The track that trains use to travel between Jamaica-Van Wyck and Jamaica Center is past its useful life—it's been in place since the ’70s and ’80s. We inspect this track regularly, and we made temporary fixes in 2018, but over the last four years track conditions have caused 713 delays. So we're completely replacing it to provide much more reliable service.
Here's everything you need to know about the project and how to get around while we work.
Project timing and phases of work
We’ll need 12 weeks to do this work, and there will be two phases of service changes. We are taking advantage of low airport travel and subway ridership to accelerate the timeline for this project and minimize impact on customers.
Complete: Phase 1 (September 19 until November 2, 2020)
To start, required full access to the tracks so there was no service at Sutphin Blvd and Jamaica Center at all times. (The and lines continued to serve these stations.)
Phase 2 (November 2 - 30, 2020)
service has returned at Sutphin Blvd and Jamaica Center but we still have additional track reconstruction work to complete. During Phase 2, trains run to Jamaica Center at all times but operate on a single track there. This limits the number of trains we can run. Customers should build extra time into their travel. During rush hours, extra trains will continue to run to 179 St on the line.
Because we are restoring service to all stations, we will no longer offer shuttle bus service from Jamaica-Van Wyck and LIRR cross-honoring. Extra train service will continue to run to 179 St at rush hours so that may still be your best option.