By Michael V. Cusenza
The anticipated completion of the $400 million Metropolitan Transportation Authority Rockaway Line Rehabilitation & Resiliency Project is on the horizon, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently noting that the A train will begin running between Howard Beach and the Rockaway Peninsula again as soon as Memorial Day.
The massive 17-week undertaking began in January.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel, A-train riders!” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) tweeted.
Following extensive damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, emergency work to repair the Rockaway Line was completed in subsequent months. However, many components of the critical line are over 65 years old and must undergo overhauls to weather the effects of increasingly intense storms, flooding, and climate change. The viaduct and bridge connecting the Rockaway Peninsula with the rest of Queens required extensive rehabilitation and repair work to ensure these structures withstand future extreme weather events.
All trains to the peninsula must cross Hammels Wye, an elevated structure that allows for service to split between west-bound to Rockaway Park and east-bound to Far Rockaway. Decades of exposure to the elements have caused significant wear and tear to the structure requiring it to be completely reconstructed. 250 tons of steel reconstructed 1,600 feet of structure as new rail and signal equipment was installed. A complete reconstruction could only be safely and efficiently done during a service outage. Alternative plans resulted in adding years to the total project timeline. This assessment was also reached by an external panel of industry experts.
The South Channel Bridge must swing open to allow boats to cross Jamaica Bay. Aging mechanical and electrical infrastructure causes delays in returning the bridge to its closed position resulting in service disruptions to the A Rockaway line. MTA Construction & Development capitalized on the time needed to repair Hammels Wye to overhaul the electrical and mechanicals components of the bridge providing more dependable functionality and ensuring more reliable service for A train riders.
Other components of the Rockaway Line Resiliency and Rehabilitation project include repairs to the Rockaway Viaduct and fortifications to embankments washed out by Superstorm Sandy.
To accommodate the critical resiliency and rehabilitation work on the viaduct and bridge across Broad Channel, A trains have not run between Howard Beach–JFK Airport, Far Rockaway–Mott Av and Rockaway Park–Beach 116 St. since Jan. 17.
For the duration of the project, the authority has provided free shuttle bus service will be available to riders along two routes. The Q97 has run between Howard Beach and Far Rockaway via Nassau Expressway. The Q109 has run from Howard Beach to Beach 67 St. via Broad Channel and Beach 90 St.
LIRR has offered steep discounts for trips at Far Rockaway Station on the Far Rockaway Branch, bringing the cost of a ride to $2.75, less than the cost of a subway ride.
MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said the agency could not “wait any longer to protect the Rockaway Line from the threats of climate change. This project will ensure safe, reliable transit in the Rockaways for decades to come and MTA C&D will deliver it better, faster, and cheaper.”
