With one of the hottest summers of our lifetime already settling down around us, many of us only have one thing on our minds: staying cool. And if you’re planning on heading to the beach to do just that, we have some good news for you.
Governor Hochul recently announced the next phase of subway service enhancements, and included in those enhancements is extended service to the beach!
The Rockaway Park Shuttle’s route will be extended to Rockaway Blvd on summer weekends, providing beachgoers with a much easier trip to Rockaway Beach.
Between 9 am and 9 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, the extended route will allow beachgoers to transfer to and from A trains serving both the Lefferts Blvd and Far Rockaway branches. This extended route is operating now through Labor Day and adds four stops to its normal route: Rockaway Blvd, Aqueduct Racetrack, Aqueduct-N Conduit Av and Howard Beach-JFK Airport.
Moreover, the 5-car Rockaway Park Shuttle will be extended to 10 cars to hold more people.
NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow stated:
Whenever we have the ability to enhance service, we will. Customers consistently say that improved service and reduced wait times will keep them coming back. We are excited to roll this fourth phase of service increases out now, so riders can take the subway to the million things to do around New York City in the summer.
The news comes shortly after announcements were made that Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to indefinitely pause NYC’s Congestion Pricing Plan would not only negatively affect the NYC subway, but also caused the city to cease its plans for expansion on the second avenue subway project.