NY MTA FASTRACKs Lexington Avenue Line Rail Upgrades

January 9, 2012 - Tonight begins an historic change in how subway right of way maintenance is done. For four consecutive weeknights beginning tonight, a veritable laundry list of 300+ tasks at fifteen Lexington Avenue (4, 5, and 6) stations and associated tunnels between Grand Central-42nd Street station in Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn during a period of completely suspended train service between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the 6.7-mile route that encompasses 20 track miles. Passengers are encouraged to use the BMT (N, Q and R), IRT 7th Avenue 2 or 3 lines to/from nearby stations with overnight 3 service extended into Brooklyn. 'The Lex' is the busiest route in New York City and the first to get the FASTRACK treatment.

The ultimate goal is to make and complete track, signal, station repairs more safely and efficiently those hard to get to places without any train service interruptions. Stations, will receive the spot painting, power washing, platform edge repairs, wall tile replacements while the stations are closed. A closed section of a subway line, more work is accomplished at once and at less cost. When this FASTRACK project is complete, NYC Transit will perform an assessment and report to the MTA Board for review.

In a prepared statement, NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast said,"All of this is work that must be done to maintain the safe, smooth and efficient operation of a subway system that runs around the clock, seven days a week. However, by suspending service along line segments, workers can work on and near the tracks without having to interrupt that work every few minutes while a train moves through the area."
 

The Transit Authority's next FASTRACK overnight Monday thru Friday 4-night closure will be on the Seventh Avenue 1, 2 and 3 IRT lines between 34th Street and Atlantic Avenue from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.