.gif)
Howard Beach-JFK (IND Rockaway Line)
Encyclopedia
Howard Beach – JFK Airport is a station
on the IND Rockaway Line
of the New York City Subway
. Located at Coleman Square between 159th Avenue and 103rd Street in Howard Beach, Queens
, it is served by the A
train at all times.
station, which replaced the former 1899-built Ramblersville station. In 1923, the station was retrofitted with sheltered sheds on both sides of the tracks. On June 27, 1955 the station along with the rest of the Rockaway Beach Branch
was taken out of service due to the May 7–8, 1950 fire that broke out between The Raunt
and Broad Channel stations destroying the bridge over Jamaica Bay
, and acquired by the New York City Transit Authority
. On June 28, 1956, it was reopened as the subway station it is today and the previous station was razed.
The JFK Express
, which provided a link to John F. Kennedy International Airport
to the east from Manhattan, terminated at this station from 1978 to 1990, which included free shuttle bus service to the airport. This service was the only one to link the airport with this station until the debut of AirTrain JFK
on December 17, 2003.
s and four tracks with the two center express tracks not used in revenue service. South of the station, there are switches and crossovers between all four tracks before the two outer tracks merge with the center ones. The two-track line then crosses Jamaica Bay
to Broad Channel
, which is 3.5 miles to the south, making the crossing the longest section between two stations in the system.
Both platforms have concrete windscreens on either ends and steel canopies in the center, where the station's mezzanine
is. It is built in a modern, glass enclosed building above the platforms and tracks with a large stainless steel sign on either side reading "HOWARD BEACH JFK." A set of staircases, elevators, and escalators from each platform go up to fare control above the platforms and tracks that has a token booth and turnstile
bank. The east side of the building has the fare control for AirTrain JFK while on the west side, a twisting staircase and two elevators go down to the east side of 103rd Street by the T-intersection of 159th Avenue.
The Rockaway-bound platform has two High Entry/Exit Turnstiles and one exit-only turnstile leading to a short staircase that goes down to the intersection of 159th Road and 103rd Street. The Manhattan-bound platform has a set of doors leading to the parking lot just north of the AirTrain JFK station.
on the upper level of the terminal that leads to Parking Area C. The next stop to the south/east is Lefferts Boulevard
. Since it is owned by the Port Authority
, it uses a separate fare control from the subway.
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the IND Rockaway Line
IND Rockaway Line
The IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
. Located at Coleman Square between 159th Avenue and 103rd Street in Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park, the south by Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th...
, it is served by the A
A (New York City Subway service)
The A Eighth Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. Its route bullet is colored blue on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map since it runs on the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan....
train at all times.
History
The station originally opened in April 1913 as a Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
station, which replaced the former 1899-built Ramblersville station. In 1923, the station was retrofitted with sheltered sheds on both sides of the tracks. On June 27, 1955 the station along with the rest of the Rockaway Beach Branch
Rockaway Beach Branch
The Rockaway Beach Branch was a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, New York City, United States. The line left the Main Line at Whitepot Junction in Rego Park heading south via Ozone Park and across Jamaica Bay to Hammels in the Rockaways turning west there to a...
was taken out of service due to the May 7–8, 1950 fire that broke out between The Raunt
The Raunt (LIRR station)
The Raunt was a former Long Island Rail Road station on the Rockaway Beach Branch. It had no address and no station house, because it was meant strictly as a dropping-off point for fishermen using a small island in Jamaica Bay. The station was located 1300 feet west of signal station "ER" , and...
and Broad Channel stations destroying the bridge over Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
, and acquired by the New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
. On June 28, 1956, it was reopened as the subway station it is today and the previous station was razed.
The JFK Express
JFK Express
The JFK Express, advertised as The Train to The Plane, was a premium-fare service of the New York City Subway, connecting midtown Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport.-Fares and Rolling Stock:...
, which provided a link to John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
to the east from Manhattan, terminated at this station from 1978 to 1990, which included free shuttle bus service to the airport. This service was the only one to link the airport with this station until the debut of AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK
AirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport...
on December 17, 2003.
Description
This grade-level station has two side platformSide platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s and four tracks with the two center express tracks not used in revenue service. South of the station, there are switches and crossovers between all four tracks before the two outer tracks merge with the center ones. The two-track line then crosses Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is located on the southwestern tip of Long Island in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, and the town of Hempstead, New York/hamlet of Inwood...
to Broad Channel
Broad Channel (IND Rockaway Line)
Broad Channel is a station on the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Noel Road and West Road in the Broad Channel neighborhood of the borough of Queens, it is served by the A train and the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times, the latter of which terminates here.-History and...
, which is 3.5 miles to the south, making the crossing the longest section between two stations in the system.
Both platforms have concrete windscreens on either ends and steel canopies in the center, where the station's mezzanine
Mezzanine (architecture)
In architecture, a mezzanine or entresol is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in...
is. It is built in a modern, glass enclosed building above the platforms and tracks with a large stainless steel sign on either side reading "HOWARD BEACH JFK." A set of staircases, elevators, and escalators from each platform go up to fare control above the platforms and tracks that has a token booth and turnstile
Turnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
bank. The east side of the building has the fare control for AirTrain JFK while on the west side, a twisting staircase and two elevators go down to the east side of 103rd Street by the T-intersection of 159th Avenue.
The Rockaway-bound platform has two High Entry/Exit Turnstiles and one exit-only turnstile leading to a short staircase that goes down to the intersection of 159th Road and 103rd Street. The Manhattan-bound platform has a set of doors leading to the parking lot just north of the AirTrain JFK station.
AirTrain JFK Platform
The AirTrain JFK platform at this station has two tracks and one enclosed island platformIsland platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
on the upper level of the terminal that leads to Parking Area C. The next stop to the south/east is Lefferts Boulevard
Lefferts Boulevard (AirTrain JFK station)
Lefferts Boulevard is a station on the Howard Beach Branch of AirTrain JFK. It has two tracks and one island platform. It is adjacent to the AirTrain storage yard on the north side. It is accessible from North and South Conduit Avenues. It serves the Long Term Parking Lots B and C as well as the...
. Since it is owned by the Port Authority
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
, it uses a separate fare control from the subway.
External links
- Station Reporter — A Rockaway
- Howard Beach AirTrain station announcement
- The Subway Nut — Howard Beach – JFK Airport Pictures
- entrance from Google Maps Street View