Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer (Archer Avenue Lines)

Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer
New York City Subway rapid transit station
Upper level platform
Station statistics
Address	Parsons Boulevard & Archer Avenue Queens, NY 11433
Borough	Queens
Locale	Jamaica
Coordinates	40°42′09″N 73°48′00″W / 40.702407°N 73.799973°WCoordinates: 40°42′09″N 73°48′00″W / 40.702407°N 73.799973°W
Division	B (BMT/IND)
Line	BMT Archer Avenue Line (lower level) IND Archer Avenue Line (upper level)
Services	E  (all times)       J  (all times)       Z  (rush hours, peak direction)
Transit connections	NYCT Bus: Q4, Q5, Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q42, Q44 SBS, Q83, Q84, Q85 MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q25, Q34, Q41, Q65, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, Q114 NICE Bus: n4 (all at Jamaica Center Bus Terminal)
Structure	Underground
Levels	2
Platforms	2 island platforms (1 on each level)
Tracks	4 (2 on each level)
Other information
Opened	December 11, 1988
Accessible
Wireless service	[1][2]
Traffic
Passengers (2015)	12,622,977[3]  1.3%
Rank	26 out of 422
Station succession
Next north	(Terminal): E  J  Z
Next south	Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport: E  J  Z
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Location

Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer (formerly Jamaica Center–Parsons Boulevard) is the northern terminal station of the IND and BMT Archer Avenue Lines of the New York City Subway, located at Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. It is a major transfer point for buses from eastern Queens, and replaces the old 160th Street Station of the BMT Jamaica Line, and inadvertently the former Union Hall Street Long Island Rail Road station. This station opened on December 11, 1988.

Station layout

G	Street Level	Exit/ Entrance
B1	Mezzanine	Fare control, station agents (Elevator on south side of Archer Avenue at Parsons Boulevard)
B2 Upper level	Southbound	← toward World Trade Center (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
	Island platform, doors will open on the left or right
	Southbound	← toward World Trade Center (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
B3 Lower level	Southbound	← ( AM rush hours) toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
	Island platform, doors will open on the left or right
	Southbound	← ( AM rush hours) toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)

This is a two-level station with E trains serving the upper level (IND) at all times, and the J and Z trains serving the lower level (BMT), the former of which operates all times and the latter of which operates during rush hours in the peak direction. Each level has two tracks and one island platform. Both platforms are 600 feet (183 m) in length, standard for a full-length B Division train; however, since BMT Eastern Division trains are only 480 feet (146 m) long, there are fences at both of the unused ends of the lower-level platforms to prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks.

This station has tan brick walls and red brick floor on both levels; the ceilings have metal slats and resembles a vaulted ceiling, except there are no curves.

Entrances and exits

The Jamaica Center Bus Terminal can be found at some of the exits.

There are two entrances to this station.

• Exit 1: The first one is at the very north end of the platforms. It contains a mezzanine that has four escalators, two to each platform, and an ADA-accessible elevator serving both platforms. There is a large, single bank of turnstiles leading to fare control. One wide staircase and one escalator leads to a pavilion behind the streets at the northeast corner of Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue. A narrower staircase and escalator leads to the southeast corner. An elevator is present as well. This entrance contains a 1991 artwork called Jamaica Center Station Riders by Sam Gilliam made up of blue painted aluminum.^[4]
• Exit 2: The second exit is near the middle of the platforms. Each platform contains two escalators to the mezzanine. The upper level also has one staircase to the mezzanine while the lower level has two. In this mezzanine there is more overlap of walls between fare control and the portion of the mezzanine for the station exits. In addition to the part-time bank of standard turnstiles, there are HEET turnstiles to provide access during off-peak hours. This entrance has three street stairs. Two of them, one of which also has an up-only escalator, lead up to the south side of Archer Avenue outside the bus boarding area. The staircase with the escalator has a brickwork design surrounding it while the other staircase at this entrance has an ultra-wide green metal fence. There is another staircase, the narrowest in the entire station at the northeast corner of Archer Avenue and 153rd Street.^[4]

Infrastructure

Track layout
Legend
Superimposed tracks section (Right tracks below left ones) to Sutphin Blvd Lower level Upper level

West of the station, both levels feature diamond crossovers. The upper level's crossover is just west of the platform, while the lower level's is halfway between this station and Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue.^[5]

The tracks on both levels extend past the station for possible future extensions, but are currently used for storage.^[6][7] On the lower level, they continue one train length of about 480 feet (150 m) and end at bumper blocks at 160th Street;^[7][8] they were originally planned to extend as far as Merrick Boulevard.^[8] This was a planned extension toward 190th Street–Hollis Avenue (near the Hollis LIRR station). Where the lower level tracks end, there is a provision for a diamond crossover switch at the end of the tunnel (under 160th Street).^[9][8] On the upper level, the tracks extend around 2,000 feet (610 m) or just over 3 train lengths of about 600 feet (180 m), curving south under the LIRR Atlantic Branch 60 feet (18 m) below ground. They then run under 160th Street within the York College campus and stop at about South Road, also ending at bumper blocks.^{[6][7][8][10][11]} This was the site of the line's original groundbreaking in 1973.^[9] The plan was for this line to use the LIRR Locust Manor Branch (Atlantic) ROW and run to Springfield Boulevard or Rosedale LIRR station.^[11][9][8] Where the upper level tracks stub end, there's a provision for a portal to go outside if the line going to Southeastern Queens is ever built.^[9][8] The tunnel was originally planned curve west towards the Atlantic ROW just north of Liberty Avenue, running underneath the York College Athletic Field.^[8]

East of the upper level platform, a Central Instrument Room (753CIR) is located deep in the tunnel on track D2A (upper level) bench wall.

East of the station, next to the D1A tail track on the upper level, the tunnel catwalk structure widens, and the track curves south along with the D2A track. Where the catwalk structure ends, there is a stairway to the lower level tail tracks.

Jamaica Center Bus Terminal

The subway complex includes the Jamaica Center Bus Terminal. The terminal is a series of bus stops along Sutphin Boulevard (primarily along the southbound side of the street next to the Jamaica LIRR and Sutphin Boulevard subway stations), on Jamaica Avenue, and on Archer Avenue (primarily on the eastbound side), it still serves as a major transit hub within Jamaica.^[4] The former 160th Street Jamaica Elevated station on Jamaica Avenue that it replaced was also a major hub for trolley service when it was originally built.^[12][13] Several of the trolley lines were the predecessors to current bus service.^[12][13]

Jamaica Center station itself has a designated bus terminal area built on the south side of Archer Avenue along the LIRR trestle, with bus stop areas lettered A through H. The western portion of the terminal (bays F through H and the bus layover area) is also known as the "Teardrop Canopy".^[14]

Route	Western terminal (if not the Jamaica Center Bus Terminal)	Eastern terminal	via	Notes
MTA Bus
Q6	165th Street Bus Terminal	JFK International Airport	Jamaica Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard, North Boundary Road
Q6 LTD	165th Street Bus Terminal	JFK International Airport	Jamaica Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard, North Boundary Road	Limited bus route to JFK Airport
Q8	165th Street Bus Terminal	Spring Creek	Jamaica Avenue, 101st Avenue, Fountain Avenue
Q9	165th Street Bus Terminal	South Ozone Park	Jamaica Avenue, Supthin Boulevard, Liberty Avenue, 135th Street (Northbound), Van Wyck Expressway Service Road (Southbound), Lincoln Street
Q25	Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue – JFK Airport Subway station	College Point	Parsons Boulevard, Kissena Boulevard, 127th Street
Q25 LTD	Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue – JFK Airport Subway station	College Point	Parsons Boulevard, Kissena Boulevard, 127th Street	Limited route to College Point
Q34	Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue – JFK Airport Subway station	Whitestone	Parsons Boulevard, Kissena Boulevard, Union Street
Q41	165th Street Bus Terminal	Howard Beach	127th Street, 109th Avenue, Cross Bay Boulevard
Q65	Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue – JFK Airport Subway station	College Point	164th Street, 45th Avenue, College Point Boulevard	Originally the NY&QC Flushing-Jamaica and College Point trolley lines
Q110	Parsons Boulevard Subway station or Jamaica–179th Street Subway station	Belmont Park	Jamaica Avenue, Hempstead Avenue
Q111	Parsons Boulevard Subway station	Rosedale or Cedarhurst	Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, 147th Avenue, (Cedarhurst Only): Rosedale Road, Peninsula Boulevard	Originally Queens portion of the LIER Far Rockaway Line
Q112	Parsons Boulevard Subway station	Ozone Park	South Road, Liberty Avenue
Q113 LTD	Parsons Boulevard Subway station	Far Rockaway	Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard, Nassau Expressway	Originally the LIER Far Rockaway Line Evenings and overnights, Q114 buses operate local; no Q113 service operates at this time.
Q114 LTD			Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, 147th Avenue, Rockaway Turnpike
NYCT Bus
Q4	to Cambria Heights		Merrick Boulevard, Linden Boulevard
Q4 LTD	to Cambria Heights		Merrick Boulevard, Linden Boulevard	Limited bus route to Cambria Heights
Q5	to Rosedale or Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream		Merrick Boulevard, Hook Creek Boulevard, Sunrise Highway (to Green Acres Mall only)
Q5 LTD	to Rosedale		Merrick Boulevard, Hook Creek Boulevard	Limited bus route to Rosedale
Q20A	Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue	College Point	Archer Avenue, Main Street, Union Street, 20th Avenue
Q20B	Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue	College Point	Archer Avenue, Main Street, Union Street, 14th Avenue
Q24	168th Street and Archer Avenue	Bushwick	Jamaica Avenue, Archer Avenues, Atlantic Avenue, Broadway
Q30	to Little Neck or Bayside		Homelawn Street, Utopia Parkway, Horace Harding Expressway, Springfield Boulevard (Bayside only)
Q31	to Bayside		Jamaica and Archer Avenues, Homelawn Street, Utopia Parkway, 47th-48th Avenues, Bell Boulevard, Francis Lewis Boulevard.
Q42	to Addisleigh Park		Liberty Avenue, 174th Street, Sayres Avenue
Q44 SBS	Merrick Boulevard and Archer Avenue	West Farms	Archer Avenue, Main Street, Union Street, Parsons Boulevard, Whitestone Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway
Q54	170th Street & Jamaica Avenue	Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal	Jamaica Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Grand Street	Successors to BMT streetcar service
Q56	Broadway Junction	Jamaica Avenue
Q83	Parsons Boulevard Subway station	Cambria Heights or Saint Albans	Liberty Avenue, Murdock Avenue
Q84	to Laurelton		Merrick Boulevard, 120th Avenue
Q85	to Rosedale or Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream		Merrick Boulevard, Bedell Street, Conduit Avenue, 243rd Street (Rosedale), or Green Acres Road (Green Acres Mall)	Part of the former NY&LIT Brooklyn-Freeport Line
NICE Bus
n4	to Freeport		Merrick Road, Merrick Boulevard	Part of the former NY&LIT Brooklyn-Freeport Line
n4X	to Freeport		Merrick Road, Merrick Boulevard	Express to Freeport Station

References

1. "NYC Subway Wireless – Active Stations". Transit Wireless Wifi. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
2. More Subway Stations in Manhattan, Bronx in Line to Get Online, mta.info (March 25, 2015). "The first two phases included stations in Midtown Manhattan and all underground stations in Queens with the exception of the 7 Main St terminal."
3. "Facts and Figures: Annual Subway Ridership". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
4. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Jamaica" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
5. "www.nycsubway.org: New York City Subway Track Maps". www.nycsubway.org. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
6. Joseph B. Raskin (1 November 2013). The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System. Fordham University Press. ISBN 978-0-8232-5369-2. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
7. Queens Subway Options Study, New York: Environmental Impact Statement. United States Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Urban Mass Transit Administration. May 1984. pp. 83–. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
8. Archer Ave Route (proposed) Construction, Queens: Environmental Impact Statement. Urban Mass Transit Administration, United States Department of Transportation. August 1973. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
9. Burks, Edward C. (October 24, 1973). "Work Begun on Queens Subway Extension". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
10. Burks, Edward C. (March 9, 1975). "Building Progresses On Subway In Jamaica". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
11. Burks, Edward C. (September 24, 1976). "Coming: Light at End of 63d St. Tunnel". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
12. Seyfried, Vincent F. (1961). "Full text of "Story of the Long Island Electric Railway and the Jamaica Central Railways, 1894-1933 /"". archive.org. F. E. Reifschneider. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
13. Seyfried, Vincent F. (1950). "Full text of "New York and Queens County Railway and the Steinway Lines, 1867-1939."". archive.org. Vincent F. Seyfried. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
14. "Jamaica Bus Improvement Study" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Transportation. May 17, 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.

External links

• nycsubway.org – IND Queens Boulevard Line: Jamaica Center/Parsons–Archer
• Station Reporter — E Train
• Station Reporter — J Train
• The Subway Nut — Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer Pictures
• MTA's Arts For Transit — Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer
• Parsons Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 153rd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 158th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View