FASTRACK returns to Manhattan and Queens Nov. 3

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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On November 3, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit's (NYCT) FASTRACK program returns to the E, F, M and R lines in Manhattan and Queens for four consecutive weeknights. E service will be suspended between Roosevelt Av. and World Trade Center; F service will be suspended between Roosevelt Av. and 21 St-Queensbridge; M service will end early between 71 Av. and Essex St. each night and R service will end early between 71 Av. and 36 St. in Brooklyn each night.

 

“All subway stakeholders win with FASTRACK,” said Joseph Leader, senior vice president for the Department of Subways. “Workers have a better and safer work environment, customers benefit from improved train service and reliability and NYCT saves money by getting more work done in less time.”

During the previous FASTRACK in July 2014, train service was suspended for four consecutive nights along a five-mile section of the normally bustling Queens Boulevard line between Roosevelt Av. and 5 Av./53 St on the E and 21 St.-Queensbridge on the F, as NYCT workers took full advantage of the seven hours of train-free access each night to perform a range of cleaning and maintenance tasks of station and tunnel infrastructure, signal equipment and track and third rail components.

Track workers scraped and cleaned 38,102 feet of track, installed 767 track tie plates, 62 tie blocks and cleaned 14,050 feet of track under and around the third rail. Infrastructure workers repaired 540 feet of handrail and 325 square feet of damaged concrete, grouted 132 leaks, cleaned 1,100 feet of drain line and removed 1,000 gallons of silt. They also replaced 358 light bulbs and 12 square feet of grating. At stations, workers painted 30,700 square feet of station surfaces, repaired 23 square feet of concrete and 177 feet of rubbing board at the platform’s edge, replaced 854 light bulbs, washed 844 fixtures and performed fluorescent lighting ballast repair. Signal workers tested and serviced seven switches and three signals and performed other maintenance work on signal boxes, and eight rail/switch segments.

The next FASTRACK overnight closure will be on the F line between B’way-Lafayette St. and York St. beginning = November 10 and ending November 14.

 

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