June 12, 2018 By Tara Law
The MTA has confirmed that the 30th and 36th Avenue (N/W) subway stations will reopen on June 22, and the Broadway and 39th Avenue (N/W) stations will close for eight months starting July 2.
The $150 million overhaul of the four stations, which began with the closure of the 30th and 36th Avenue stations in October, includes structural and cosmetic repairs and improvements to the outdoor stations’ platforms and buildings.
The MTA announced previously that it would open the 30th and 36th Avenue stations in June and close the Broadway and 39th Avenue stations in July, but it did not confirm the exact dates.
Many residents have questioned whether the repairs have been worth the inconvenience of the closures. Some of the project’s harshest critics say that the overhaul involves merely “cosmetic” changes.
The MTA contends that the repairs are necessary to preserve the structural integrity of the stations, which have not undergone extensive repairs since they were opened in 1917. The work includes repair and replacement of steel beams and columns, staircases, platforms, open-air canopies and concrete, according to the MTA.
“These outdoor stations have deteriorated after more than a century of snowstorms, rain, sun, wind and daily foot traffic,” said NYC Transit President Andy Byford in a statement. “We thank our customers for their patience while we make these repairs and improvements; once these projects are done, major defects will be fixed and these stations will be in a renewed state for the local community to use for decades to come.”
The work at Broadway and and 39th Avenue will include repairs to the track and platform girders, new concrete slabs above the mezzanines, upgraded power service, new digital signage and renovated turnstile areas. A new street entrance will be installed at the Broadway station.
The station reopenings is a relief to business owners located near the 30th and 36th Avenue stations who say that revenue dropped during the outages due to a loss in foot traffic. The affected business owners warn, however, that the problems will only be passed on to Broadway and 39th Avenue restaurants and stores.
Earlier this month, Roseann McSorley of Katch Gastropub and Eatery on Newtown Avenue (by the 30th Avenue Station) warned that the businesses near Broadway and 39th Avenue need to be proactive about reaching out to the MTA and taking steps to boost their businesses.
“They’re all going to be experiencing the same thing we’ve been experiencing,” McSorley said. “They’ve got to get ahead of it.”
The MTA conducted a weekly conference call with McSorley’s organization, “30th Avenue Blind Eye” which was formed in response to the closures. During the call, the MTA has updated McSorley and other business owners about the project’s progress.
Businesses along 30th Avenue are currently organizing a restaurant week to publicize the reopening and to encourage customers to return.
About 30 bars and restaurants are expected to offer prix fixe menus, discounts and specials from June 22 to July 1.
Meanwhile, Astoria’s commuters will spot ongoing repairs to the Ditmars Boulevard and Astoria Boulevard Stations.
The Ditmars Boulevard (N/W) station is remaining open while undergoing repairs. The repairs, which began in April, are scheduled to be completed in June 2019. The Astoria Boulevard (N/W) station is also undergoing a 14-month renovation, which will include a 9-month closure.
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16 Comments
I can’t believe they didn’t put in elevators. Instead of using money on touch screens that hardly anyone uses they should have put it towards an elevator. This is a disservice to people with disabilities, the elderly, people with strollers and heavy luggage. Also, the canopies should have been extended. People have to wait out in the burning sun and pouring rain.
I finally walked through 30th ave. The punch list of things still left to do is staggering. On all fronts: structural, electrical (new LEDs already failing in panels), missing or broken tiles. And, has anyone noticed the space between each panel? What is the winter wind going to be like through that?
Thank you MTA. Many Astorians appreciate the renovations you made!
I hope that new entrance planned for the Broadway station leads up from the Northeast corner of the intersection (the only corner where there is no staircase now) – with all those new apartment houses on 31 Street, that’s where the entrance is most needed. That temporary staircase by the McDonald’s is totally useless.
nd there still no single elevator. MTA stations are not friendly if you’re old, disabled or have a baby with you. I don’t understand why this took 9 months? PS. in 1930 it only took them 1 year to build the Empire State Building. Shame on you MTA
And during the Great Depression I might add… #Shame #MTA #Unorganized #Corruption
This was a chance to put elevators in and they blew it. I thought it was the law since they make everyone else comply.
A “cosmetic repair” used to be when one step on a staircase breaks and takes over two months to have it repaired, so…progress?
Notice that only sections of the platform deck have been replaced, not the entire platform and it’s support. Seems like a terrible way to save costs when those too will need replacement and more money.
i was told by one of the MTA workers that the platforms were not stable so they had to be replaced. but idk why only sections of the platform?!! what a sloppy job.
Closing Astoria Blvd also eliminates any express service needed at rush hour.
The arrangement is an absolute joke. There was barely anything done in the first couple months since closure. Only around May did I started noticing a couple people actually working at the site. It takes over 9 months just to renovate a single station? Seems to me this is a 1 or 2 month job if there was a dedicated crew working on it around the clock.
One or two months you try doing it….
Jason probably would have gotten the job done by himself in 2 months. Bob the Builder probably would have taken 3 months-but that is ok as he is an animated person. I have more faith in a complete stranger on a blog site than I would in anyone who works for the MTA. The MTA is the most corrupt, inept organization out there.
AROUND THE CLOCK…those are the key words. The East side access tunnel is six years behind. Do you see anyone working AROUND THE CLOCK?
Cosmetic repairs but NO ELEVATORS? For shame, MTA.