amNewYork Metro, in conjunction with the MTA, present “Ask the MTA,” a column where MTA officials answer your questions about transit service in New York City. If you have a question for the MTA about subways, buses, commuter rails and more, email askthemta[@]amny.com.
Q: I want to know when they are going to finish modernizing the signals on the F train in Brooklyn so that the train can run correctly every day. When it doesn’t work, I have to walk from my stop on Ditmas Avenue to Church Avenue. — Marta Serrano
A: Thanks for your patience while we finish this important work. The project schedule is a bit in flux now, but we expect the Culver Line signal modernization and other special track work on the F line to be completed within the next two years.
New signals are going to be a game-changer for riders in Brooklyn. We don’t need to tell you that the F train’s reliability is inconsistent on this stretch of track – which is largely due to the advanced age of the current signal system.
Replacing this roughly 70-year-old equipment will make it possible for us to have more information about where trains are and how they’re performing. So, if there are problems with the new signals, we’ll be able to troubleshoot and resolve them faster than we could have before, saving riders precious time and frustration. — Daniel Creighton, Vice President, MTA Construction and Development
Q: I have a bunch of MetroCards totaling about $1,000. I am worried about what will happen to these cards when the MetroCard is phased out. Will I be able to transfer the cards’ value to the new OMNY card? — Thomas Hickey
A: MetroCard and OMNY are two separate systems, so it is not possible to transfer MetroCard value or passes to OMNY. We recommend using all the value on your MetroCard before it is decommissioned.
After that, all refund claims will need to be submitted, reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis. —Maria Cannizzaro, Acting Senior Director of Customer Relations, New York City Transit
Send us your questions at askthemta@amny.com.
