Several Weeks Ahead of Schedule, 7 Train Service on Weekends Resumes

After community and political leaders raised their voices in opposition to regular service disruptions, the MTA announced it would wrap up what was scheduled to be nine weeks of service disrupting maintenance after only five weeks of track work.

 

“Yesterday’s announcement by the MTA that 7 train weekend service will resume represents a great victory for the people of Long Island City and Western Queens,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “It’s also a profound victory for small businesses and cultural organizations that rely on weekend customers to survive.” 

 

The disruptions eliminated weekend service between Queens Boro Plaza and Grand Central Station, stranding thousands of residents in Western Queens and choking small businesses and cultural organizations.

 

The service cuts, which began after little more than ten days notice, angered residents and political leaders and resulted in a relentless campaign spearheaded by Council Member Van Bramer to restore weekend service as soon as possible. After holding a press conference with Council Speaker Quinn and Assembly Member Catherine Nolan, Council Member Van Bramer met privately with the MTA and pressed them to attend a town hall meeting so that MTA officials could hear about the community’s concerns directly from its residents. At the town hall, officials from the MTA promised to do their best to finish work causing disruptions on the 7 line ahead of schedule by three weeks. 

 

Thanks to the intense and sustained pressure by Council Member Van Bramer, Assembly Member Nolan, Speaker Quinn, and community members, the MTA has now held true to its promise to finish track work on the 7 line.

 

 “The early completion by the MTA of this track work is a huge relief for the residents and business owners of Northwest Queens,” said Speaker Quinn. “While we understand the necessity of improving our transit system, it must be done in a way that impacts New Yorkers as little as possible. Hopefully, the next time the system needs such significant improvements, the MTA will remember the concerns that arose from the 7 train closure, and hopefully it will be compelled to think twice about how maintenance schedules aversely affect customers.”

 

“I was pleased to hear that the MTA has completed work on the 7 Line earlier then scheduled,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.  “This will help the residents of Queens return to their normal travel routes on the weekend. I look forward to continuing to work with City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, other community leaders and the residents of Queens to ensure that the voices of people are heard on transportation issues.”   

Council Member Van Bramer vowed to keep up the fight. “I'd like to thank everyone who joined us in fighting against these service disruptions. I believe that our collective voices were heard. I'd like to thank the MTA workers who completed this work ahead of schedule. I will continue to advocate on behalf of the people of my district for more reliable mass transit service and I will work with the MTA on those issues as yet unresolved including noise coming from the 7 train tunnel.”