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    1. Rail

    Fastrack Returns to the 23 in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx

    April 12, 2016
    On Monday, April 11, MTA New York City Transit’s Fastrack program returned to the (2), (3) lines in Harlem and the Bronx for two consecutive weeks.
    Related To: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA)

    On Monday, April 11, MTA New York City Transit’s Fastrack program returned to the (2), (3) lines in Harlem and the Bronx for two consecutive weeks. Beginning Monday, April 11, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for four consecutive weeknights, and from Monday, April 25, to early morning Friday, April 29, (2) trains are suspended between 3 Av-149 St and 96 St. 3 service is entirely suspended. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service.

    (2) train service will operate in two sections:

    • Between Wakefield-241 St and 3 Av-149 St. Trains from Wakefield-241 St skip Jackson Av.
    • Between 96 St and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College.

    Travel alternatives:

    Use free shuttle buses to complete your trip. Buses operate as follows:

    • For (2) service: Free shuttle buses operate between 3 Av-149 St and 96 St, stopping at 149 St-Grand Concourse, 145 St, 135 St, 125 St, 116 St, and Central Park North. Transfer between (2) trains and free shuttle buses at 3 Av-149 St and/or at 96 St., or the (4) at 149 St-Grand Concourse.
    • For (3) service: Free local shuttle buses operate between 96 St and Harlem-148 St, making 3 line station stops. Transfer between (2) trains and free shuttle buses at 96 St. Take the (2) for service between Franklin Av and 96 St. (4) trains make all station stops between Nevins St and New Lots Av. Transfer between (2) and (4) trains at Franklin Av.

    Fastrack has been designed around the careful determination that there is adequate alternate means of transportation, including enhanced services along some bus lines during work periods. Alternative transportation options will be detailed in announcements and posters on trains, in stations and on selected buses; brochures will be available in both English and Spanish.

    Wynton Habersham, senior vice president for the Department of Subways said, "Fastrack has proven to have a significant impact on decreasing delays – both in terms of consolidating maintenance forces in a concentrated area and in terms of proactive maintenance that improves service delivery.”

    During MTA's previous Fastrack in March 2015, (2) service was suspended between 3 Av-149 St and 96 St for four week nights, Monday through Thursday for two consecutive weeks along the Lenox Avenue line. While service was suspended between 10 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. each night, NYC Transit employees took advantage of uninterrupted access to perform inspections, cleaning, repairs, and maintenance of infrastructure, including signals, switches, lighting, security equipment, track, and third rail components. Over a two week period track workers scraped and cleaned 53,528 feet of track, replaced 728 track plates, 154 friction pads, 10 rails, 35 tie blocks, and cleaned 2,710 feet of track under and around the third rail. Infrastructure workers patched and repaired 298 feet of concrete, cleaned 1,125 feet of roadbed drains, changed 215 light bulbs in the tunnel, and replaced 33 feet of “No Clearance” signs. At stations, workers scraped and cleaned 2,920 square feet of station surfaces, painted 11,200 square feet of station areas including stairway coping, railings and 10 columns, changed 778 station light bulbs, washed 914 fixtures, chopped 40 square feet of concrete, repaired 360 feet of rubbing board, installed 115 feet of drain line, replaced 28 platform signs, 56 wayfinding signs, and replaced 44 square feet of tile, including 99 ADA tiles. Signal crews tested and serviced signal and switch components, and electronic maintenance was performed on 17 CCTV cameras, six monitors, 278 public address speakers, and 33 electronic signs.