I got this notice from MTA Alerts yesterday:   
      
   "Beginning 8 PM, Tue to Thu, Feb 16 - 18   
   M service ends early between 71 Av and Delancey-Essex Sts.   
   Take the E, F, or R instead.   
   M service operates between Metropolitan Av and Essex St, and via the J to/from   
   Chambers St until 12 midnight, at which time regular late-night service   
   begins."   
      
   It seems that I have gotten this alert every week since Christmas (or even   
   earlier; I really haven't been keeping track). Is it possible that the MTA is   
   going to drop night-time M service through midtown? There's no explanation of   
   why the detoured route--   
   no pretext of work being done. I suspect they have discovered that ridership   
   during the weeknights does *not* justify the double service, though I know   
   from experience that both F and M trains are quite crowded during rush hour.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)