MTA N Stations on Sea Beach Line Enter Final Phase of $395.7M Renovations
During the renovations, southbound N trains will run express from 8 Av to Coney Island-Stillwell Av at all hours, making stops at 8 Av, Bay Pkwy and Coney Island-Stillwell Av. For southbound service to Fort Hamilton Pkwy, New Utrecht Av, 18 Av, 20 Av, Kings Hwy, Avenue U and 86 St, customers can transfer to northbound trains at 8 Av, Bay Pkwy and Coney Island-Stillwell Av. Although 8 Av and Bay Pkwy are part of the 9-station renovation project, they will continue to provide southbound service via temporary platforms on the middle track. Customers also are encouraged to use nearby stations on the D F lines.
The nine stations, which serve a total of nearly 53,000 weekday customers, will get new accessibility-compliant platforms, brighter lighting, new stairs and new paint. Some platforms will have new canopies with architectural finishes, new windscreens or new glass fiber-reinforced concrete wall panels. When the renovation project is complete, every station will feature new artwork and two stations will be fully ADA accessible. Two ADA-compliant ramps will be added to the 8 Av station, and four elevators will be installed at the New Utrecht Av station to ease transfers between the D and N lines.
“The Sea Beach corridor opened over 100 years ago and needs to be brought into a state of good repair while adding new amenities and technology to improve our customers’ experience,” MTA Interim Executive Director Ronnie Hakim said. “When the work is finished at all nine stations and the tracks that connect them, our customers will see brighter, cleaner and safer stations and experience a smoother, more reliable ride, while our mobility impaired customers will be able to access that part of the Sea Beach line by using new ramps and new elevators.”
For these stations, originally opened in 1915, renovations include improved platforms and overpasses, new stairways and handrails, repairs to canopies and columns, painting and the rehabilitation of historic head house station entrances and fare control areas, enhanced safety features, and upgraded communication systems which will create better travel conditions for customers. Work will also take place between stations with repairs to retaining walls along the right of way.
The entire 9-station project is expected to be completed in late 2018. To minimize disruptions for customers, work was scheduled in two phases so that customers could continue to access the affected stations in at least one direction during the construction. Work began first on the Manhattan-bound platforms and track infrastructure in January 2016, and those renovated platforms reopened to service on May 22.
In the days before, during and after the start of the service change, MTA New York City Transit personnel will be on site at every affected station during mornings and evenings to answer questions and provide assistance. Customers who use non-MTA travel apps or trip planners should note that these unaffiliated third-party apps may not accurately reflect the service changes or display the best alternative service routes.
The renovation project was funded through the 2010-2014 MTA Capital Program. MTA New York City Transit will work closely with the project’s two contractors to ensure a timely completion of all renovations. John P. Picone Inc. is rehabilitating the six stations between 8 Av and Bay Pkwy, and Skanska USA is responsible for the rehabilitation of Kings Hwy, Avenue U and 86 St.