MTA’s Astoria N Line to receive major upgrades

Written by Maggie Lancaster, assistant editor
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In this image from 2011, crews replace track panels on the elevated N Line track in Astoria, Queens.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Jose Algarin

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will be performing major upgrades to the Astoria's N Line equipment, including the replacement of switches and other track work.

MTA says replacing the switches will reduce noise along the 31st Street corridor and the track work will result in increased reliability and reduced delays. The $12.4-million project will require eight non-consecutive weekend closures between May and September. On these weekends, from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday, free shuttle buses will replace N service between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd. and Queensboro Plaza in both directions, making stops at all affected N stations.

The transportation authority will have crews replace all switches along a 730-foot span of elevated track south of the Astoria-Ditmars Blvd. station, as well as track panels and steel girders that support the structure. Trains will not be able to operate during this work because cranes and other heavy equipment must lift large sections of track panels from the street onto the elevated structure.

“We strive to be good neighbors while providing safe and reliable service, which is why we scheduled the closures during period of light ridership in order to minimize the impact to customers,” said NYCT Acting President Darryl Irick. “This work will increase reliability of service and reduce train noise – two things the community has long asked for from MTA.”

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