Upgraded Signals Will Provide More Dependable Service for 160,000 Daily Riders
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow and MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer greeted customers at the Metropolitan Av Station on the first morning of full train service following the line’s series of partial 24/7 shutdowns, which allowed the Authority to complete major repairs and signal upgrades across the entire line.
During that time, the MTA completed three phases of 24/7 outages for nine and a half weeks along the line to perform critical signal modernization and state of good repair work. The $368 million project to replace 1930s era signal infrastructure with state-of-the-art Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) will dramatically improve train service and reliability for the line’s 160,000 daily riders.
“Projects like these to upgrade signals and modernize the subway system ensure customers will have more dependable service for many years to come,” said NYC Transit Interim President Demetrius Crichlow. “I want to thank train riders for their patience this summer and also credit train czar Hugo Zamora and his team for their work ensuring customers had the smoothest possible experience during these outages.”
“Crews worked around the clock to deliver this project in the most cost-effective way while minimizing long-term impacts to riders,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “Replacing century-old signals and infrastructure is key to modernizing our system and improving service reliability.”
"The fact that this project was delivered on time, and the fact that we've created a new model of collaboration here, not only with new leadership, but with elected officials to ensure that our constituents were adequately informed every step of the way,” said NY State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “I think this will set a new standard for what the future of the MTA can look like, the future of transit can look like; something that is on time, reliable, fast, and of course, as you heard modern. The investments that have been put into this train line ensure that we're bringing it into the 21st century with critical upgrades."
“The train is back! I was so happy this morning, I got into the train station, took the train here and had Pharrell’s “Happy” song in my head with an extra bounce in my step,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “For many residents in our community, especially for people in Greenpoint, the train is our sole lifeline. Elected officials worked hand in glove with the MTA to make sure there was strong communication and reliable and frequent bus service so we could make this wonderful and necessary investment.”
"The train is back in business and right on schedule! I commend the MTA for the significant progress they made upgrading and modernizing the line during the shutdown, and for working with our office and other stakeholders on making this summer's disruptions as painless as possible,” said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. “When the project is fully complete, riders can expect faster, more reliable service along the entire line — exactly the kind of investment our entire mass transit system deserves."
“The train is a critical transit line for my district and the CBTC signal upgrades will help commuters across Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy,” said Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest. “I am pleased that we have reached the end of the phase three shutdowns on schedule and look forward to the completion of this important project."
Work on this signal modernization project will continue until Q3 2027. Since the shutdown began on June 28, the project team has successfully installed modern signal equipment across the entire line and completed critical state of good repair work, including the reconstruction of the Court Square interlocking and approximately 30 miles of track. Much of the signals on the train date back to the line’s debut in the 1930s and have been a frequent source of service disruptions and delays.
This project upgraded signals and associated signal infrastructure to state-of-the-art CBTC. This is MTA Construction & Development’s first design-build signal modernization project, and innovative contracting methods like design-build allow the MTA to contain project costs while limiting service disruption and impacts to customers.
In addition to CBTC work, NYC Transit took advantage of service outages to perform Re-NEW-vation upgrades, repairs, and deep cleanings at 10 subway stations along the line including:
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Scraping, priming and painting 233,645 square feet of platform, track and mezzanine ceiling
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Replacing 9,495 tiles
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Scraping, priming and painting 1,802 station columns
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Converting 4,858 LED lamps
Suspending service in segments allowed the MTA to complete upgrades much more efficiently and quickly than limited overnight and weekend outages. Some weekend and overnight service outages will occur as the project continues, beginning with 9:45 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. work the week of September 16. Details can be found at mta.info.