By Gus Saltonstall
Significant changes to a pair of Upper West Side train lines will go into effect at the start of next week.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that weekday rush hour service enhancements will begin on May 18, including for the 2 and 3 train lines.
“Some train trips during AM and PM rush hours are shifting earlier or later across [these] subway lines to better align with ridership patterns,” the MTA wrote in an email to the press, which added that the changes will help more than 1.2 million daily riders.
What does that mean, exactly?
The MTA is adding one northbound 2 train trip each hour from 6 to 7 a.m., 7 to 8 a.m., 8 to 9 a.m., and 5 to 6 p.m. It is also eliminating one northbound 2 train from 5 to 6 a.m., 9 to 10 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.
Changes are also coming to the 3 train line.
The MTA is adding one northbound 3 train trip from 7 to 8 a.m., 7 to 8 p.m., and 9 to 10 p.m., while removing a northbound 3 train from 10 to 11 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.
The state agency is then adding one southbound 3 train trip from 5 to 6 a.m., 7 to 8 a.m., 6 to 7 p.m., and 7 to 8 p.m., but removing a southbound 3 train trip from 8 to 9 a.m., 9 to 10 a.m., and 4 to 5 p.m.
An additional weekday change will see the MTA operate five southbound 2 train trips on the local track between Times Square-42nd Street and Chambers Street between 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. to reduce the possibility that the 2 and 3 trains will delay one another.
There are also changes coming to the 4 and 5 lines, but those don’t make stops on the Upper West Side.
You can check out a full breakdown of the changes — HERE.
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