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Special report by Chabadinfo 

The MTA announced it will unclog the infamous “Nostrand Junction” just east of Franklin Ave in Crown Heights, which merges the 2, 3, 4 and 5 lines, according to the updated Capital plan released by the MTA. This plan means that the 3 train may no longer run at Kingston Avenue.

The project involves the installation of new crossover tracks, meaning that it will rearrange the tracks so that trains that run express (4, 50 in Brooklyn west of Franklin Avenue can approach on the express tracks and trains that run local (2, 3) can stay on local tracks all the way through the junction. It will also make a modified routing plan for the trains that use Nostrand Junction.

Although no specific plans have been announced, an earlier study (which was used in the MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment) released by the MTA suggests that the 3 and 5 lines will be swapped in Brooklyn and a new line added. Notably, this would change the routing of the Subway lines in Crown Heights, losing direct access to Lexington Ave (4, 5) or 7th Ave (2, 3) lines:

• The 4 would still end at Utica Ave, but the 5 would go down to New Lots.
• The 2 and 3 would run along Nostrand Ave to Flatbush Ave
• A new line (called the 8 line in the plan) between Wakefield–241st Street and New Lots Ave, with local stops at Nostrand Ave and Kingston Ave. In this scenario, there would be a sole line at these two stations, which may mean even longer headways.

The MTA’s proposed map of changes published in the 20-Year Needs Assessment

The MTA says Nostrand Junction, where these lines come together in Crown Heights, “has been a known bottleneck since the 1960’s.” The constant switching between tracks means that train delays easily happen at the station, as anyone using these stations can attest. Which impacts service reliability on these lines throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

The MTA says this plan would provide more reliable service to over 285,000 weekday riders, saving the average rider more than a minute of travel time. The MTA said it “will implement the most cost-effective way to alleviate this chokepoint, while also boosting reliability and enhancing operations throughout the system.”

Recently, the MTA put a revamp of the crossing in the 20-Year Needs Assessment it published in 2023. Now MTA leaders have added a version of it in their 2025-2029 capital plan.

“If you live in Central Brooklyn (or even if you don’t) you know about the ‘Crown Heights Cluster.’” State Senator and mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie (who represents Crown Heights) said on X. “Pleased the MTA Capital Plan includes money to fix this bottleneck so more NYers can get to school, work and appointments on time.”

Speaking of service patterns, the MTA is in the draft phase of redesigning Brooklyn’s bus network — which Chabadinfo first reported on in 2023 — which would overhaul bus lines across Brooklyn, including rerouting the southbound B43 along Albany instead of Brooklyn Ave. and adding the B10 along Empire Blvd. Additionally, the northbound B49 would run along New York Ave and the northbound B44 local will run along Rogers Ave.

The MTA also plans on phasing out the iconic orange seat cars on the 3 line with new train cars. They are scheduled to remain in service until the late 2020s, when they will likely be replaced with the new technology trains “R262” models. Other number lines may also get these upgrades, depending on how the MTA utilizes them.

In the just passed capital program, the MTA is in the midst of planning the “Interborough Express,” a new train line between Brooklyn and Queens which would connect the communities of Flatbush, Boro Park, and Crown Heights. Additionally, The MTA is also evaluating whether to construct a Subway line down Utica Avenue, but that isn’t in the current plans.

Chabadinfo.com reached out to the MTA and has not received a response as of press time. 

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