4 Subway Lines Will Get More Trains To Cut Wait Times

NEW YORK, NY — The MTA plans to run 16 extra trains on four subway lines starting this fall to reduce wait times and crowding. The A, D, E and F lines will see additional trains running just before and after the typical weekday rush hours starting in November, the transportation authority announced Monday.

Seven bus lines in Queens will also see additional weekend service starting in July as officials adjust to changes in ridership and demand in the city's transit system, the MTA said.

"We’re thrilled to add some additional service for subway and bus riders, and much bigger improvements are on the horizon," Andy Byford, the president of New York City Transit, said in a statement.

The extra subway trips will run in the late morning, mid-afternoon and late evening, hours that don't align with the traditional peak commuting times but still need more trains to serve riders, according to the MTA.

Eight trains will run between 7 and 11 p.m., six will run between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and two will run between 2 and 4 p.m. All the trains will make round trips, meaning there will be additional service in both directions.

Six of the Queens bus lines will see more buses through all or part of the day on Saturday, while the Q65 route will see increased service throughout Sunday. The MTA will also cut Saturday morning service on the Q29 route because of light ridership.

The announcement of increased service comes as fewer New Yorkers are riding the subways and buses while officials work to get the transit system back on its feet.

The subway's average weekday ridership was 5.3 million in the first three months of this year, a 3.6 percent drop from the same period last year, according to MTA figures. Average weekday bus ridership in first quarter fell 7.1 percent from the prior year to 1.8 million.

Byford will likely address the transit system's many woes in his corporate plan to overhaul New York City Transit, which he is set to unveil on Wednesday.

"We regularly tweak schedules based on changes in demand and operating conditions, and the comprehensive plan I’m announcing this week will outline the path towards even more significant improvements to service that will be felt by all of our customers," Byford said.

Here's a breakdown of the additional subway service, which will begin in November.

• Three additional southbound A trains on weekdays between approximately 8:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
• One additional northbound D train on weekdays between approximately 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
• Three additional northbound D trains on weekdays between approximately 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
• Three additional southbound E trains on weekdays between approximately 10:30 a.m. and noon
• One additional northbound F train on weekdays between approximately 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
• Two additional southbound F trains on weekdays between approximately 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• One additional southbound F train on weekdays between approximately 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• Two additional southbound F trains on weekdays between approximately 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

And here's the plan for increased Queens bus service, set to start in July.

• Saturday Q6 frequency will increase throughout the entire day.
• Saturday Q8 frequency will increase in midday, afternoon and evening periods.
• Saturday Q29 frequency will increase in the afternoon period.
• Saturday Q47 frequency will increase throughout the entire day.
• Saturday Q49 frequency will increase in the morning, afternoon and evening periods.
• Saturday Q101 frequency will increase in the midday and afternoon periods.
• Sunday Q65 frequency will increase throughout the day.

(Lead image: Photo by Maria Cormack-Pitts/Patch)