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The Latest Changes to NYC's Subway

With a new year comes plenty of new changes, and that includes with NYC’s famed (and occasionally infamous) subway system. A new Second Avenue subway? Yes, please! Read on to learn about all the new lines, new stops, and new fares for 2017 that await New York City’s public transit’s future.

Q Train/Second Avenue Line

new second avenue subway line

By Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York - SAS_2643, CC BY 2.0

It’s been a long time coming, but the Q train is finally running along Second Avenue, and Upper East Siders have never been happier. The line opened on January 1st, 2017, changing the Q’s route to run through 63rd St. and at three new stations: 72nd St., 86th St., and 96th St. It begins full-time overnight service on Monday, January 9th, 2017.

W Train

With the Q train being rerouted to the Upper East Side, the W train has made a much welcomed return to New York City. While it only makes stops on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., the Q line now runs from Astoria-Ditmar Boulevard & 31st St. in Queens and continues all the way down to Whitehall St. & Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

7 Train

The 7 train’s extension opened on September 13th, 2015, adding one additional stop to the line’s route. While the 7 train used to end at 7th Ave. and 41st St., it now runs southwest until 34th St. and 11th Ave., where the Hudson Yards are located, and close to the Javits Center.

L Train

While it’s still two years away, the L train is scheduled to temporarily shutdown in January 2019 for 18 months — yup, Williamsburg residents will have to find another route into Manhattan for a year and half during its closure. 2012’s superstorm Sandy flooded the L line’s Canarsie Tunnel under the East River, causing the line’s closure in 2019.

subway nyc changes

Phil Roeder/Flickr

Fare Hike

It costs $2.75 per ride on the NYC subway and bus lines, and the March, 2017 fare hike spared the single ride rate. You can knock the price down a little with the 5% bonus that's added when you buy or add $5.50 or more to a MetroCard. Where the price went up is in 30-day unlimited ride passes (now $121) and 7-day unlimited ride passes (now $32).

metrocard nyc

m01229/Flickr

Tip: How to Avoid Service Interruptions

Delays and service interruptions are common happenings in New York City’s subway system, and while there’s no way to stop them from occurring (technology will occasionally fail and emergencies will happen), you can do your best to avoid them while traveling around the city. Check the MTA’s Service Advisory, which is updated around the clock, to see where to expect delays. Also, be sure to read up on any MTA signage in subway stations in case a train will be running at odd hours or not running at all due to a holiday or construction.

nyc subway sign

Laura Bittner/Flickr

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