Senator Avella Holds Press Conference Calling on MTA to Address Rampant Service Disruptions on 7 Line

Andrei Vasilescu

January 19, 2016

(New York, NY) Today, State Senator Tony Avella held a press conference at the entrance to the MTA 7 line stop on Flushing Main Street, calling on the MTA to address the rampant service disruptions plaguing the 7 line.

The most recent unplanned service disruption on Monday, January 4th, left commuters scrambling to find a way into Manhattan for their morning commute. The signal issue that caused the disruption was but one in a series of issues causing severe delays on the 7. The unpredictability of the 7 line has concerned many Queens residents who rely on the subway line for getting to and from work.

The inconsistency of this particular subway line seems to have only gotten worse in recent months, which some have argued may relate to the lines extension to Hudson Yards in September of 2015.

Senator Avella called for a major investment into the 7 line in particular, and called on the MTA to disclose information to the public on a regular basis concerning the amount of disruptions each individual subway line has experienced.

“The 7 line is a vital method of transportation for Queens residents into Manhattan; There isn’t exactly a wealth of mass transit alternatives for them to choose from and so it is incredibly important for the 7 line to offer reliable service, especially during the weekday commute. Although the 7 line will be undergoing construction throughout 2016 to address some of these issues, there needs to be a redoubled effort and investment to not just keep up pace with the issues the line faces, but stay ahead of them.” said State Senator Tony Avella.