The L train ‘slowdown’ begins this weekend (and all the other service updates you need to know)
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After years of planning and months of confusion, it’s finally here: the L train shutdown slowdown officially begins at 8 p.m. tonight. L trains will only be running every 20 minutes on weeknights and weekends for the next 12-15 months. During peak weekend hours, the L typically services 8,000 straphangers, but will only be able to accommodate 4,800 an hour under the reduced schedule—that leaves plenty of frustrated riders who will need to look for travel alternatives like the 7, G, and M trains, or the “Williamsburg Link” buses for stops in the Brooklyn neighborhood. Read on for all the service disruptions hitting the subways this weekend.
There won’t be any 1 service between 137 Street in Manhattan and 242 Street in the Bronx. Hop on an A or C train, the M3, M100 or a free shuttle bus.
Wakefield-bound 2 trains will skip Eastern Pkwy, Grand Army Plaza, and Bergen Street in Brooklyn. The Flatbush Avenue-bound 2 and 5 platform at Winthrop Street will be closed through July 2019.
Woodlawn-bound 4 trains run express from Utica Av to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr in Brooklyn. Woodlawn-bound 4 trains skip 183 Street, Fordham Road, Kingsbridge Road and Bedford Park Blvd in the Bronx. 4 trains run every 16 minutes between Burnside Avenue and Woodlawn in the Bronx. Some uptown 4 trains skip 170 Street, Mt Eden Avenue, and 176 Street.
Eastchester-bound 5 trains will also skip Morris Park, Pelham Pkwy and Baychester Avenue in the Bronx.
Brooklyn Bridge-bound 6 trains skip Longwood Avenue, East 149 Street, East 143 Street, Cypress Avenue and Brook Avenue in the Bronx.
There won’t be any A service this weekend between Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn and Lefferts Blvd/Howard Beach in Queens, take a free shuttle bus instead.
E trains run local in both directions between Queens Plaza and 71 Avenue in Queens.
L trains run every 20 minutes between Rockaway Pkwy in Brooklyn and 8 Avenue in Manhattan. All L trains at 1 Avenue and 3 Avenue in Manhattan board from the Brooklyn-bound platform.
Coney Island-bound D trains skip 182-183, 174-175, and 170 Streets in the Bronx and Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue and 25 Street in Brooklyn. The 62 Street/New Utrecht Avenue Station D, N transfer passageway is still closed due for ongoing elevator repairs. D trains will run every 12 minutes this weekend.
F trains run local in both directions between 21 Street-Queensbridge and 71 Avenue in Queens. Coney Island-bound F trains skip 4 Avenue-9 Street, 15 Street-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Pkwy in Brooklyn.
M service is extended to the 96 Street Q station in Manhattan.
N trains run via the D in both directions between 36 Street and Stillwell Avenue. Coney Island-bound N trains will skip Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue, and 25 Street in Brooklyn this weekend. The Astoria Blvd N, W station is temporarily closed. N trains run every 12 minutes this weekend.
96 Street-bound Q trains will run express from Kings Hwy to Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Bay Ridge-bound R trains skip Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue and 25 Street in Brooklyn.
The 111 Street J stop is temporarily closed.
Church Avenue-bound G trains skip 4 Avenue-9 Street, 15 Street-Prospect Park, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy, and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues in Brooklyn. Court Square-bound G trains skip Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn.
Per the whims of the MTA, there will probably be other problems, and the problems stated above are subject to change and worsen.
