F Train Troubles Begin This Weekend, Continue Through Winter

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

The transit headaches begin this weekend, with no F or G train service out in our area, replaced instead by shuttle buses. And then as of Monday, the southbound platforms at Fort Hamilton and 15th St/Prospect Park will be closed until spring 2012.

Starting at 12:01am Saturday, November 12 and continuing through 5am Monday, there will be no F trains between Jay St-MetroTech and 18th Ave, and no G trains between Hoyt-Schermerhorn and Church Ave. This repeats next weekend as well.

Here are the grizzly details:

F service operates in two sections:
1. Between 179 St and Jay St-MetroTech, then via the C to Euclid Av, the last stop
2. Between 18 Av and Stillwell Av

• To travel between Jay St-MetroTech and 4 Av-9 St, take R the instead.

G service operates in two sections:
1. Between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs
2. Between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts

• Transfer to a Manhattan-bound A or F to Jay St-MetroTech where shuttle buses are available.

Free shuttle buses operate in three sections:

* Local service between Jay St-MetroTech and 4 Av-9 St, making stops at Bergen, Carroll Sts and Smith-9 Sts.

* Local service between 4 Av-9 St and Church Av, making stops at 7 Av, 15 St-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Pkwy.

* Limited stop service between Jay St-MetroTech and 18 Av, stopping at Church and Ditmas Avs.

• Transfer between shuttle buses and A, F, R trains at Jay St-MetroTech.
• Transfer between shuttle buses and D and R trains at 4 Av-9 St.
• Transfer between limited and local shuttle buses at Church Av.

Note: Shuttle bus service begins 30 minutes prior to service change.

Now, about the platform changes this winter.

Council Member Brad Lander reports today that once again the MTA has again declined to modify its plan. However, the NYPD has been responsive and has worked with his office to coordinate a thoughtful deployment of their resources to address this change:

Commanding Officers of the two Transit Bureau Districts – Deputy Inspector DeRose (District 30) and Captain Tsachas (District 34) – as well as the Commanding Officers of the three local precincts – Deputy Inspector Argenziano (78th Pct), Deputy Inspector Pintos (72nd Pct), and Deputy Inspector Sprague (66th Pct) – are working together to tailor policing in response to this situation.

The two Transit Bureau Districts – District 30 and District 34 – have both agreed to have a presence belowground at Church Avenue, thus increasing the number of officers in the Church Avenue station (where many of you will turn around to ride back north).

To increase safety for those who choose to walk home from 7th Avenue or Church Avenue, the local precincts have agreed to increase their presence, particularly during the darker evening hours.

If you chose to walk from 7th Avenue or Church Avenue during service suspensions in the spring, but you are concerned about the longer walk in the evening, you may want to instead consider “backriding” – taking the train to Church Avenue and then taking a northbound local train back to your station – allowing you to walk home along a shorter, more familiar route.

And remember that you can reach out to volunteer organizations for an escort, depending on your location and time: Safe Walk, RightRides, Brooklyn Bike Patrol, and K9WaTch.

Tags: IND Culver Line, MTA, service changes
See All: Transportation