Work Being Performed from Late December through April 2021
Free Shuttle Buses Will be Provided Between and Stations
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced service changes on the line to accommodate track and switch replacements along the line beginning at the end of the month. Over the course of 15 weeks, New York City Transit will replace about a mile of track and switches between 137 St-City College in Upper Manhattan and Van Cortlandt Park-242 St in the Bronx. The track and switches have reached the end of their useful life and need replacements. Tracks maintaining a state of good repair is crucial to ensuring the line does not experience track-related delays. Switches allow trains to use express tracks if there are any disruptions on the local tracks.
The Authority is taking advantage of low ridership to gain maximum access to the tracks and prevent potential service outages. The line runs between Van Cortlandt Park-242 St in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and South Ferry in Lower Manhattan. In pre-pandemic times this portion of the line served approximately 156,000 riders each weekday and 176,000 riders on weekends. Maintaining a state of good repair is crucial to ensuring the line does not experience track-related delays.
“Maintaining a state of good repair is crucial to providing the service reliability our customers deserve,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim President of New York City Transit. “Once this work is completed our line customers will enjoy that much smoother of a ride. We have been in close contact with community leaders and local elected officials about this work, and would like to thank our customers for their patience while it's performed."
Beginning on Monday, Dec. 28 at 9:30 p.m., switch and track replacement work will take place on the line between Van Cortlandt Park-242 St and 137 St-City College. During the work there will no train service at affected stations.
Weeknight Schedule
Weeknights from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.*
- Dec. 28-Dec. 30
- Jan. 4-7
- Feb. 1-4
- Feb. 8-11
- Feb. 15-18
- Feb. 22-25
- March 1-4
- March 8-11
- March 15-18
- March 22-25
- March 29-April 1
- April 5-8
In order to get as much work done as possible, additional maintenance work will be bundled with the track and switch replacements on the following weeknights:
- Jan. 11-14
- Jan. 18-21
- Jan. 25-28
Weekend Schedule
9:30 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays*
- Jan. 1-4
- Jan. 8-11
- Jan. 15-17
- Jan. 22-25
- Jan. 29-Feb. 1
- Feb. 12-15
- Feb. 19-22
- Feb. 26-March 1
- March 5-8
- March 12-15
- March 19-22
*NOTE: Overnight the subway system remains closed between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for disinfecting.
Service Alternatives
Weeknights
Every weeknight, between 9:15 p.m. to 1 a.m., trains will run between South Ferry to 137 St-City College. Two free shuttle buses and shuttle trains will provide alternative service.
The will operate as a shuttle train between Van Cortlandt Park-242 St and Dyckman St. The two free shuttle bus routes connect stations and provide service to stations:
- 137 St-City College – Dyckman St - Dyckman St
- 191 St – 168 St
Customers can also use the as an alternative for the duration of this work.
On the weeknights that additional maintenance work is bundled with track and switch replacements, trains will operate between Van Cortlandt Park-242 St and Dyckman St and between 148 St and South Ferry, via the line. There will be no train service between 96 St and Dyckman St.
Shuttle buses will operate the following routes:
- 96 St to 168 St
- 168 St to 191 St
- Dyckman St to Dyckman St
Weekends
train service will run between 137 St-City College and South Ferry during work hours. Customers wishing to travel to affected stations are encouraged to use service. Free shuttle buses will provided connect Line stations and the stations as follows:
- 137 St-City College to 168 St
- 191 St to 168 St
- 242 St to 207 St
Customers can learn more about the project by visiting MTA.info.
Coordination with local elected officials, community boards and stakeholders will continue throughout the work. The MTA will post print and digital signs in stations, along with announcements in stations and on trains, before the work begins. Customer service notifications will also be available on the MTA website, the MYmta app and social media. Customers can also sign up for text and email alerts at www.myMTAalerts.com.