MTA Announces Five-Weekend Service Overhaul for 1, 2, and 3 Subway Lines

New York City transit riders should prepare for significant service adjustments on the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines over the next five weekends. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the disruptions are scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. each Friday and continue until 5:00 a.m. the following Monday, concluding on August 24.

Under the current plan, 1 train service will be truncated, with trains terminating at 14th Street. The 2 train will not operate south of 34th Street, and 3 train service will be suspended entirely during these weekend windows. To mitigate the impact, the MTA intends to extend 5 train service into Brooklyn, providing local stops as far as Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College. Riders typically reliant on the 3 line are encouraged to utilize the 4 line as an alternative.

In addition to weekend work, the MTA has scheduled regular weeknight service changes for the 1, 2, and 3 lines through August 21. MTA President of Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Springer described the project as a vital effort to maintain the system’s state of good repair, noting that the work is being performed during periods of lower ridership to minimize inconvenience.

However, the announcement has sparked a dispute regarding communication protocols. Councilmember Christopher Marte, representing Lower Manhattan, expressed frustration over the notification timeline, stating his office was not briefed on the changes until July 2. "Weekend service changes on the 1, 2 and 3 trains will affect thousands of Lower Manhattan residents, yet our office was only given a three week notice and we did not receive a briefing," Marte said in a statement.

In response, MTA spokesperson Eugene Resnick maintained that the agency had notified relevant community boards and elected officials, including Marte’s office, as early as June 22. NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow emphasized the necessity of the upgrades, citing the age of the system and the ongoing requirement for infrastructure maintenance to ensure continued operation.