With a four-month A train shutdown to the Rockaways set to begin Friday, Jan. 17, the MTA is urging straphangers to plan ahead for service changes that may affect their commutes.

During the shutdown, trains on the A line will not run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue or Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street. The Rockaway Park Shuttle, meanwhile, will not run to or from Broad Channel, and won’t run at all during the first weekend of the shutdown.

The MTA said critical infrastructure repairs to the train line are expected to take until Monday, May 19 to complete. Due to the lengthy disruption to service, the transit agency is offering a plethora of alternatives for commuters to get from one place to another.

Here’s what you need to know about service changes and alternatives while the shutdown is in effect.

What service changes will riders see?

During the first weekend of service changes, from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20:

  • A trains will not run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
  • Rockaway Park Shuttle trains will not run either
  • A trains will run between Inwood-207th Street and Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard or Howard Beach-JFK Airport

From 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 until repairs are completed in May:  

  • A trains will not run between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue or Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street
  • Rockaway Park Shuttle trains will not run to or from Broad Channel
  • A trains will be running between Inwood-207th Street and Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard or Howard Beach-JFK Airport

What service alternatives will riders have?

Commuters will have a number of service alternatives during the construction period, including the following:

Rockaway Park Shuttle trains

From 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 until repairs are finished, the MTA will run free Rockaway Park Shuttle trains between Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue and Rockaway Park Beach-116th Street

Free shuttle buses

From 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, riders will be able to take free shuttle buses for service to and from affected stations. The buses will run on three routes, according to the MTA:

  • Q97, nonstop between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
  • Q98, between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, making all A stops
  • Q121, between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street, with stops at Broad Channel, Beach 98th Street and Beach 105th Street

From 5 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 until repairs are completed in May, free shuttle buses will run on two routes:

  • Q97, nonstop between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
  • Q109, between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Beach 67th Street, stopping at Broad Channel and Beach 90th Street

Local and express buses

Riders will be able to take the following buses, with regular fares still in effect, according to the MTA:

  • Q52-SBS and Q53-SBS buses, connecting with A trains at Rockaway Boulevard, J and Z trains at Woodhaven Boulevard and M and R trains at Woodhaven Boulevard
  • Q35 buses, connecting with 2 and 5 trains at Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College
  • QM15, QM16 and QM17 express buses to and from Manhattan, with the following schedule notes:
    • QM16 and QM17 buses will only run on weekdays
    • Special QM15 Rockaways service will run on weekdays and Saturdays
    • Riders traveling to Manhattan between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays will need to transfer between buses, and can take a fare-free QM15 bus to 157th Avenue/Cross Bay Boulevard for QM15 service to Manhattan

Discounted Long Island Rail Road trains

LIRR trains will run between Far Rockaway Station and Manhattan or Brooklyn via Jamaica during the shutdown.

The MTA will be reducing the fare for the LIRR’s Far Rockaway Ticket to $2.75 each way while repairs are underway, down from the standard $7 fare.

However, these discounted tickets will only be available for purchase at the Far Rockaway Station or via the TrainTime app with location share on, so the app can confirm you are near the Far Rockaway Station, according to the MTA.

The MTA is advising riders to purchase round-trip tickets at the Far Rockaway Station if they plan to return to that station the same day, as Far Rockaway Tickets aren’t available at other stations.

NYC Ferry service

In preparation for a possible rise in Rockaway ridership, NYC Ferry is implementing the following adjustments to the Rockaway route:

  • Starting Saturday, Jan. 18, NYC Ferry will operate vessels with a 350-passenger capacity
  • Starting Monday, Jan. 20, an NYC Ferry upland agent will be at the Rockaway landing during morning peak times to support new commuters

The NYC Ferry's Rockaway route will continue to operate hourly, from the 5 a.m. hour through the 8 p.m. hour, between Wall Street/Pier 11 and the Rockaway port at Beach 108th Street.

Officials say they'll monitor ridership and make adjustments as needed.