E Train Service at Two Stations to Be Temporarily Suspended as MTA Begins First Phase of Critical Track Replacement Work at End of Line in Queens

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today issued a reminder that the temporary suspension at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer  stations will begin Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first phase of track replacement at the end of the line in Queens. The work entails replacement and installation of more than 5,500 feet of track and over 7,800 feet of third rail. The track is reaching the end of its useful life and needs complete replacement, which will lead to improved reliability and better service throughout the line in Queens and Manhattan.

The reminder follows extensive customer and community outreach in recent weeks following the initial announcement on Aug. 17. The start date and other project details have been communicated to customers, elected officials, major employers and other community members via a project microsite, station signage, social media and virtual community meetings held via video conference on Aug. 31 and Sept. 8. Additional outreach will continue throughout the duration of the project.

This phase of the project is expected to take six weeks, continuing to the early morning hours of Monday, Nov. 2. Phase 2 of the project, which will restore some  train service in the two-station project corridor, is scheduled to begin in early November and last until mid-December.

“The MTA is changing the way we do construction, and that means getting work done faster and with less impact on our customers," said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development. “By doing this critical track work now while subway and AirTrain ridership is low we will get this stretch of the  train upgraded in time to be ready when residents of southeast Queens – and all New Yorkers – return to riding the subways in larger numbers.”

“Our mission is to provide the best experience for our customers,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim President New York City Transit. “Track replacement work is vital to ensuring safe and reliable service, which gets everyone where they need to be, on time. For our customers affected by this work, we have created alternative plans that we hope will keep your commute as normal as possible.”

The service change seeks to minimize impacts to customers. The MTA is making these upgrades now and coordinating alternative travel options in order to prevent emergency track work and unplanned service changes that would create bigger disruptions for customers than the outage being planned. Since 2016, there have been 46 incidents between Jamaica-Van Wyck and Jamaica Center on the  line because of track conditions, resulting in 713 delayed trains.

The MTA is accelerating the project’s timeline by taking advantage of traditionally low late-summer ridership, as well as low airport travel and low general subway ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to minimize the disruption of the work and impact as few riders as possible. The impact on customers is further reduced due to the ongoing overnight subway shutdown between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., during which there is robust alternate service available on MTA buses.

The work will require a temporary suspension of  train service at two stations: Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av, and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer. These stations both have multiple connecting bus lines as well as   subway service. Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av connects with the Long Island Rail Road’s Jamaica station. MetroCards will be honored at the Long Island Rail Road for travel to and from Jamaica and these stations during Phase 1:

• Penn Station
• Forest Hills
• Kew Gardens
• Hollis
• Laurelton
• Locust Manor
• Queens Village
• Rosedale
• St. Albans

For continuous service to and from Jamaica Center, customers are encouraged to transfer to and from buses between there and  train stops on Hillside Avenue. Alternatives for customers traveling to the JFK AirTrain in Jamaica include the  lines and the Long Island Rail Road.

Detailed Service Information

During Phase 1, which begins Saturday, Sept. 19, the following service changes will be in effect:

• No  train service at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer.
• trains run between World Trade Center and Jamaica-Van Wyck from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., all days.
• trains also operate between World Trade Center and 179 St mornings, middays and evenings on weekdays.

Customers are encouraged to use the following travel alternatives:

•  subway service will continue to be available at Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Sutphin Blvd/Archer Av
• Bus service connecting riders between Jamaica Center/Parsons Archer and Parsons Blvd  : Q25, Q34, Q65, Q83, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, Q114
• Bus service connecting riders between Sutphin Blvd Archer Av/JFK Airport and Sutphin Blvd   line station: Q20A/B, Q40, Q43, Q44SBS, Q54, Q56, Q60
• Customers who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should use Jamaica-Van Wyck   or 179 St  .
• Bus service connecting riders between Jamaica Center/Parsons Archer with Jamaica-Van Wyck.
• For continuous service to and from Jamaica Center, customers are encouraged to transfer to and from buses between there and  train stops on Hillside Avenue.
• Connection to JFK AirTrain is available at Sutphin Blvd/Archer Av via the  and LIRR, and at Howard Beach via the  .
• Shuttle bus between the Jamaica-Van Wyck and Jamaica Center-Parsons Blvd/Archer Av stations in Queens.