.
  • There will be no train service at Lexington Av/ 53 St. Customers may use service to/from Lexington Av/63 St, n r w service to/from Lexington Av/59 St, or service to/from Grand Central-42 St.
  • There will be no train service at 5 Av/ 53 St. Customers are advised to use nearby stations at 57 St or 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr. 
  • There is no service at Court Sq. Customers can take the line.
  • For day and evening service to Queens Plaza, customers can use the line. For overnight service, customers can use the nearby Queensboro Plaza station, or for the nearest accessible stations, the 21 St-Queensbridge on the and Court Sq  .

Ridership is significantly lower during this holiday week compared to other weekdays, and the schedule’s efficiency means almost an entire month of weekend work can be accomplished in a single five-day period. Regularly scheduled service will be in place well before New Year’s Eve festivities.

The MTA will post print and digital signs in stations, along with announcements in stations and on trains, before the work begins. Service changes are posted under Planned Service Changes, accessible via the MTA’s homepage. Customers are encouraged to sign up to the MTA Weekender, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday to inform customers of weekend service changes throughout the transit system.

For real-time service updates and information, customers can use the following options:

MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.

new.mta.info – The “Service Status” box at new.mta.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each line.

Live Subway Map – The Live Subway Map shows the real-time position of trains, planned service changes at any given time, highlights accessible stations, and much more.

Twitter – Twitter users can follow @NYCTSubway for service updates and customer service support.

WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.

For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.