Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
F Train Riders Will Soon Experience Their Version Of The L Train Tunnel Shutdown
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Feb 26, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Feb 26, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
With repairs set to wrap up on the L train in a few months, the MTA will soon turn its attention to the next and final Hurricane Sandy-ravaged subway tunnel. This time, F train riders can expect to bear the brunt of the pain, primarily on nights and weekends.
The long-expected news was confirmed on Wednesday by an MTA spokesperson, who said that repairs will begin on the tube used by the F train starting early next year. The Rutgers Street tunnel, which was flooded by 1.5 million gallons of seawater during Sandy, is the last of the nine tunnels that required fixing.
But this work will be significantly less disruptive than the L Train debacle, according to the spokesperson. The Rutgers tunnel was not as damaged as the Canarsie tube, for one thing, and the F train is surrounded by considerably more tracks where service can be diverted.
The plan, as the CITY first reported on Wednesday, will involve closing off the East Broadway and York Street stations during nights and weekends. F trains will be rerouted over the A/C line between Brooklyn and Manhattan — an annoying but not uncommon occurrence during ongoing weekend work.
The spokesperson said the construction is expected to take just 20 weeks to complete. The agency's request for proposal, however, puts the contract length at 14 months.
The project is slated to cost between $50 and $100 million to complete, which will be covered entirely by federal funding allocated following Hurricane Sandy. That's a lot of mops and buckets.
Tagged
we the commuters
l train
MTA
hurricane sandy
f train
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 1:16 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .