■TRANSPORTATION ONE MORE TIME More 7 train suspensions for the new year BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA AND ANGY ALTAMIRANO It’s déjà vu for No. 7 train riders. The MTA announced in December its latest round of service suspensions on the subway line, which started right after the new year and will continue through the spring. The work is part of three capital improvement projects on the No. 7 train to install a new signal system, replace elevated track, perform infrastructure work, and reconstruct and fortify the Steinway tubes, according to the transit agency. Most of the work is scheduled for the weekend and will disrupt service between Manhattan and Queens during the majority of the suspensions. From Jan. 9-12, Jan. 17-19, Jan. 24-26, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, and Feb. 6-9, there will be no trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza. From Feb. 27-Mar. 2 and Mar. 6-9, service is suspended between Times Square-42nd Street and 74th Street-Broadway. From Mar. 14-16, Mar. 21-23 and Mar. 28-30, there are no trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Hunters Point Avenue. From May 22-25, there will be no service between the Mets- Willets Point and Flushing Main Street. During the suspensions, riders can use the E, F, G, N, Q and R lines as alternative service. There will also be free shuttle buses between Queensboro Plaza and Vernon Boulevard- Jackson Avenue. The service disruptions are continuing despite pleas from western Queens residents and business owners who are fed up with years of constant disruptions on the line. The service disruptions hit Long Island City and its local businesses hard. Though the MTA agreed to a campaign to promote LIC during the shut downs, the agency refused community and politicians’ requests for a shuttle bus from Vernon Boulevard through the Queens Midtown Tunnel into the city to make up for some of the lost subway service. Last year’s suspensions began in late winter and continued through the fall. When they started in early March, Long Island residents and businesses struggled the first weekend. “It hurts us, there’s no doubt about it,” said Jeff Blath, owner of Alobar. “The MTA did not come to us and say, ‘What works the best for you guys?’ It’s just a multitude of problems and no communication.” Now this time around, residents are feeling neglected by the transit agency and say they have to start thinking of ways to get around without depending on the No. 7 line. “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but we all knew the MTA would do this to us again,” said 27-year-old Stefanie Torres, a LIC resident. “They forget about Long Island City.” Photo by Angy Altamirano
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