Saturday, November 10, 2012

New MTA Service Replaces Destroyed Section of "A" Subway Line


Bus Shuttle Will Replace Portion of Storm-Battered “A” Line

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will resume service on the A subway line to Howard Beach and begin a bus shuttle to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, restoring service to thousands of residents of the Rockaway Peninsula who lost mass transit access after Hurricane Sandy.

“The people of the Rockaway Peninsula were especially hard-hit by this storm, and restoring transportation service to them and to Howard Beach is a priority for my administration,” said Governor Cuomo.

“This combination of subway and bus service will provide them with immediate transit relief while the entire system is rebuilt.”

Service on the A line to Howard Beach and the bus shuttle from there to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway will begin Sunday, November 11.

The A train normally runs to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway as well as Lefferts Boulevard, but currently goes only to Lefferts. Once service to Howard Beach is restored, the service will once again be split with half going to Howard Beach.

The bus shuttle will remain in place until the heavily damaged North Channel Bridge and subway infrastructure through Broad Channel is replaced. The bridge was underwater during the storm and some sections of track were entirely washed out.

Photos of the damage are available here.

“The damage to the A line in Jamaica Bay is absolutely unprecedented, and so is the MTA’s response,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota.

“Restoring the entire A train will take months, but the MTA is committed to doing it and to providing alternatives to our customers in the meantime.”

When A service is restored to Howard Beach and the bus shuttle connects it to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, customers from the Rockaway Peninsula will have several travel alternatives.

From Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, the regular Q22 line operates to Roxbury.

From the Rockaway Boulevard A station, regular limited-stop Q53 bus service operates to Rockaway Park-Beach 116 Street, as well as Q52 service to Arverne-Beach 69 Street.

From the Brooklyn College/Flatbush Avenue station on the 2 and 5 train, regular Q35 service operates to Rockaway Park-Beach 116 Street.

From the Parsons-Archer station in Jamaica on the E, J and Z trains, regular and limited-stop Q113 service operates to Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway as well as Seagirt Boulevard.

For up to date MTA travel information, please log on to mta.info and look for special Rockaway updates, use TripPlanner+ on mta.info or call 511.

Photo source: en.wikipedia
Author: Fan Railer
Permission: GNU Free Documentation License

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