NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- After weeks of big service cuts on New York City's subway lines, things are set to get closer to back to normal on Wednesday.
The MTA announced Tuesday the restoration of full weekday service on the A, B, J and Z lines as well as express service on the 6 and 7, beginning Wednesday.
As of now, the W line remains suspended, but riders can take the N in Queens and N/Q/R in Manhattan instead. Officials said they hoped the W would be back "soon."
The MTA said that in order to keep service at all of its nearly 500 stations as omciron cases surged and forced employees off the job, service was completely suspended on the B and Z lines, as well as the rush hour Rockaway Park branch of the A line.
The service changes, which began late last year, did not totally cut service at any station — the MTA said the C, D, J, Q and S trains subbed in for those lost on the B, Z and A.
On the J, rush hour and weekday skip-stop express service was suspended, which is when some stations are served by J trains, some are served by the Z and some are served by both. Weekday express service on the 6 in the Bronx and rush hour express on the 7 in Queens.
Acting MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said Tuesday that employee availability has gone way back up within the past few days.
"We have gone from 14% of our train operator and conductor workforce being out due to COVID down to 7% and the numbers continue to drop every day."
Transit officials said Tuesday that the service restoration comes as ridership is at its highest levels since omicron hit the area. Last Thursday, ridership was over 2.5 million, still down from the pandemic record of 3.4 million set earlier in December.
The MTA has not faced a mandate for vaccines, since the agency is run by the state, not the city. Gov. Kathy Hochul said late in 2021 that there were no plans to start such a mandate.
