NYC's F and M subway lines swap in Manhattan and Queens starts. Here's how it works.
New York City's F and M subway lines permanently switched routes Monday.
Riders in Manhattan and Queens have been preparing for the change, which the MTA hopes will reduce train congestion.
The swap officially took effect at 6 a.m. Monday and runs on weekdays through 9:30 p.m., with no change to late-night service on either line.
The change will impact eight subway stations. F trains will use the 53rd Street tunnel and replace M trains at Queens Plaza, Court Square-23rd Street, Lexington Avenue/53rd Street and Fifth Avenue/53rd Street. M trains will use the 63rd Street tunnel replace F trains at 21st Street-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Avenue-63rd Street, and 57th Street.
The MTA estimates the change will mean riders will save an extra minute during the morning commute.
"This is long overdue"
The MTA says its goal is to make service more reliable on the F and M, and even on E and R trains. Officials say the swap reduces the number of trains that have to merge or cross, especially at bottlenecks at Queens Plaza.
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber spoke with political reporter Marcia Kramer on "The Point," and explained the logic for the switch.
"So much of our system is the result of the fact that these things were built 100 years ago," Lieber said. "We're eliminating the crossing maneuvers that actually cause trains to have to sit in station while another one crosses in front of them. This is long overdue."
Transit officials stopped by the Roosevelt Island station early Monday to help riders navigate the changes.
"Customers are already telling us that they know about it, so we've done a good job of engaging them in advance," said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
CBS News New York asked why the change only impacts weekdays, not weekends, and only during certain hours.
"Weekdays for 6:30am and 9:30pm, those are the hours the M train normally runs through to Forest Hills. When the M train gets shortened to its normal route between Middle Village and Manhattan, the F will return to the 63rd street route," said Bill Amarosa, executive vice president of subways at NYCT.
So is additional rerouting possible on other subway lines?
"So for right now, it will improve the E, F, M and R service," Crichlow said. "In the capital program, we have the Nostrand Junction which we will be looking at to improve service there. So customers in that Brooklyn area … stay tuned for some exciting news there."
Riders curious about the timing of the swap
Riders at Roosevelt Island found themselves studying fliers about the change given out by MTA customer service agents.
"If this was such a big thing that they have known for a while, like why not have done it before?" said Nick Nizza of Long Island City.
"Why didn't they do this 10 years ago?" added Macy Reyes of Astoria.
"I mean, I love it. It's great. Whatever it takes to have a smooth commute, right? I'm a fan," said Evan Qi of Long Island City.
"It's a bit hard when it switches all of a sudden," added Sara Ayoub of Fresh Meadows.
"We've known this was going to happen for a few weeks, so we'll see how it goes," another rider said.
Roosevelt Island commuters may be among the most impacted because, along with the tram, riders have relied on the F as their main mode of transportation. Now, it will be the M train.
"I have no clue what I'm gonna do, but I'm gonna look into it," resident Asher Bentley said.
CLICK HERE for more information from the MTA to plan your commute.