The MTA recently announced that upcoming construction on the Queensboro Plaza will result in weekend service disruptions on the 7 train between Manhattan and Queens.
For six weekends spanning from winter to spring, service will be suspended from 34 St-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza.
According to the MTA, the service changes are scheduled to begin at 12:15am Saturday, February 4 until 5am Monday February 6, and from 3:45am Saturday to 10pm Sunday, the following five weekends:
Feb. 11 – Feb. 12
Feb. 25 – Feb. 26
Mar. 11 – Mar. 12
Mar. 25 – Mar. 26
Apr. 22 – Apr. 23
For other service options, riders can transfer to/from the E, F, R trains at 74 St-Broadway or to/from the N, W at Queensboro Plaza. Additionally, free shuttle buses will be available between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Blvd – Jackson Av, and between Times Square and 34 St-Hudson Yards.
The construction project will add two new elevators to improve accessibility at Queensboro Plaza. The new elevators will be installed at the station’s southern entrance and between the mezzanine and the two platforms.
“The improvements coming to Queensboro Plaza will greatly benefit tens of thousands of riders,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “Accessibility is such an integral part of mass transit, especially for a city like New York where mass transit is essential for many. When complete, the project will provide critical accessibility upgrades, security updates, and customer experience improvements throughout the station.”
Serving over an average of 70,000 riders/weekday in November 2022, the Queensboro Plaza station is a busy transportation hub that makes the construction project quite ‘complex.’ Therefore, the changes will be done in phases.
“Building in dense urban environments, with infrastructure that dates back more than 100 years, is complex and challenging,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “But making our system accessible is essential and so we are finding creative ways to meet that challenge.”
Beyond the new elevators, the construction will result in new lighting, an expansion of the mezzanine by ~50 sq ft, updates to the pedestrian bridge, new ADA compliant boarding areas and upgrades to existing stairs to meet ADA standards.
The south side entrance is expected to be completed by 2024. Learn more about the project here.