Jan. 23, 2020 By Kristen Torres
A bed bug sighting in an MTA control tower delayed the commute for thousands of New Yorkers during the Wednesday evening rush hour.
E, F, M, W and R trains—which serve Queens Boulevard and other Queens areas—were delayed for about four hours beginning at 4:30 p.m., the MTA said.
There are severe delays and multiple impacts to E/F, M/R, and W service while our crews continue working to correct an issue at the Forest Hills-71 Av terminal.
If you're headed to Queens Boulevard, Bay Ridge, Middle Village, or points in between, here's the latest. pic.twitter.com/9AjAjLHkOb
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) January 22, 2020
The control tower at the Forest Hills/71st Street subway station, which controls the switches that route the four lines, had to be evacuated because of the bed bug sighting, according to MTA President Andy Byford.
Crews then immediately moved in to fumigate.
No employees were able to return to the tower until about 7:30 p.m., forcing M and R trains to be re-routed further down the tracks.
Service returned to normal around 8:30 p.m., according to Byford.
