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| L Train Slowdown: The Subway Suffering Begins Now | L Train Slowdown: The Subway Suffering Begins Now |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| After years of planning and a last-minute curveball from the governor, New York City is about to find out what happens when one of its most vital subway lines goes into partial hibernation. | After years of planning and a last-minute curveball from the governor, New York City is about to find out what happens when one of its most vital subway lines goes into partial hibernation. |
| The future of the L train has set off trepidation among the 400,000 subway riders who use it each day. Starting on Friday night, the tunnel that links Brooklyn and Manhattan on the line was partly shutting down on nights and weekends, with far fewer trains at those times for more than a year. | The future of the L train has set off trepidation among the 400,000 subway riders who use it each day. Starting on Friday night, the tunnel that links Brooklyn and Manhattan on the line was partly shutting down on nights and weekends, with far fewer trains at those times for more than a year. |
| As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority starts to make repairs, riders are anxious about the prospect of huge crowds at busy stations and the possibility of hazardous dust, and they are uncertain how long the construction will last and whether the Monday morning commute will be disrupted. | As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority starts to make repairs, riders are anxious about the prospect of huge crowds at busy stations and the possibility of hazardous dust, and they are uncertain how long the construction will last and whether the Monday morning commute will be disrupted. |
| Rebecca Pappa, an art therapist who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said she was confused about the plans and worried about getting to work in Manhattan on weekends. | Rebecca Pappa, an art therapist who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said she was confused about the plans and worried about getting to work in Manhattan on weekends. |
| “For me, it’s going to be a pain,” Ms. Pappa said as she rode the L train this week. “I still don’t know exactly what’s happening. There’s been a lot of different information out there.” | “For me, it’s going to be a pain,” Ms. Pappa said as she rode the L train this week. “I still don’t know exactly what’s happening. There’s been a lot of different information out there.” |
| New Yorkers were surprised in January when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called off the L train apocalypse: a full shutdown of the tunnel for 15 months. Instead, Mr. Cuomo offered a new approach that would close one tube at a time and limit the pain to nights and weekends, when trains would run every 20 minutes. | New Yorkers were surprised in January when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called off the L train apocalypse: a full shutdown of the tunnel for 15 months. Instead, Mr. Cuomo offered a new approach that would close one tube at a time and limit the pain to nights and weekends, when trains would run every 20 minutes. |
| The new plan, christened the “L train slowdown” by transit advocates, was cheered by subway riders who will be able to keep their lifeline to Manhattan. But it has also raised questions over safety and whether riders will have reliable alternatives on nights and weekends, when even transit officials have warned of crowding so severe that entrances to stations might be temporarily closed. | The new plan, christened the “L train slowdown” by transit advocates, was cheered by subway riders who will be able to keep their lifeline to Manhattan. But it has also raised questions over safety and whether riders will have reliable alternatives on nights and weekends, when even transit officials have warned of crowding so severe that entrances to stations might be temporarily closed. |
| On the inaugural night of the partial shutdown, riders complained of overcrowded stations, and long waits for trains and confusing information from transit workers, but in general the ordeal was not as painful as many had feared. | |
| “We’ll have a debriefing and it’ll be very honest,’’ said Andy Byford, the subway leader, who was one of several transit officials along the L line on Friday night. “O.K., what went well and what do we need to improve. But you know this is the first night. I’m really pleased with everything so far.” | “We’ll have a debriefing and it’ll be very honest,’’ said Andy Byford, the subway leader, who was one of several transit officials along the L line on Friday night. “O.K., what went well and what do we need to improve. But you know this is the first night. I’m really pleased with everything so far.” |
| But some riders had to wait far longer for trains than transit officials had warned. | But some riders had to wait far longer for trains than transit officials had warned. |
| “This the worst train in the world,’ said Matthew Ming, 35, of Brooklyn. “Because there is always a problem. Now I have to wait 45 minutes. They said train delays are 20 minutes. They are lying.” | “This the worst train in the world,’ said Matthew Ming, 35, of Brooklyn. “Because there is always a problem. Now I have to wait 45 minutes. They said train delays are 20 minutes. They are lying.” |
| Mr. Ming said the new L train schedule will affect him more than most because he works nights and weekends as a security guard at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. He usually tries to get home early enough to kiss his three-year-old daughter good night. Those kisses are part of the past with these delays, he fears. | Mr. Ming said the new L train schedule will affect him more than most because he works nights and weekends as a security guard at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. He usually tries to get home early enough to kiss his three-year-old daughter good night. Those kisses are part of the past with these delays, he fears. |
| The L train repairs will be a major challenge for the transit agency, which has received criticism for completing projects late and over budget. But it is also a test for Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat in his third term who controls the authority and essentially took responsibility for the project when he upended years of preparation and imposed his own plan. | The L train repairs will be a major challenge for the transit agency, which has received criticism for completing projects late and over budget. But it is also a test for Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat in his third term who controls the authority and essentially took responsibility for the project when he upended years of preparation and imposed his own plan. |
| During planning, transit officials had serious concerns that removing concrete in the tunnel would create silica dust, a dangerous mineral that can cause lung cancer. Leaders at the M.T.A. say they are confident that the dust will not pose a risk, but some riders are dubious. | During planning, transit officials had serious concerns that removing concrete in the tunnel would create silica dust, a dangerous mineral that can cause lung cancer. Leaders at the M.T.A. say they are confident that the dust will not pose a risk, but some riders are dubious. |
| Michael Magner, an L train rider who lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said he was concerned about silica dust, especially since there was no independent review of the new construction approach — a process that Mr. Byford had recommended in a move that sparked tension with Mr. Cuomo. Instead, the M.T.A. board eventually hired a consultant to monitor the work. | Michael Magner, an L train rider who lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said he was concerned about silica dust, especially since there was no independent review of the new construction approach — a process that Mr. Byford had recommended in a move that sparked tension with Mr. Cuomo. Instead, the M.T.A. board eventually hired a consultant to monitor the work. |
| “I don’t know enough about exactly how dangerous silica dust is compared to something like asbestos,” Mr. Magner said while riding the subway. “It seems bad, but not as bad as that.” | “I don’t know enough about exactly how dangerous silica dust is compared to something like asbestos,” Mr. Magner said while riding the subway. “It seems bad, but not as bad as that.” |
| The authority’s chief development officer, Janno Lieber, said the plan called for far less removal of concrete than earlier proposals. He said workers would clean up the silica dust and monitor air quality, using the standard established by the federal Department of Labor. | The authority’s chief development officer, Janno Lieber, said the plan called for far less removal of concrete than earlier proposals. He said workers would clean up the silica dust and monitor air quality, using the standard established by the federal Department of Labor. |
| “This is not new stuff — we deal with concrete and its demolition every day, and have well established methods in place to handle this work safely,” Mr. Lieber said in a statement, adding, “We have adopted a hyper-conservative standard, and have every precaution in place to protect workers and the public.” | “This is not new stuff — we deal with concrete and its demolition every day, and have well established methods in place to handle this work safely,” Mr. Lieber said in a statement, adding, “We have adopted a hyper-conservative standard, and have every precaution in place to protect workers and the public.” |
| The new approach, developed by a team of engineers from Columbia and Cornell Universities to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy, will hang the tunnel’s cables from a “racking system” on the wall, instead of encasing them in a concrete structure known as a bench wall. | The new approach, developed by a team of engineers from Columbia and Cornell Universities to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy, will hang the tunnel’s cables from a “racking system” on the wall, instead of encasing them in a concrete structure known as a bench wall. |
| The agency, Mr. Lieber said, had decided to demolish only 1 percent of the existing bench wall and to secure the rest with a substance called fiber reinforced polymer. The agency will post the silica dust levels online once a week to keep the public informed. | The agency, Mr. Lieber said, had decided to demolish only 1 percent of the existing bench wall and to secure the rest with a substance called fiber reinforced polymer. The agency will post the silica dust levels online once a week to keep the public informed. |
| Still, a group of transit workers held a protest at the Bedford Avenue station in Brooklyn this month and wore face masks to call attention to the hazards of silica dust. The authority’s managing director, Veronique Hakim, called their campaign “irresponsible.” | Still, a group of transit workers held a protest at the Bedford Avenue station in Brooklyn this month and wore face masks to call attention to the hazards of silica dust. The authority’s managing director, Veronique Hakim, called their campaign “irresponsible.” |
| “It’s ludicrous to think that we would do anything to put our employees or our customers at risk,” Ms. Hakim said. | “It’s ludicrous to think that we would do anything to put our employees or our customers at risk,” Ms. Hakim said. |
| Subway riders have other concerns. The biggest question is how crowded trains will be on nights and weekends. The transit agency has urged riders to use other subway lines and special buses. | Subway riders have other concerns. The biggest question is how crowded trains will be on nights and weekends. The transit agency has urged riders to use other subway lines and special buses. |
| “It’s going to be a pain in the butt anytime I want to leave my neighborhood on the weekend,” said Amy Lucker, a librarian at New York University who commutes on the L train from Brooklyn. | “It’s going to be a pain in the butt anytime I want to leave my neighborhood on the weekend,” said Amy Lucker, a librarian at New York University who commutes on the L train from Brooklyn. |
| Ms. Lucker said she was doubtful subway workers would finish repairs in time to restart rush hour service every Monday morning. | Ms. Lucker said she was doubtful subway workers would finish repairs in time to restart rush hour service every Monday morning. |
| “Anybody who thinks it’s not going to spill over to the weekdays is deluding themselves,” she said. “It’s going to be general annoyance for at least a year and a half.” | “Anybody who thinks it’s not going to spill over to the weekdays is deluding themselves,” she said. “It’s going to be general annoyance for at least a year and a half.” |
| Mr. Lieber said the construction work would take 15 to 18 months. But it was only on Thursday that the M.T.A. reached a new agreement with Judlau and TC Electric, the contractors who were awarded a $477 million contract for the repairs in 2017. Officials at the M.T.A. refused to release a copy of the contract or to reveal the new cost for the repairs. | Mr. Lieber said the construction work would take 15 to 18 months. But it was only on Thursday that the M.T.A. reached a new agreement with Judlau and TC Electric, the contractors who were awarded a $477 million contract for the repairs in 2017. Officials at the M.T.A. refused to release a copy of the contract or to reveal the new cost for the repairs. |
| On weekdays, there will be fewer trains starting at 8 p.m. The weekend work will start on Friday night and is scheduled to last until 5 a.m. on Monday. | On weekdays, there will be fewer trains starting at 8 p.m. The weekend work will start on Friday night and is scheduled to last until 5 a.m. on Monday. |
| The official subway Twitter account warned this week that “stations will be way more crowded than usual” and that riders might not be allowed to use certain entrances or might have to wait in line before walking through turnstiles to the platform. | The official subway Twitter account warned this week that “stations will be way more crowded than usual” and that riders might not be allowed to use certain entrances or might have to wait in line before walking through turnstiles to the platform. |
| On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced changes to 14th Street in Manhattan to help buses move faster during the L train repairs. Starting in June, the street will have a Select Bus Service route — faster buses where riders pay before boarding — and most private traffic will be banned. | On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced changes to 14th Street in Manhattan to help buses move faster during the L train repairs. Starting in June, the street will have a Select Bus Service route — faster buses where riders pay before boarding — and most private traffic will be banned. |
| New Yorkers who want to enjoy a night out in Williamsburg bars and restaurants will be likely to turn to car pool services offered by ride-hail companies, said Mitchell L. Moss, the director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at New York University. | New Yorkers who want to enjoy a night out in Williamsburg bars and restaurants will be likely to turn to car pool services offered by ride-hail companies, said Mitchell L. Moss, the director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at New York University. |
| “The real winners are Uber Pool and Shared Lyft,” Mr. Moss said. “That’s how people are going to come and go to bars and restaurants.” | “The real winners are Uber Pool and Shared Lyft,” Mr. Moss said. “That’s how people are going to come and go to bars and restaurants.” |
| But those who cannot afford a private car could be stuck on packed trains and buses for hours. Sam Kerins, an actor who lives in Brooklyn, said he would probably switch to the M train. | But those who cannot afford a private car could be stuck on packed trains and buses for hours. Sam Kerins, an actor who lives in Brooklyn, said he would probably switch to the M train. |
| “I can’t afford to Uber everywhere,” he said. | “I can’t afford to Uber everywhere,” he said. |
| Lorenzo Parkers, a maintenance worker who lives in Harlem and commutes on the L train to Brooklyn, said he sometimes worked on the weekend and would have to find a new route — probably involving a 15-minute walk from the A train. | Lorenzo Parkers, a maintenance worker who lives in Harlem and commutes on the L train to Brooklyn, said he sometimes worked on the weekend and would have to find a new route — probably involving a 15-minute walk from the A train. |
| “This is going to make it very inconvenient,” he said. | “This is going to make it very inconvenient,” he said. |
| Some New Yorkers were still debating the merits of Mr. Cuomo’s 11th-hour intervention. Most riders favor his approach because it preserves L train service during the week. But transit experts say the polymer solution might last only 40 years while a total rebuild of the tunnel could have lasted more than 80 years. | Some New Yorkers were still debating the merits of Mr. Cuomo’s 11th-hour intervention. Most riders favor his approach because it preserves L train service during the week. But transit experts say the polymer solution might last only 40 years while a total rebuild of the tunnel could have lasted more than 80 years. |
| Stephanie Rosario, a hearing screener for newborns who lives in Ridgewood, Queens, said Mr. Cuomo should not have thrown out the old plan at the last minute. | Stephanie Rosario, a hearing screener for newborns who lives in Ridgewood, Queens, said Mr. Cuomo should not have thrown out the old plan at the last minute. |
| “I honestly think they should have shut the whole thing down,” she said while riding the L train on a recent afternoon. “If you want to build something and to fix it, then fix it well.” | “I honestly think they should have shut the whole thing down,” she said while riding the L train on a recent afternoon. “If you want to build something and to fix it, then fix it well.” |