amNewYork Metro, in partnership with the MTA, presents “Ask the MTA,” a column in which MTA staff answer your questions about New York City’s transit system. If you have a question for the MTA about subways, buses, commuter rail, and more, email askthemta(@)amny.com.

Q: Does the MTA plan to expand service ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park? – Conley A., Manhasset

A: Yes, we plan to expand service for U.S. Open fans before gates open and after matches conclude. The 7 line will provide local and express service, with five additional trains daily returning from the Mets-Willets Point station each evening after matches. The LIRR will provide direct service via the Port Washington Branch.

For fans coming from Manhattan on the LIRR, the ride from Penn Station to Flushing Meadows takes just 19 minutes and costs just $5 during off-peak hours. Customers coming from other locations can transfer at Woodside.

Buses and paratransit are also good travel options. The Q48 bus stops at the corner of 126 St and Roosevelt Av, just a 10-minute walk from the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Full schedules are available on the MTA and Train Time apps.

– Shanifah Rieara, MTA Chief Customer Officer

Q: How long will this latest phase of G-Bahn closure last? – Greg M., Park Slope

A: The third and final phase of the 24/7 shutdown will end on September 3. This is an exciting milestone and we are very pleased with the work we accomplished during this service disruption. However, we would like to remind riders that the overall G Train signal modernization project is still under construction and will require some weekend and overnight service disruptions well into 2025. The estimated completion date of the project is the third quarter of 2027.

Workers are using the 24-hour closure between Bedford-Nostrand Avenue and Church Avenue to install an additional 280,000 feet of new signal wire, replace four switches south of the Bedford-Nostrand station, and resurface about 800 feet of track and concrete foundations between Bergen Street and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street. Customers will continue to be able to use New York City Transit’s fast and free shuttle bus service until the end of Phase 3.

– Jamie Torres-Springer, President, MTA Construction and Development

Q: What is the story behind the depressing poem “Commuter’s Lament” in Times Square, 42nd Street? – James E., Astoria

A: “The Commuter’s Lament/A Close Shave” has been beloved by New Yorkers for decades because it perfectly captures the unique style of dry humor that so many of us share.

The piece was written by conceptual artist and curator Norman B. Colp, who was inspired by a famous Burma Shave advertising campaign from the 1920s. Originally commissioned as a temporary installation in the 1990s, the poem’s popularity led to its permanent installation in the transfer corridor from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to Times Sq-42 St.

On about every fifth I-beam in the ceiling is the following line: “Overslept, so tired, when it’s too late, get fired. Why the trouble? Why the pain? Just go home and do it again.” It’s meant to be amusing rather than depressing, but it’s true that it’s been called a “lament,” and every now and then people have too bad a day to find the funny.

– Sandra Bloodworth, Director, MTA Arts and Design