NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — There will be no A train service to the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens for four months next year due to infrastructure developments, the MTA announced, disrupting the commute for over 9,000 daily passengers.
Beginning on Jan. 17, 2025, A trains will not run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and either of the line’s final stops, Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue or Rockaway Park-Beach 116 Street.
The suspension will last until May, the MTA said. During the same timeframe the Rockaway Park Shuttle trains will also not run to and from Broad Channel.
The closure entirely cuts off the peninsula from the MTA’s subway system and will bring challenges for residents who already have the longest commute time in the city, a 2022 report by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found. And in 2019, over 89% of employed residents worked outside the peninsula.
According to the MTA, the service disruption is necessary to repair extensive damage suffered by the Rockaway line in 2012 during Superstorm Sandy.
"Emergency repairs restored service seven months after the storm," the MTA said. "However, the viaducts and bridge that carry trains across Broad Channel need major upgrades to help protect the line from future storms and ensure reliable service."
Alternative transit options include the NYC Ferry, Long Island Rail Road and buses, but two free shuttles will also become available for the duration of the suspension.
The Q97 will run nonstop between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, and the Q109 will run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Beach 67th Street, stopping at Broad Channel and Beach 90th Street.
New York City Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Power will be joined by other elected officials and the MTA at a Town Hall at the Rockaway YMCA on Nov. 14 to discuss the service change.
