The MTA released its full Memorial Day weekend service plan Thursday evening, and three major lines take heavy hits from 11:30 p.m. tonight through Tuesday morning, May 26. The 7 loses its Manhattan run, the J/Z is suspended in two places, and the 4 and 5 are cut back from Bowling Green. If you ride any of these, plan ahead — and if you’re heading to the beach, the Rockaway Park Shuttle is finally extending to Rockaway Blvd for the summer. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Lines Are Affected
- 7 train — No service between 74 St-Broadway (Queens) and 34 St-Hudson Yards from Friday 11:30 p.m. to Monday 10:30 a.m. Free shuttle buses are running.
- J/Z trains — Suspended from Friday 11:30 p.m. to Tuesday 5:00 a.m. due to ADA elevator work at Myrtle Av plus track and structure painting. J service runs in two sections; Z is out.
- 4 train — No service between Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Crown Hts-Utica Av/New Lots Av from Friday 11:30 p.m. to Tuesday 5:00 a.m.
- 5 train — No service between Grand Central-42 St and Bowling Green; cut back to Grand Central as the last stop.
- 3 train — Running all the way to New Lots Av all weekend to fill the 4 train gap.
- Memorial Day, Monday May 25 — Subways operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Summer beach service starts now — Rockaway Park Shuttle (S) extends to Rockaway Blvd starting Saturday; Coney Island-Stillwell Av gets a train every 3 minutes all summer.
7 Train: The Big One in Queens and Manhattan
The 7 line — the lifeline for Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, and Flushing commuters — gets cut in half this weekend for accessibility work, track replacement, track maintenance, and switch maintenance. From 11:30 p.m. Friday, May 22 through 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, there is no 7 service between 74 St-Broadway in Queens and 34 St-Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
What runs:
- 7 trains operate in Queens between Flushing-Main St and 74 St-Broadway, the last stop, every 10 minutes during days and evenings.
- Free shuttle buses run three routes: 74 St-Broadway to Queensboro Plaza making local stops; Queensboro Plaza to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av making local stops; and overnight in Manhattan between Times Sq-42 St and 34 St-Hudson Yards.
- The 42 Street Shuttle (S) will run overnight to fill the Manhattan gap.
- E and F service is more frequent during days and evenings to absorb 7 train riders heading into Manhattan.
J and Z: Suspended in Two Stretches
J and Z service is suspended from 11:30 p.m. Friday through 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26 for elevator ADA work at Myrtle Av, track replacement, and structure painting. The J runs in two disconnected sections:
- Between Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer and Broadway Junction
- Between Marcy Av and Broad St
Free B107 shuttle buses connect Middle Village-Metropolitan Av and Marcy Av. Free T433 shuttle buses connect Broadway Junction and Marcy Av. The Z is out for the entire weekend.
4 and 5: Brooklyn Cut, Manhattan Cut Back
The 4 train won’t run between Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and Crown Hts-Utica Av/New Lots Av from 11:30 p.m. Friday through 5:00 a.m. Tuesday for track switch replacement. The good news: the 3 train will operate all the way to New Lots Av all weekend to cover the eastern Brooklyn portion of the route.
On the 5, there will be no service between Grand Central-42 St and Bowling Green. The 5 will run between Eastchester-Dyre Av and Grand Central-42 St (the last stop) every 12 minutes during days and evenings. If you need to get below Grand Central, transfer to the 4 or 6.
Summer Service Begins This Weekend
Starting Saturday, May 23, the Rockaway Park Shuttle (S) extends to Rockaway Blvd on weekends through Labor Day weekend — a long-requested change that gives Rockaway-bound riders a direct shuttle connection from a major A train stop. Also, the N, Q, and W trains will run every 3 minutes in and out of Coney Island-Stillwell Av every day, including weekends, all summer long.
Memorial Day Schedule
On Monday, May 25, subways operate on a Sunday schedule. Buses also run a Sunday schedule (note: routes that don’t normally run on Sundays will not operate that day). LIRR and Metro-North run on Sunday holiday schedules.
Bottom Line
This is one of the heaviest planned-work weekends of the spring. If your route touches the 7, the J/Z, or the 4/5 below Grand Central, you’ll be on a shuttle bus or a different line for at least part of the trip. Check the MTA app or mta.info before you leave — service is subject to change and the agency typically issues live updates if shuttle buses bunch up or weather slows the work.
