The A train to resume in the Rockaways in time for beach season—here's when you can ride

It's nearly here, so close we can almost feel the sand beneath our toes: beach season. We just have to get through a few more pesky (and, annoyingly, rain-filled) weeks and then we'll be back at Rockaway Beach, shoveling fish tacos and piña coladas down our throats in between dips in the Atlantic. Glorious.

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And speaking of gloriousness, it will soon be much easier to get down to the Rockaways than it has been all year, what with the return of A train service to the area on Monday, May 19.

As you may remember, this January kicked off a four-month pause on A train service across a five-mile stretch connecting Howard Beach-JFK Airport, Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue and the Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street stations, which are the last stops on the A line. There was simultaneously a suspension on Rockaway Park Shuttle trains to and from Broad Channel—meaning that accessing the Rockaway peninsula at any point this year required a bit more planning than a mere MetroCard swipe. (Thank the transit gods for the NY Ferry, amirite?)

The service stoppage was part of a 17-week rehabilitation project to repair extensive damage suffered during Superstorm Sandy back in 2012, especially at Hammels Wye Viaduct and South Channel Bridge, which carry trains across Broad Channel. The work also included the installation of new flood barriers and pumps, critical additions that would provide extra security against a natural disaster like Sandy, as reported by Gothamist.

During the closure, the MTA provided discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, extended express bus routes and continued NYC Ferry service to support impacted commuters, which was estimated at 9,000 riders per day.

Restoring subway access to the Queens-based beach community couldn't have come at a better time, what with New York City public beaches set to open for swimming and sunbathing on Saturday, May 24. In the meantime, you can keep up to date on the latest schedules and service changes for Rockaway-bound trains here.