MTA Welcomes Riders and Announces Restored F and M Train Service

MTA New York City Transit President Richard Davey is on-hand at the 21 St-Queensbridge station on the F line on Monday, Apr 1, 2024 as the 63 St corridor repoens after track rehabilitation.

Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA

NEW YORK CITY – MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer welcomed riders back to regular service for the F and M Trains in Manhattan and Queens.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced service on the F and M lines in Manhattan and Queens have returned to regular service. This comes after an eight-month track replacement project along the 63 St line. According to the MTA, 149,000 riders travel through the area daily. To mark the occasion, MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer and New York City Transit President Richard Davey welcomed riders at 21 St-Queensbridge station and Roosevelt Island station.

During the eight-month project, crews:

• “Removed existing tracks and constructed new concrete roadbed and track
• Installed 25,643 feet of new third rail with protection board, brackets, and insulators
• Removed and replaced cables
• Installed new signals
• Repaired spalled concrete and cracks
• Sealed active leaks”

The project was the last of three in the 2020-2024 Capital Plan to replace direct fixation track in the system that dates back to the 1980s. With this project completed, the “new track improves reliability, mitigates leaks preventing future corrosion and deterioration, and extends the life of existing infrastructure for another 50 years.”

“This project is a great example of the MTA building better, faster and cheaper with a major track replacement project completed on time and on budget,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “The work undertaken to reconstruct new track, third rail, signals, and to seal active leaks will result in a more reliable and comfortable ride.”

“It’s great to meet with Queens and Manhattan customers as we restore full service on the​line following the on-time completion of critical track replacement work,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “I appreciate riders’ patience during the project, and now they can look forward to modern, reliable tracks that will deliver faster, cleaner, and safer service for decades to come.”

“We applaud the MTA’s investment in the subway infrastructure connecting Roosevelt Island and Cornell Tech to Manhattan and Queens,” said Greg Morrisett, Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech. “We are thankful for the agency’s diligent communication with us throughout construction and we are delighted by the on-time completion of the project.”