J and M Train Service to Suspend for Five Weekends
Commuters using Brooklyn and Manhattan lines should plan for shuttle buses while the MTA replaces track switches.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Car Maintenance
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The MTA is suspending J and M train service to Manhattan over five weekends starting October 17-18, 2026, to replace aging track infrastructure. Shuttle buses will bridge the transit gap between Brooklyn and Manhattan for affected commuters.
Why it matters
Replacing track switches installed in 1997 is a necessary step to maintain long-term reliability and safety on the transit lines. This construction requires significant schedule adjustments for residents relying on these routes for cross-borough travel.
The MTA is upgrading track switches that were last replaced in 1997 across five scheduled weekends. During this window, M trains will run every 20 minutes and four stations—Flushing Avenue, Lorimer Street, Hewes Street, and Marcy Avenue—will have no train service.
The players
MTA
The agency responsible for public transportation across New York City and the primary authority overseeing subway maintenance and infrastructure projects.
The details
Workers are performing critical infrastructure replacements near Marcy Avenue, where outdated track equipment requires modernization. To manage the service gap, the J train will be truncated to run only between Jamaica Center and Myrtle Avenue-Broadway, while the M line will operate in two separate sections between Metropolitan Avenue and Myrtle-Wyckoff. Shuttle buses will provide the link between Myrtle Avenue-Broadway and Essex Street to maintain connections to Manhattan.
Timeline
October 17-18, 2026
October 24-25, 2026
November 7-9, 2026
November 13-16, 2026
November 20-23, 2026
The Home Front
This project aligns with the MTA's ongoing Capital Program to modernize aging track infrastructure that has reached the end of its projected lifecycle. These necessary updates help manage long-term property and transit accessibility costs by preventing more severe, unplanned service failures.
Commuters should plan for additional travel time and check local station signage for shuttle bus pickup locations during the five scheduled weekends. It is wise to monitor real-time transit alerts on your mobile device as the service changes take effect.
The takeaway
Anticipate longer commutes between Brooklyn and Manhattan by checking updated schedules in advance of your weekend travel. Keep a digital copy of the MTA service alert map on your phone to quickly verify which stations in the Myrtle Avenue area will be closed.
Further reading
For tips on navigating city transit changes, visit Car Maintenance.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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Do you feel the MTA provides adequate alternative transportation during local subway construction projects?
