We're taking a new approach to how we perform critical inspection and maintenance of subway components that are necessary to providing reliable service -- FASTRACK. The third implementation of FASTRACK is taking place on the Sixth Avenue B/D/F/M Line from 57 Street to W 4 Street from Feb. 27 to March 2, 2012. Because a section of the subway is closed to trains for seven consecutive hours, FASTRACK is a safer and more efficient way to maintain and clean New York City's sprawling subway — a system that never closes.

With no trains running along Sixth Avenue, 800 MTA employees are able to inspect signals, replace rails and cross ties, scrape track floors, clean stations and paint areas that are not reachable during normal train operation. Workers also took the opportunity to clean lighting fixtures, change bulbs and repair platform edges while performing high-intensity station cleaning.