Hi there. It's today. Thank you for sticking with us and for helping us spread the word about the service changes. It's been fun meeting you out in stations this week, and the sentiment is clear—we're New Yorkers, we can do this.
Also we issued a press release today to recap our next steps, and three things were new:
- The contract negotiation is finalized.
- The total cost of the project will be reduced by $10 million.
- The estimated project timeline is 15-18 months.
Thank you again, and see you soon (on the Williamsburg Link buses, M, G or 7 trains?).
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Step 1: Pick a station, step 2: make a plan
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Procrastinator? We have you covered. We made special guides for select stations along the L where there are the most service changes on nights and weekends (14 St-6 Av: you get an M!). But first, a quick L service cheat sheet:
L service during tunnel rehabilitation, April 26, 2019—Summer 2020:
- No changes during the day on weekdays and rush hours
- Reduced service between Manhattan and Brooklyn on weeknights and weekends starting at 8 p.m., running every 20 minutes starting at 10 p.m. (normal service was always every 20 minutes between 1:30 and 5 a.m., so service during that time stays the same)
- Within Brooklyn, every 10 minutes in both directions on weeknights from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Our advice: for most of you, alternative service options will be faster when L service is reduced, especially during busy times when you might not be able to board the first train.
Click a station below to get the full download. Not beholden to any particular station? Go here.
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We have a special L Project team behind the scenes (and one of the leaders grew up along the L)
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For the past few months, one of our main focus areas has been "how are we going to manage service in a way that keeps both the L trains moving and people safe?"
Answer: put a special L Project team structure in place.
This is a team designed to do two things: 1) make decisions about train and bus service, thinking holistically about our system and 2) do it quickly.
- Field team: group station managers, platform controllers, wayfinders, traffic checkers, bus dispatchers, station agents and NYPD. These are the people who are seeing things in real-time, keeping you safe. We've designated a special "Field Captain" role, staffed largely from our group station manager team, who will be on-site at each station between 8 Av and Lorimer St on the L.
- Service delivery team: train operators, dispatchers and general superintendents at the Rail Control Center. Here we have another special role for the L Project—the "Canarsie Coordinator" (we like alliteration), staffed by senior leaders at the Rail Control Center.
The two leadership roles are designed to expedite decision-making. One of the Canarsie Coordinators has a particularly interesting point of view on the L Project: he grew up in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Meet Jose LaSalle:
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Q: How would you describe your role?
A: In some ways, the "Canarsie Coordinator" title is a misnomer. It's my job to be the big picture guy. See that there's a disruption on the A and know "oh, we need to start sending people to the J, and travel a few stops back even, because it will be faster."
Q: What do you think makes you ready for the job?
A: Maybe because I'm the only one who said I'd work 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.?! But no really, I do have a very well-rounded background being at NYC Transit for 26 years across many divisions. A division. B division. C division—work trains and flagger operations. And from 2010 to 2013, I was in the Office of System Safety when Sandy hit. I went to 148 and Lenox and saw that the water was parallel to the platform. I couldn't believe it. Then Whitehall—a brand new station—totally wrecked. But it shocked us all when we heard that the L was the worst.
Q: What advice would you give to your former neighbors in Williamsburg and other L riders?
A: To have improvements to our system, you gotta do the work! I was there in the 2000s when we resignaled the line, and yeah it was tough, but look at it now. I think the L resignaling on CBTC is a big part of why the community has grown so much. For the L Project, this work we're doing, it's obviously critical. And we're making the most of it with the elevators, and the substations so we can run more trains. We need it. Even though it doesn't feel like it, the community will definitely be better for it.
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What to expect at L stations
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Normally L trains run every 5 minutes during most of the day on weekends. So with service only every 20 minutes between Manhattan and Brooklyn, especially for the first few weeks when people are still figuring out that alternatives are probably faster, there could be times when folks will have to wait to enter the platform or wait on line. Here are a few things to be ready for if you take the L:
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1. Changed circulation patterns: At a few stations on nights and weekends, you'll always be directed to enter a station via one entrance, and exit via the other (see sign here for an example at Union Square). We'll also be putting up barricades and tape to help guide you in a way that organizes flow better.
2. Holding before going to the platform: Safety is our top priority, and we can't have crowding on platforms. So you might wait on line before going down to the platform.
3. Temporary service changes: Depending on the demand for the L train, we may have to implement service changes temporarily, like bypassing or restricting entry. These are things you've likely experienced before; they're tactics we use to keep you safe and moving. These strategies are not our starting point, but we need contingency plans to keep everyone safe in case too many customers decide not to use the alternative service options.
4. Trains holding for a bit at select stations: At certain stations, trains will be held for a few minutes (with the doors open). Since we're single-tracking on nights and weekends, we have to make sure we're maximizing our use of that single-track, so these temporary holds will help us do that.
5. A funny-looking train at Bedford Av: The single-tracking operation will make for an odd-looking situation: the empty L train that is turning around and heading back to Brooklyn will actually peek into the station. And by "peek," we mean a few car lengths. Yes it will look odd. But that's just how the interlockings work.
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Construction this weekend
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The tunnel rehabilitation part of the L Project starts this weekend, but what are we actually doing? Here are the top items on our checklist:
- Replacing track ties for a smoother ride
- New tunnel lighting system to enhance safety
- Replacing signal cables to improve reliability
- Expanding pump capacity to enhance resiliency
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We want to make it as easy as possible to know where to go on nights and weekends. So we made lots of signs and we made them pink. Here are a few to look out for to help you get around:
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1. "Station signage"
Very descriptive, we know. We put these along rails and in stations at key transfer points. Here's one outside of 14-St Union Sq Station.
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2. Bus cannisters
Yes, that's their official name. A "cannister" can be used to hold any kind of material. We like to use ours for super helpful next stop and connecting subway lines information. These are all along the (free) Williamsburg Link bus routes (B91 and B92).
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3. More station signage!
You'll find these where the single-track operation means different than normal train service. This is what we posted at Lorimer St Station, where some trains will end at Lorimer St and some will continue on to Manhattan.
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Get in touch
You know what signs to look for. But don't be shy to ask for help. Here's how:
- Sign up for our text alerts
- Call 511 and say "subways" then "L train"
- Tweet @NYCTSubway with #LProject
- Ask a team member: Especially for the first few weekends, we'll have lots of staff out from 8 Av to Lorimer St. Look for someone with a pink button that says "Ask me about the L Project"
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Glamour shot of the week: We're ready
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Several members of our leadership did a walkthrough of the L train tunnel this week to see the preparations, including the test fiber reinforced polymer (FRP).
Photo: Marc Hermann / MTA New York City Transit / Tues., April 24, 2019
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Learn more and stay connected
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