South Queens, NY – New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato has spent months coordinating with the MTA to secure alternative transportation routes as the A train is set to be temporarily shut down beginning January 17. For the next 17 weeks, the A train will not run past the Howard Beach Station, impacting Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula. The MTA is conducting major upgrades to help protect the line from future storms and ensure reliable service for over 9,000 daily riders. In lieu of the A train service, Pheffer Amato worked with the MTA to provide several alternative transportation options saying “I was not going to allow anyone to be completely cut off and have no access to public transportation. I appreciate that the MTA worked with our community to provide acceptable alternatives, and more options to follow as we go through this process,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato.

Between Friday night on January 17 and Monday morning on January 20, the following alternative services are available:

• For service to/from affected stations, there will be a free transfer/shuttle buses which will run on three routes:
  • Nonstop between Howard Beach and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
  • Between Howard Beach and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, making all ​ stops: Broad Channel, Beach 90 Street, Beach 67 Street, Beach 60 Street, Beach 44 Street, Beach 36 Street, and Beach 25 Street
  • Between Howard Beach and Rockaway Park-Beach 116 Street, stopping at Broad Channel, Beach 98 Street, and Beach 105 Street

Starting January 20, due in part to the work of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, the following alternatives will be available while the A train is shut down:

• Free shuttle bus service along 2 routes:
  • The Q97 bus which will run between Howard Beach and Far Rockaway
  • The Q109 bus which will run from Howard Beach to Beach 67th Street via Broad Channel and Beach 90th Street
• Tickets from the Far Rockaway LIRR station to Manhattan’s Grand Central/Penn Station or Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal will cost $2.75, less than the current subway fare
• There will be free subway shuttle service across the Rockaway Peninsula in both directions from Beach 116th Street Station to Mott Avenue free of charge during the duration of the construction

The Assemblywoman was also part of the conversation to expand express bus service between the community and Manhattan along the QM15, QM16 and QM17. This will include 36 additional bus trips during the weekday, and 20 additional trips on Saturdays. In addition, the QM15 express buses will make additional stops in both directions throughout Howard Beach and into Arverne, following the same route as the QM17.