Subway riders brace as MTA swaps Queens routes

Subway riders were fuming after the MTA announced it was swapping the and M and F routes between Manhattan and Queens — in a move that will affect about 1.2 million straphangers.

The routes will be permanently swapped on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 8 stations starting Monday, according to the MTA.

Commuters told The Post they expect their commute times would increase and trains would be more crowded under the new plan, but MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber claimed the switch would only be beneficial.

“Nobody here is being hurt by this. Everybody benefits,” Lieber said from the 21 St-Queensbridge station Wednesday.

Lieber described the switch as a data-driven fix for backups at Queens Plaza.

“This is something we’ve thought about internally for a while, and now by using data we’ve determined that this will not only reduce delays but it will benefit customers,” Lieber said.

During the swap, F trains will stop at Queens Plaza, Court Sq-23 St, Lexington Av/53 St, and 5 Av/53 St stations, and M trains will stop at 21 St-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St, and 57 St stations.

The changes mean the M train won’t have to cross other lines to reach certain subway stations, which was causing delays for the E, F, M and R trains, according to the MTA.

Riders switching from the F to the M train can expect less frequent service, Lieber admitted Wednesday.

“There’s a tiny bit of difference in terms of frequency,” Lieber said.

Gabriela Vidella, 49, works in a bank in Manhattan and commutes from Queens.

“The lines are okay like that, the way they run,” Vidella told The Post Thursday. “I think they should worry about other things,” she said and mentioned subway safety.

Vidella will have to take the F train instead of the M train when the swap takes effect.

“I’ve never had a problem with the M. The F is a little bit more crowded all the time,” Vidella said. “It’s pointless, but I guess let’s see what happens next week.”

Balian Fahan, 19, lives in Queens and commutes to Manhattan for school. He said come Monday when he is forced to take the F train instead of the M train, his commute will increase by 15 minutes.

“Fifteen minutes means everything when you’re a commuter,” Fahan said.

Fahan said he is also worried about overcrowding on the F train.

“The F is definitely unreliable. It’s already crowded, like super, really bad,” Fahan said. “I go downtown always for school, usually it’s packed to like the brim.”

Still, the MTA head tried to paint a rosy picture of the changes.

Speaking Wednesday, Lieber said inconvenienced riders just don’t want to change routines.

“We’re all New Yorkers, and we all know we have our set routines. Nobody likes change,” Lieber said.