People commuting to and from Roosevelt Island began contending with subway service disruptions Monday morning, as track replacement work between Queens and Manhattan on the F and M trains takes place.

The F train will run on the E line between 47th-50th Streets Rockefeller Center and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. There will be no M train service between Rockefeller Center and Forest Hills both ways.

What You Need To Know

  • F and M trains are now skipping various stations, including Roosevelt Island, starting Monday

  • The disruptions come as track replacement happens between Queens and Manhattan

  • Residents on Roosevelt Island said the service disruptions on the subways will make the tram more crowded

  • The work is expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2024

Special F train shuttles will run every 20 minutes between Lexington Ave.-63rd Street and 21st Street-Queensbridge. The F train shuttles will also stop at Roosevelt Island and have no overnight service for those.

There will be free shuttle buses between Roosevelt Island and 21st Street-Queensbridge. The Q102 is also available to bring residents from Queens and Roosevelt Island.

These changes are a reason for more people to take the Roosevelt Island Tram.

“We have to deal with the huge lines,” Alexander Velo, a local resident, said. He said the disruptions are going to make the tram even more crowded.

“Lots of tourists are coming to the island to enjoy the weather and walk around but for us that live here on the island sometimes it’s complicated because we have to carry our groceries,” Velo said.

Manci Pierre said he will probably take the tram instead of the subway, which will make his commute longer.

“Commutes are probably going to double, and no one is looking forward to it,” Pierre said. He said he commutes into Manhattan every day and he’ll definitely be walking more.

“Now I have to take the tram. I don’t know, 20 blocks from where I work and walk or transfer to another train, but who wants to do that?” Pierre said.

Judith Berdy has lived on the Roosevelt Island for more than 40 years and is the president of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society.

She said the number of tourists that use the tram will make it harder for residents, especially with back to school.

“When all the kids are coming home from school rush hour happens, it’s going to be very crowded,” Berdy said.

Last week, the Roosevelt Island Tram started offering OMNY as a method to pay. Transit officials said it’s the fastest way to pay.

The work on the trains is expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2024.