Queens 7 Train Line To Get $45M Overhaul: MTA

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS -- The elevated tracks that have carried the 7 train over Queens for more than 100 years will receive a $45 million makeover over the next two years, the Metropolitan Transit Authority announced on Wednesday.

The MTA awarded the multimillion-dollar contract - the first of its 2015-2019 Capital Program - for structural steal repair work and overcoat painting to the Flushing train line between 72nd Street in Jackson Heights and 104th Street in Corona.

“We are committed to bringing immediate improvements to the subway system while we work hard on the Subway Action Plan to attack the root causes of delays," said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota. "Work like this on the structure is critical as well.”

In the two-year project, the MTA will strip the paint, dirt, grease and grime from that section of the line and repaint all of its structural steel surfaces. Several communication rooms, signal towers and circuit breaker houses along the 101-year-old line will also be scraped, cleaned and freshly painted, the MTA said.

Ahern Painting Contractors Inc. will also repair the structure's steel beams and concrete column bases, according to the MTA.

“This critical painting and structural repair work will improve the commuting experience for our riders in the near-term, as well as help ensure the long-term safety and reliability of our system,” said NYC Transit President Andy Byford.

News of the repairs delighted Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens), who noted they were much-needed for Queens commuters.

“The 7-line is a lifeline for commuters in Queens, but its underlying infrastructure is in need of long overdue repairs," the U.S. Representative said.

(Lead photo by Danielle Woodward/Patch)