NYC Subway Summer (G) train Shutdown: What to Know

The MTA has recently announced that the (G) train will shut down in stages from June 28th to September 3rd in order to facilitate signal upgrades.

Wait… What new signals?

The (G) train will be getting communications based train control (CBTC) signaling. CBTC allows trains to run automatically with moving block signals, and so they allow for more frequent and faster-moving service. A major transit network using CBTC is the Paris Metro lines 1, 4, and 14, in addition to the NYC Subway (L) and (7) lines. CBTC is also active on parts of the (E), (F), (M), and (R) trains.

Stage 1:

(G) trains won’t run from Court Square to Nassau Avenue from June 28th to July 5th. Trains will NOT stop at Court Square, 21st Street - Van Alst, and Greenpoint Avenue. Free B94 Shuttle Busses make all of these stops. For a subway link from Brooklyn to Queens, a free out-of-system transfer is available from Broadway (G) and Hewes Street (J) (M) (Z) and Lorimer Street (J) (M) (Z). For Eastern Queens, take a Queens bound (J) or (Z) train from Lorimer Street to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport or Jamaica Center-Parsons Blvd and exit there, take the LIRR or AirTrain, or use the (E) train to get to your destination. For service to Western Queens, take a Manhatten bound (M) train from Hewes Street to your destination in Queens. For 21st Street, walk from Court Square-23rd Street. For stations along the (7), transfer at 42nd Street-Bryant Park using the passageway to 5th Avenue (7) instead of at Court Square for a faster commute. For stations along Queens Blvd, use the (M) or for express stations, transfer at any station from 5th Avenue - 53rd Street to Queens Plaza for a Jamaica Center bound (E) express train.

Stage 2:

(G) trains won’t run from Court Square to Bedford-Nostrand Avenues from July 5th to August 12th. This is basically a worse stage 1, with trains not stopping at Court Square, 21st Street, Greenpoint Avenue, Nassau Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street, Broadway, Flushing Avenue, and Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues. Free shuttle busses will run, signed as B98 this time, making all stops. You can renter the subway for free at Court Square (E) (M) (7), Hewes Street (J) (M) (Z), Lorimer Street (J) (M) (Z), Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street (L), or Bedford Nostrand Avenues (G). Trains run from Bedford-Nostrand Avenues to Church Avenue. As an alternative, use shuttle busses or take (A) or (C) trains from Hoyt Schermerhorn Streets to Manhattan and then transfer to a Queens bound (E) train.

Stage 3:

(G) trains won’t run from Bedford-Nostrand Avenues to Church Avenue from August 12th to September 3rd. Trains won’t stop at Classon Avenue, Clinton-Washington Avenues, Fulton Street, Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets, ​​Bergen Street, Carroll Street, ​Smith-9th Streets, ​4th Avenue-9th Street, 7th Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Church Avenue. Free shuttle busses run as B93s, making all (G) stops from Bedford-Nostrand Avenues to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets and then running to Jay Street-Metrotech (A) (C) (F). You can renter the subway for free at all downtown Brooklyn stations.

For a map of all changes, visit https://new.mta.info/map/34261. Let’s hope that this summer of changes comes through and we get better signals soon!