Just in time for summer, the A train in southwest Queens and the Rockaways is back in service.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and officials from the MTA went on the line’s opening ride on May 19, the first one since it underwent a four-month repair job that kept it out of service between Howard Beach-JFK Airport, Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, and Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street since Jan. 17.
The Rockaway Park Shuttle also reopened.
“We took a beautiful, smooth train ride across Jamaica Bay,” Hochul said during a sunny Monday morning press conference. “This train is an artery for this area. I spoke to people who want to live out here because it is spectacularly beautiful, but they work sometimes an hour away. But they can get there with reliability now.”
The Rockaway line, which includes the A and shuttle service, connects the Rockaway peninsula with the rest of NYC. It transports nearly 12,500 riders every day.
Over 200 construction workers overhauled the train over 17 weeks to make it more resilient to storms, flooding and climate change. The viaduct and swing bridge connecting the Rockaway Peninsula with the rest of Queens needed comprehensive rehabilitation and repair work to ensure these structures withstand future extreme weather events, officials said.
Laborers worked in two, 10-hour shifts every day to compete the job, which was part of the agency’s $68.4 billion capital plan, before Memorial Day.
“This is another example of how government can get things done,” Hochul said.
Future weekend outages
MTA officials said there will be future weekend outages to do additional work, including new interlocking infrastructure and a signal tower,
The entire project is expected to be complete by late 2026.
The South Channel Bridge
One of the key updates to the construction is the revamped South Channel Bridge, which swings open to let boats through Jamaica Bay.
However, the 65-year-old bridge’s infrastructure often caused delays in returning it to its closed position, resulting in service disruptions on the A-line. MTA officials said the improvements made during the four-month construction work will make the bridge “more dependable.”
The elevated Hammels Wye was also given a makeover. According to the MTA, the new structure is comprised of 250 tons of steel, 1,600 feet of reconstructed structure rail, 37 steel girders, 700 concrete ties, and 856 tons of stone ballast. Signals and power systems were modernized and rebuilt, enabling this section of the A-line to be equipped with Communication-Based Train Control in the future.
“The Rockaway project reflects what the new MTA is doing, delivering capital work on-time and on-budget with minimal impacts to customers and maximum benefit,” Janno Lieber, MTA president and CEO Janno Lieber said “The line is now fully rebuilt and better prepared to withstand the extreme conditions we are facing in the age of climate change.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards grew up in the southeast part of the borough and said he can relate to the residents of Rockaway who endured the train shutdown. But he also welcomed and applauded the reopened train’s improvements.
“I know what it’s like to be stuck in Rockaway when the A train is delayed or down,” he said. “So to everyone who was figuring out other ways to get around, I know your pain. But what I want all of us to do today is to feel relief and a peace of mind finally, because the MTA did deliver this restoration work on budget and on time.”
During the outage, the MTA provided alternative service options for commuters, including a fare-free shuttle train that went to all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
NYC Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers said she was “thrilled” about the return of service.
“My office worked closely with transit officials and my fellow elected leaders to elevate rider concerns and improve bus service during the outage,” she said. “The restoration of full A train service is a win for our community, and I’ll continue fighting for reliable, resilient transit in the Rockaways and across our city.”
