How To Get Around During The L Train Repairs: A Commuter's Guide

L TRAIN CORRIDOR, NY — Are you one of the 400,000 daily L train riders? Are you still confused about whether or not you can rely on the L?

The cancelation of a full L train shutdown may be a relief for some straphangers — but service will still be reduced on weeknights and weekends until at least summer 2020. Patch’s guide to the L train project breaks down some of the alternatives and goes over the upcoming L train schedule, per the MTA.

Below is a map from the MTA of the service alternatives:

So, for riders who are still freaking out about how to get to Manhattan’s west side or across the East River into Brooklyn, here’s Patch’s commuter guide to the L train project:

Is the L train shutting down?

The L train won’t be completely shutting down between Bedford and Eighth Aves. as originally planned, but it will have slower service on nights and weekends for about the same length of time.

Transit officials originally believed completely closing the subway line between Bedford and Eighth Aves. was the only feasible way to make needed repairs to the Canarsie tunnel, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy. But, earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo commissioned a group of experts to review the plans and announced that they had found a way to make the upgrades without fully shutting down the tunnel.

Instead, contractors will close down and work on only one of the train’s two tunnels — leaving the other open for L service.

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When will L train service slow down? How often and when will the L train run?

The L train project officially begins April 26.

But starting Monday, April 15, the MTA began shutting down weeknight service between Lorimer St. and Eighth Ave. The overnight work ahead of the L project involves preparing the tunnel for rehabilitation work, according to the MTA.

Here’s the latest:

April 15 - 26

10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, no L service between Lorimer St. and Eighth Ave.

Between Brooklyn and Manhattan, MTA recommends taking the A, F or J train. In Manhattan, take the M14 bus. In Brooklyn, the L will still run between Lorimer St. and Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy. Free shuttle buses will run between the Lorimer St. G/L, Bedford Ave., Marcy Ave. J and Hewes St. J.

April 26 through summer 2020

The L will run normally weekdays 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., service will gradually reduce from typical service to every 20 minutes.

Weeknights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the L will run every 20 minutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Trains run every 10 minutes in Brooklyn until 1:30 a.m., when they start running every 20 minutes.

Weekends from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the L will run every 20 minutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Trains run every 10 minutes in Brooklyn until 1:30 a.m., when they start running every 20 minutes.

How long will the L train repairs last?

MTA officials are still negotiating with the contractors, but have said the new L train plan will take about the same amount of time as the originally-planned shutdown was expected to take — or 15 to 18 months. An MTA official told a Brooklyn community board last month that this means the tunnel repairs will be done by June or September 2020.

How can I get from Brooklyn to Manhattan without the L train?

If you don’t feel like waiting 20 minutes for an L train on nights and weekends, getting out of the borough will be all about finding the best way to transfer to another subway line heading into Manhattan.

To accommodate this, the MTA has promised more M, G and 7 service during weeknights and on the weekends. M service into Manhattan will be extended between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. and it will also use the Q line to head up to 96 St instead of stopping at Queens Boulevard. On the weekends it will also run to 96 St. and will come every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day. On the G train, there will be five additional trips between 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on weeknights and it will run every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day on weekends. The 7 train will also have an additional five trips after 8:30 p.m. on weeknights until midnight.

Of course, choosing which other train to take all depends what station you use.

Here are the options:

From Bedford Avenue and Lorimer Street stations: The best bet will be heading to the J or M train at either Marcy Ave. or Hewes St. station.

The MTA has set up two free new buses, the B91 and B92, that will make the rounds between the Bedford, Lorimer, Marcy and Hewes stations between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights and over the weekend. Weeknights, the buses will come every 9 minutes between 8 and 9 p.m., every 5 minutes between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. and every 10 minutes between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. On weekends, they’ll be available every 10 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., every 3 minutes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., every 5 minutes between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. and every 10 minutes between 12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.

Riders can also use the G train to get to the J or M by a new free transfer option between the Broadway G station and the Hewes St. or Lorimer St. M station.

Between Lorimer Street and Dekalb Avenue: Traveling will be a little more difficult for stations in this area. The MTA advises going to the nearest M station, but how to get there is up to you. For Graham Avenue, Grand Avenue or Montrose Avenue riders who don’t want to walk or bike to the M, the best option might be taking the L — which will still run every 10 minutes between Canarsie and Lorimer until 1:30 a.m. — over to Lorimer Street to use one of the new buses to get to the Hewes Street or Marcy Avenue. For riders from the Morgan Avenue, Jefferson Street or Dekalb Avenue stations, it could also be worth backtracking a few stations on the L to transfer to the M at Myrtle Wyckoff Avenue.

The MTA also suggests using the G train to transfer to the 7 at Court Square for these riders.

Between Dekalb Avenue and Bushwick Avenue: These riders should still use the L train — which will come every 10 minutes between Lorimer and Canarsie until 1:30 a.m. — to get to Myrtle Wyckoff Avenue and transfer to the M.

Between Bushwick Avenue and Canarsie Rockaway Parkway: These riders can use the L train — which will come every 10 minutes between Lorimer and Canarsie — to transfer to the A, C or J lines at the Broadway Junction. Or, there is a new free transfer option at Livonia Avenue to transfer to the 3 train’s Junius Street station.

How can I get from Manhattan to Brooklyn without the L train?

Taking a bus to another train that goes to Brooklyn is the main option on nights and weekends if you don't want to wait for the L.

Those options include the M14 bus routes in Manhattan, the Williamsburg Link in Brooklyn and the M, J, G, and 7 trains.

The M14 A/D combined runs every 3 to 5 minutes, M every 8 minutes, J every 10 minutes, G every 8 minutes, and 7 every 4 minutes. The Williamsburg Link runs every 3 minutes.

Here are the options, by station:

From First and Third Avenue into Brooklyn: Take the M14 A/D to the Delancey-Essex St. F/J/M trains.

From Union Square: If you miss the L train, the 14th St.-Union Square station has connections available to the N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, and 6 trains. Riders can take the NQRW to 34th St.-Herald Square for an M train. Or, riders can take the M14 A/D to the Delancey-Essex St. F/J/M trains.

From 14th St.-6th Avenue: Take the M train from this station. Riders can also use the M14 A/D buses to travel within Manhattan.

From Eighth Avenue: Take the ACE train from this station to get to Downtown Brooklyn, or transfer at West 4th St. to take the M train. Riders can also use the M14 A/D buses to travel within Manhattan.

Have doubts about taking the bus to another train along one of the city’s busiest corridors?

The MTA expects the M14 A/D trains to run every 3 to 5 minutes, combined. But the M14 is expecting a select bus service route by June. Though the current proposed plan could eliminate local stops (which has outraged East Village and Lower East Side neighbors), the MTA believes it will speed up M14 service, currently among the slowest routes in the city.

Details of that plan have yet to be finalized, however, and the SBS route won’t be in place when the L project begins April 26.

Will the train still run within Brooklyn? Are there other ways to get around?

During the weeknight and weekend work, the L train will still run every 10 minutes between Canarsie and Lorimer until 1:30 a.m. Still, there will also be added G and M service that could help those that live closer to one of those stations get around.

The M train will run every 8 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day. On the G train, there will be five additional trips between 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on weeknights and it will run every eight minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day on weekends.

The new buses in Brooklyn — the Williamsburg Link — could also help for getting within the borough. These will make the rounds between the Bedford and Lorimer L stations and the Marcy and Hewes G stations. See above in the Lorimer and Bedford station section for details on the schedule.

Biking is also an option. The city’s Department of Transportation is planning to add a few new Citibike spots in Bushwick, which it originally announced as part of a plan to help with the L train shut down. A map from April shows that new stations are still planned throughout the second half of Brooklyn’s L train corridor.

See below for added bike lanes in Manhattan.

Will the train still run within Manhattan? Are there other ways to get around?

Yes, but L service will be reduced weeknights starting at 8 p.m. By 10 p.m., trains will run every 10 minutes in Manhattan.

Weeknights and all weekend, trains will run every 20 minutes in Manhattan — similar to what straphangers see currently after 1:30 a.m.

But if you don’t want to wait for the next L train, the MTA is planning additional M14A bus service to connect straphangers to subway lines where train service is being enhanced.

The M14 will be the critical crosstown route in Manhattan.

The M14A will connect to the Delancey/Essex St. F/J/M station. On the weekends, the M14A and M14D will run every 3 to 5 minutes, combined, along the 14th St. crosstown corridor and through the East Village and Lower East Side.

On weeknights, buses will run every 4 to 5 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight along 14th St. Riders can also connect to the M train at 6th Ave. or take the 6 train from Union Square to Broadway-Lafayette to transfer to the M train.

The M14A will connect to Delancey-Essex St. station every 7 to 10 minutes — double the current service, according to the MTA.

As mentioned above, an M14 select bus service route is expected in June.

Where are the new bike lanes?

Cycling is another option to get around if you don’t want to wait for the bus or train.

Here are some recently added bike lanes in Manhattan for L train straphangers opting for bike transit:

• 12th and 13th St. bike lanes: These crosstown bike lanes run from Avenue C to Eighth Ave. heading westbound on 13th St. and eastbound on 12th St.
• Delancey St. at the Williamsburg Bridge: An additional quarter-mile of protected bike lane at the foot of Williamsburg Bridge connects cyclists to protected lanes on Chrystie St. — but beware of a narrow gap at the start of Delancey St.

As mentioned above, new Citibike docks are rolling out in Brooklyn. A map from April shows that new stations are still planned throughout the second half of Brooklyn’s L train corridor.

For a citywide bike lane map, see the Department of Transportation’s 2018 bike map here.

For more details on the L project from the MTA, click here.

Patch's local editor in Brooklyn Anna Quinn contributed to this report.