Long Island Rail Road riders should plan for service disruptions over six weekends this summer as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority upgrades switches and signals near Elmont-UBS Arena.
The work is part of the LIRR’s Queens Interlocking Signal Modernization project, which the railroad said will improve reliability and allow trains to operate at higher speeds through the busy junction used by eastbound Huntington and Ronkonkoma branch trains serving the arena.
The largest service disruption will take place the weekend of July 25-27, when Hempstead and Oyster Bay branch train service will be suspended while crews test and commission the new signal system.
Hempstead Branch trains will stop running beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, with shuttle buses replacing train service between Jamaica and Hempstead, stopping at Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Nassau Boulevard and Garden City. Oyster Bay Branch trains will stop running at 10 p.m. Friday, with shuttle buses operating between Jamaica and Oyster Bay in two service zones.
Beginning Friday night, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branch trains will operate only between Hicksville and points east, with no train service at New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Carle Place or Westbury. Regular train service is expected to resume by 4:30 a.m. Monday.
Additional weekend service changes are scheduled for July 18-20, Aug. 1-3, Aug. 8-10, Aug. 15-17 and Aug. 22-24. During those weekends, there will be no eastbound service at Hollis, Queens Village or Elmont-UBS Arena stations, no service at Bellerose, and reduced westbound service at several stations. Riders on the Hempstead, Huntington, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches should also expect schedule adjustments, with some trains replaced by shuttle service.
The MTA said customers should check the TrainTime app before traveling, allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes on the Babylon, Montauk, West Hempstead or Port Washington branches when possibl