L Train Slowdown: Your Guide To MTA's Alternate Commuting Options

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The long-awaited L train slowdown is now underway.

While it's not a full shutdown, train service has been drastically reduced on nights and weekends.

If you're commuting between Brooklyn and Manhattan over the next 15-18 months, you're going to need a backup plan for getting around New York.

Here's CBS New York's guide to avoiding the L train slowdown on mass transit:

What's affected?

The MTA says it will have exactly the same service during weekdays and rush hours.
Trains will run every 20 minutes in both directions between Brooklyn and Manhattan during weeknights and weekends.
Train will run every 10 minutes in both directions within Brooklyn on weeknights from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

M train - MTA will extend hours of normal weeknight and weekend service into Manhattan, between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. up to 96 Street-2nd Avenue on the Q , instead of to Queens Blvd.
G train - Five additional trains will run between 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on weeknights. On weekends, trains will run every eight minutes instead of every 10 minutes during the day.
7 train - Five additional trains will run between 8:30 p.m. and midnight on weeknights. On weekends trains will continue to run normally.

MTA is planning additional M14A bus service to connect to the affected subway lines.
On weeknights, M14A buses will run every four to five minutes between 8 p.m. and midnight in both directions across 14th Street - connecting to the M train at 6th Avenue.
The M14A will connect to the Delancey-Essex J/M Station every seven to 10 minutes.
On weekends, the M14A/D buses will run every three to five minutes for most of the day along 14th Street.

The Williamsburg Link will operate on two routes, the clockwise B-92 and one counterclockwise B-91.
The buses will connect the Bedford Avenue L train, Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street G and L trains, Marcy Avenue J and M trains, and Hewes Street J and M train.

For more information on the L train slowdown and MTA routes around Brooklyn and Manhattan, click here.