New York City, February 9, 2012 - The 'Fastrack' right of way overhaul program that was hugely successful on New York City Transit's IRT Lexington Avenue line (4, 5 and 6) a month ago, is moving on to the 7th Avenue IRT (1, 2 and 3). The program means that a portion of the system undergoes a complete closure so a variety of tasks that normally need to be shoe-horned between moving subway trains, allowing for safe, seamless non-stop repairs to be completed more quickly than ever before for a week between Monday night at 10 p.m. through Friday morning at 5 a.m. By providing a more productive and safe work environment, Transit employees avoid the seemingly constant interruptions of repeatedly having to “clear up” for trains to pass. About 10 to 15% of subway riders during those hours are expected to be affected.
The affected stations next week are on the 7th Avenue IRT span from 34th Street-Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Subway riders are being asked to switch to other lines at major stations such as Times Square and 59th Street-Columbus Circle. Bus service will supplement the adjoining subway service along the 7th Avenue line.
During January's Fastrack launch on the Lexington Avenue line, 300 tasks including repairing platforms, stairways, painting, light installations in addition to signal and switch inspections.
The next to get the Fastrack treatment will be the Sixth Avenue IND (Independent B, D and F lines) from February 27 to March 2.
