Our L Project station improvements will make it easier for you to get in and out of stations. The old Metropolitan Av/Lorimer St staircases are slated to open at the end of the month, as mentioned in our last issue. Which prompted a few of you to ask: why does it seem to take awhile to open an old entrance? Well, it involves a lot more than slapping on a new coat of paint.
For starters, updating the stairs themselves means bringing them to current standards (yes, this is a thing): Adding treads on stairs, evening out steps and making sure there’s enough overhead clearance from any loose hanging wires are just a few pieces that have to get done. Then we have to install the stuff you'd expect, like turnstiles, signage, security cameras, fare machines and Help Points. Once these pieces are in place, we have to wire them and make sure they work together.
Even before we make our plan, we do an analysis of the station, looking at a number of factors. For example, before we got to work on the Metropolitan Av/Lorimer St entrances, we analyzed "egress capacity," or making sure there are enough exits for customers to quickly get out. Here, the large mezzanine area formed from these entrances means potentially many more people to evacuate in case of an emergency, but our analysis showed that the two exits meet the need.
We also have to design communication systems and work with neighboring businesses which may be affected by the construction. All these moving pieces, among others, requires more than 15 internal teams coming together. The entrance openings for the stairs at Hope Street and Powers Street for the Metropolitan Av/Lorimer St Station will be well-attended!
Q: Any idea when the new 1st Avenue stop entrance at Avenue A will open? - Sean A: This entrance's timing is part of what we're revisiting under the revised project approach. Even though the tunnel work is a separate piece, there are some things that are dependent on each other, and we want to get the schedule right. More to come on this in the next few weeks.
We’ve gotten this question a few times now, so we’re dedicating more space to it. As you know, we removed a moving walkway last summer to create more space in the Court Sq Station passageway, and we aren’t planning to bring it back. Here’s why: We did an analysis and found that the 350-ft moving walkway was actually hurting pedestrian flow. It could only move in one direction and shaved just 9 seconds if you used it in the most efficient way possible. It also cost more than $200,000 a year to maintain.
But we also put some new improvements in, too, to help you speed up your commute. As you may have noticed, we added two new sets of stairs, put in new turnstiles and widened two existing stairs at the G platform. We even added railings on the narrow part of the platform to increase safety. Got any more questions about the station updates? Use the button below.
Under the revised approach to the L Project, on nights and weekends, we can both keep L train service running AND keep working on the other track. This "single-tracking operation" is one of the many benefits of modern signaling, specifically a bi-directional capability that allows trains to operate in either direction on one track. Put simply, we're running trains two-ways on one track. For the L Project, we're proposing to run this single-track L between Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a bonus L train running on the Brooklyn side (transit speak: "overlay"). Here's some of the detail on how it works (visual learners, see above):
We're definitely not alone in running this kind of operation, but it is unique with the volume of trains we have. Many railroads in North America actually are just really long single-track operations—most are freight systems that run one train in one-direction, and then another in the opposite direction, with trains passing each other on two-track sections. The difference is that they generally plan and measure their operations in trains per day instead of per hour like we do. Have more questions? Use the button below.
We keep saying that all of the accessibility work for the L Project is continuing. We did an explainer a few weeks ago about what it takes to make a station accessible. But what exactly are these so-called "elevator projects"? Here they are in one list:
Crews place the concrete for the new mezzanine's steel columns at Bedford Av Station
Updated: 4/18/2019
The revised approach for the L Project means that we'll be able to run service on the L at all times, with reduced service on nights and weekends. We've created an alternate service plan to help you navigate starting April 26, 2019 through summer 2020. Use this page to learn more about travel tips and construction progress.
With the revised approach, the L will continue as normal during the busiest weekday times. During nights and weekends, L service will be reduced. We're adding extra M, G, 7, and bus service to give you more options. We're also adding two special Williamsburg Link bus routes for additional service. Subways are still the fastest way to get around, so our plan is focused on connecting you with a subway line as quickly as possible.
Updated 4/19/2019
L service will continue as normal during peak and midday weekday times. Service on the L will be reduced nights and weekends. During these times, use our new alternative service options on this map to avoid wait times and crowding.
This service plan will be in effect on nights and weekends, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019, through summer 2020.
Service alternatives map
With the revised approach, L customers will have normal service during the highest ridership times.
Weeknights: 10 PM to 5 AM, with service ramping down at 8 PM, L trains run every 20 minutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan and every 10 minutes within Brooklyn. Service will ramp down starting at 8 PM to make room for work trains. Overnight, between 1:30 AM and 5 AM, the service runs at its normal frequency, with L trains running every 20 minutes.
Weekends: 10 PM Friday until 5 AM Monday, with service ramping down at 8 PM Friday, L trains run 20 minutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and every 10 minutes within Brooklyn. Overnight, between 1:30 AM and 5 AM, service runs at its normal frequency, with L trains running every 20 minutes.
L trains will run every 10 minutes within Brooklyn thanks to extra trains between Lorimer St and Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy. We’ll be running these trains during the busiest times L service is impacted by tunnel work (10 PM-1:30 AM weeknights and 6 AM to 1:30 AM weekends). Service on the L will be reduced nights and weekends. We're enhancing M, G, 7, and bus service to provide alternatives.
L service begins to ramp down:
Brooklyn-bound (estimates based on Union Square)8 PM to 9 PM: approx. every 5 min9 PM to 9:30 PM: approx. every 12 min9:30 PM to 10 PM: transition to 20 min
Manhattan-bound8 PM to 8:30 PM: Rockaway Pkway every 6-10 minutesBroadway Junction every 5 minutesLorimer St and Bedford Av every 5 minutes
8:30 to 9 PM: Rockaway Pkway every 20 minutesBroadway Junction every 20 minutesLorimer St and Bedford Av every 5 to 20 minutes (ramp down)
M service
Weeknights, we’ll extend the hours of normal weekday service into Manhattan, between 10PM and 1:30 AM. After 10 PM on weeknights, we’ll extend M service up to 96 St-2 Av on the Q , instead of to Queens Blvd.
Weekends, we’ll extend service from Essex St to 96 St-2 Av. M trains will run every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day.
G service
Weeknights we’ll be running 5 additional G trips between 8:30 PM and 1:30 AM. On weekends, trains will run every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day.
7 service
Weeknights, we’ll run 5 additional trips from 8:30 PM to midnight. On weekends, 7 trains will continue to run every 4 to 7 ½ minutes.
We’re planning additional M14A bus service to connect customers to the subway lines where we are enhancing service.
The extra M14A route service will extend to connect with Delancey/Essex St FJM Station. On weekends the M14A/D buses, combined, run every 3 to 5 minutes for the majority of the day along 14 St.
On weeknights, buses will run every 4 to 5 minutes between 8 PM and midnight, in both directions across 14th Street for connection to the M train at 6th Avenue, or to the 6 train at Union Square for transfer to the M train at the Broadway-Lafayette station.The M14A will connect to the Delancey-Essex J/M Station every 7 to 10 minutes (as compared to every 12 to 20 minutes currently).
Weekday nights (M14 A/D combined)
Sundays (M14 A/D combined)
Saturdays (M14 A/D combined)
We are introducing a new bus, the Williamsburg Link. It will operate on two routes, one clockwise (B92) and one counterclockwise (B91). This bus will provide double the bus service we normally do when there is no L service during weekend and weeknight construction work.
These buses provide connection between:
Weekday nights
Weekends
We're adding free transfers to make it easier to make connections. These include:
Hello. We're still drying off from the wet weather this week (thanks for sticking with us as we dealt with it). But you know what we DIDN'T have to dry off? The L tunnel. That's because a little thing called sump pumps did the work automatically—with capacity for 2,750 gallons drained per minute once the new ones are installed. More below on how we prevent these soggy situations. Plus: Bedford Av stair openings and closings to watch for, what's a "snake tray," and plan your travel now for Independence Day. Happy first official weekend of summer!
Very interesting. Going back to US Navy sound powered telephone system. That way can always communicate. Very good idea !
fiber) 3. Sound power telephone system conduit (just under the rack)
This weekend, we’re going to begin packing up and restoring a section of the street and sidewalk on the Manhattan side of the job. We’ll have a full schedule soon of what you’ll see and when, and what’s to come on the Brooklyn side, too. In the meantime, we wanted to know: what does “street restoration” actually mean? In general, it’s “leave the neighborhood better than you found it.” We talked with our construction management (CM) team to get the specifics.
L Project Weekly: Team, jobs like this mean that we’re temporary neighbors in a community. When it’s done, of course, we’ll leave behind a brand new, fully accessible subway station. But what about everything we tore up?
CM: Sure, we have a very comprehensive plan for street restoration. The basic rule is to restore everything, leave no footprint.
LPW: People restore old houses and paintings. What does it mean to restore a street?
CM: We mean the street, the sidewalk paving, the trees, everything. The biggest task is rebuilding the street itself. We’ll be doing that work ourselves, following very specific rules from the city DOT.
LPW: What’s involved?
CM: It's a multi-step process. First, we dump in backfill, then we compress it with a heavy vibrating roller and tamping machines. Then we pour a base course of concrete.
LPW: Then comes asphalt, right?
CM: Yes, that’s called the ‘wearing course.’ A big asphalt spreader moves down the street slowly with crews following, raking the asphalt even. We do one pass down
one side of the street and back up the other. We need to minimize traffic disruptions, and so we’re required to do most of the work at night.LPW: We’ve seen those asphalt machines working at night. It’s kind of fascinating to watch. What about the sidewalks, we’re pouring concrete there, right?
CM: That's partially right. It's actually an accessibility issue. We are pouring concrete around the new elevators and on sidewalk ramps for ADA-compliant accessibility. Originally, the sidewalks along the worksite were what’s called Belgian block. You see it a lot around New York City. For proper restoration, we actually removed all those blocks and saved them at the beginning of the job. We’ll have a team of masons who lay down a bed of sand, then set the stones. It’s really a craft, the same way it was done in the nineteenth century.
LPW: We have some great trivia on that below for our readers. But to finish up, we also had to pull out a few trees, the ones directly on top of the areas where we're working. We’re replanting trees, right?
CM: We were able to protect most of the trees, but we did have to take out a few. We’ll be putting back more trees than we took out. I can give you our final shopping list later, but I know there are a few different kinds.
LPW: Great. We know you still have a lot of work to do. We’ll get back to you later about those trees, knock on wood!
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