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Howard Beach–JFK Airport station

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(Redirected from Howard Beach – JFK Airport (IND Rockaway Line)) New York City Subway station in Queens

New York City Subway station in Queens, New York
 Howard Beach–JFK Airport  "A" train
New York City Subway rapid transit station
AirTrain JFK people mover station
View of the subway platforms and mezzanine at night
Station statistics
Address159th Avenue & 103rd Street
Queens, New York
BoroughQueens
LocaleHoward Beach
Coordinates40°39′37″N 73°49′49″W / 40.6604°N 73.8303°W / 40.6604; -73.8303
DivisionB (IND, formerly LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch)
LineIND Rockaway Line
Services   A  (all times)
Transit
StructureAt-grade (subway station)
Elevated (AirTrain JFK station)
Platforms2 side platforms (subway station)
1 island platform (AirTrain JFK station)
Tracks4; 2 in regular service (subway station)
2 (AirTrain JFK station)
Other information
OpenedApril 1913; 111 years ago (1913-04) (LIRR station)
December 17, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-12-17) (AirTrain JFK)
RebuiltJune 28, 1956; 68 years ago (1956-06-28) (subway station)
December 17, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-12-17) (connection to AirTrain JFK)
AccessibleThis station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ADA-accessible
Traffic
2023826,955 Increase 7.9%
Rank325 out of 423
Services
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
Aqueduct–North Conduit Avenuetoward Inwood–207th Street Broad Channeltoward Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue
Preceding station Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Following station
Terminus Howard Beach Train Lefferts Boulevardtoward Airport terminals
Former services
Preceding station Long Island
Rail Road
Following station
Aqueducttoward Woodside Rockaway Beach Division Hamilton Beachtoward Gibson or Rockaway Park
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
Aqueduct Racetracktoward 21st Street–Queensbridge JFK Express Terminus
Jay Street–Borough HallOne-way operation
Location
Howard Beach–JFK Airport station is located in New York City SubwayHoward Beach–JFK Airport stationShow map of New York City SubwayHoward Beach–JFK Airport station is located in New York CityHoward Beach–JFK Airport stationShow map of New York CityHoward Beach–JFK Airport station is located in New YorkHoward Beach–JFK Airport stationShow map of New York
Track layout

Legend
New York City Subway (lower level)
to Aqueduct–North Conduit Ave
to Broad Channel
AirTrain JFK (upper level)
to Lefferts Boulevard
Street map

Station service legend
Symbol Description
Stops all times Stops all times
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only

The Howard Beach–JFK Airport station is a subway/people mover station complex located at Coleman Square between 159th Avenue and 103rd Street in Howard Beach, Queens. The New York City Subway portion of the station is on the IND Rockaway Line and is served by the Rockaway branch of the A train at all times and the Rockaway Park Shuttle during summer weekends. The AirTrain JFK portion of the station complex is served by the AirTrain's Howard Beach branch at all times.

The station was originally a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station along the Rockaway Beach Branch. The LIRR station opened in 1913 to replace the nearby Ramblersville station. The LIRR ceased operations at this station in 1950, and the New York City Transit Authority bought the section of the Rockaway Beach Branch that included this station in 1952. The subway station opened on June 28, 1956. Between 2000 and 2003, the subway station was completely reconstructed and the AirTrain JFK station was built. The rebuilt complex was completed on December 17, 2003, providing easier access to JFK Airport for large parts of the city.

History

The station originally opened in April 1913 as a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station, which replaced the former 1899-built Ramblersville station that was built 0.2 miles (0.32 km) to the south. In 1923, the station was retrofitted with sheltered sheds on both sides of the tracks. On May 8, 1950, a fire broke out between The Raunt and Broad Channel stations, destroying the trestle over Jamaica Bay, cutting service between Hamilton Beach and the Rockaways. The LIRR was bankrupt and unwilling to rebuild the trestle. As a result, the line was sold to the New York City Transit Authority in 1952.

On June 27, 1955, the Howard Beach station, along with all the rest of the Rockaway Beach Branch stations south of the now defunct Ozone Park station, was taken out of service for eight months for restructuring and upgrading of the tracks, so that they could accommodate subway service. During the project, the Howard Beach station, along with the Broad Channel and Far Rockaway stations, was completely rebuilt utilizing a modern design, which included a new overhead passageway between the two platforms. The design was created by architect J. Harold Sandifer, a native of the Rockaways. Many of the parts for the station were prefabricated, speeding construction. On June 28, 1956, the station reopened as a subway station along with the rest of the line. The previous Long Island Rail Road station at this location was razed. Inauguration ceremonies were held at the station as well as at Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn.

In June 1978, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced plans for an "experimental" subway-bus service between Manhattan and JFK Airport, terminating at the Howard Beach subway station where passengers could transfer to a free shuttle bus to the airport. The JFK Express began operation on September 23, 1978, operating as a premium service, with riders paying the additional fare on board. The service ran express on the IND Sixth Avenue Line to West Fourth Street–Washington Square, where it switched to the IND Eighth Avenue Line and ran express to Jay Street–Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. From that point on, it ran non-stop on the IND Fulton Street Line and IND Rockaway Line to Howard Beach–JFK Airport. In its early years, the service was more successful, with 6,000 passengers carried on the maximum day. However, the premium service lost its allure as the rest of the subway system was improved, with reduced crime and new graffiti-free trains. As a result, more passengers opted to take the slower A to Howard Beach. The JFK Express was discontinued on April 15, 1990 due to low ridership, with as few as 3,200 riders per day. The bus service, connecting the station and JFK, continued after JFK Express service ended, and was the only link between the airport and the Howard Beach station at the time. Ridership on the A to the Airport increased after the discontinuation of the JFK Express: in 1995, about 1 million passengers used the A to the Airport.

The station was extensively reconstructed in the early 2000s, undergoing a $50 million overhaul to connect the subway station to the new AirTrain JFK. The project was designed by STV Group and financed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. During the reconstruction of the station, the original subway platforms were demolished and temporary platforms were erected in the center trackways while the new platforms and mezzanine were built. During off-peak hours, trains utilized a single track. The AirTrain structure around the station was completed in 2001, and the AirTrain station opened on December 17, 2003, at which time the shuttle bus was discontinued. The transfer was popular, with 4 million people transferring between the subway and the AirTrain from 2003 to 2007. The AirTrain was designed with the same track height and track gauge as those of the subway, to facilitate a future extension of the subway over the AirTrain system.

Due to extensive damage to the IND Rockaway Line by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, this was the southern terminal for A trains that normally traveled to the Rockaways while the line south of the station was being repaired. Full service to the Rockaways was restored on May 30, 2013.

Station layout

AirTrain platform Track 2 →   Howard Beach Train toward Terminal 8 (Lefferts Boulevard)
Island platform with platform doors Disabled access
Track 1 →   Howard Beach Train toward Terminal 8 (Lefferts Boulevard)
Mezzanine Fare control, overpass, transfer between subway and AirTrain
Subway platforms Side platform Disabled access
Northbound local "A" train toward Inwood–207th Street (Aqueduct–North Conduit Avenue)
Northbound express → No regular service
Southbound express → Trackbed
Southbound local "A" train toward Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue or Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (Broad Channel)
Side platform Disabled access
Ground Street level Exit/entrance via station house
Disabled access Elevators at Coleman Square and 159th Avenue

The subway station is served by the A train at all times and is between Broad Channel to the south and Aqueduct–North Conduit Avenue to the north. During the summertime, Rockaway Park Shuttle trains (which normally operate only between Broad Channel and Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street) are extended to Rockaway Boulevard, so they also serve this station. The AirTrain station is the terminus of the AirTrain's Howard Beach route; the next stop to the east is Lefferts Boulevard.

The station's mezzanine is located in a modern, temperature-controlled, glass-enclosed building above the subway platforms and tracks, measuring 90 feet (27 m) across, with a large stainless steel sign on either side reading "Howard Beach JFK." The mezzanine building contains a small token booth and three turnstile banks between the subway, the AirTrain JFK, and the unpaid area.

New York City Subway platforms

The grade-level New York City Subway station has two side platforms and four tracks with the two center express tracks not used in revenue service. The southbound express track has been severed and has permanently been removed from service, while the northbound express track is unused in regular 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 (5.6 km) to the south. The crossing is the longest stretch of line between two consecutive stations in the system. North of the station, the line ascends on an embankment to crossover Belt Parkway and Conduit Avenue.

Both platforms have concrete windscreens on either end and steel canopies at the portions underneath the center station building. The platforms are offset, with the southbound platform extending slightly to the north, and the northbound platform extending slightly further south. A set of staircases and escalators from each subway platform go up to the station building. There are also two elevators from each platform to the station building. Outside the subway's and AirTrain's fare control, two elevators lead from the station building to street level.

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 Brooklyn-bound platform has a set of emergency doors leading to the parking lot just north of the AirTrain JFK station; they are normally locked, but were in use from December 2012 to May 2013 as a connection to a temporary shuttle bus service instituted after Hurricane Sandy.

Prior to the 2000s reconstruction, the design of the station and overpass resembled that of the Broad Channel station.

AirTrain JFK platform

The AirTrain JFK portion of this station has two tracks and one island platform on the upper level of the station complex. The eastern end of the AirTrain platform leads to Parking Area C. Unlike the New York City Subway platforms, the AirTrain JFK platforms are entirely enclosed and feature platform screen doors, which help the station maintain a constant temperature and prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks. An array of sensors detect a train's position on the track, and only when it is properly aligned will the train's doors open. This enables the AirTrain to use automatic train operation without drivers.

The platform measures approximately 240 feet (73 m). The next stop to the southeast is Lefferts Boulevard. Since it is owned by the Port Authority, it uses a separate fare control from the subway. Passengers must pay their fare when either entering or leaving the station, as this station and Jamaica are the only stations where fares are collected. MetroCard vending machines are located on both sides of fare control.

Exits

The exit from the complex to the Howard Beach neighborhood is on the west side, with a twisting staircase and two elevators going down to the east side of 103rd Street/Coleman Square by the T-intersection with 159th Avenue. A connecting bridge on the east side of the station leads into the AirTrain JFK station. Two High Entry-Exit Turnstiles and one exit-only turnstile are located on the southbound subway platform and leads directly to Coleman Square. The exit on the northbound platform is exit-only, and two emergency gates lead to the parking lot for the Howard Beach–JFK Airport complex.

Gallery

  • A view of the entrance to the station A view of the entrance to the station
  • View of subway platforms, with the transfer building above the platforms View of subway platforms, with the transfer building above the platforms
  • The station as it appeared as it was being reconstructed to allow for a transfer to AirTrain JFK in 2003; note the temporary platform (left) The station as it appeared as it was being reconstructed to allow for a transfer to AirTrain JFK in 2003; note the temporary platform (left)
  • The building housing the AirTrain platforms as seen from the outside of the station The building housing the AirTrain platforms as seen from the outside of the station
  • JFK AirTrain arriving at the station JFK AirTrain arriving at the station
  • Interior of the AirTrain station Interior of the AirTrain station

References

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  14. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M. (November 25, 2009). "If You Took the Train to the Plane, Sing the Jingle". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
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  16. Linder, Bernard (December 2008). "Sixth Avenue Subway Service Changes". New York Division Bulletin. 51 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–4. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
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  19. ^ Gosling, Geoffrey D.; Freeman, Dennis (May 2012). "Case Study Report: John F. Kennedy International Airport AirTrain" (PDF). sjsu.edu. Mineta Transportation Institute, San Jose State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "Project Profile; USA; New York Airtrain" (PDF). UCL Bartlett School of Planning. September 6, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
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  22. ^ "AirTrain JFK Howard Beach Intermodal Center" (PDF). STV Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2016.
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  25. Erlitz, Jeffrey (November 2002). "Tech Talk". New York Division Bulletin. 45 (11). Electric Railroaders' Association: 7, 19. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  26. Scheinbart, Betsy (May 10, 2001). "AirTrain construction starts on Jamaica station". Times Ledger. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  27. Hughes, C. J. (March 25, 2007). "Prices Aren't Supersonic; the Planes Aren't Either". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
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  35. "Aviation". jfkairport.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  36. Cox, Jeremiah (March 30, 2005). "The SMEE train with the ultra modern Howard Beach JFK sign along the glass mezzanine where AirTrain's terminal is". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  37. ^ Dougherty, Peter (2006) . Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
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  40. Cox, Jeremiah (March 30, 2005). "Looking out from the mezzanine level north at the station platforms, this view shows how there offset from each other a bit". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  41. Cox, Jeremiah (December 29, 2008). "Each platform at Howard Beach has an ultra modern canopy with no columns on the platform to hold the metal structure up". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  42. Cox, Jeremiah (July 24, 2013). "An OOS A train running light from Far Rockaway back to a yard has finished bypassing Howard Beach". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  43. *Cox, Jeremiah (May 14, 2005). "Looking down an escalator from the mezzanine level to one of the subway platforms at Howard Beach. The station's mezzanine has that modern airport feel with lots of glass everywhere all over the building". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  44. ^ Cox, Jeremiah (March 30, 2005). "The two High Entrance/Exit Turnstile and one High Exit turnstile that lead street level at Coleman Square to the Rockaway-bound platform at Howard Beach". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  45. Cox, Jeremiah (April 24, 2013). "The large Emergency Exit Only sign hasn't changed outside the temporary turnstiles". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  46. Compare:
  47. ^ Berger, Raymond R. (December 2002). "A Tour of the JFK Airtrain". New York Division Bulletin. 45 (12). Electric Railroaders Association: 4, 16. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  48. Cox, Jeremiah (September 13, 2013). "The A train turnstiles, a crowd is beyond them waiting to pay for Airtrain, if I were in the position I would exit through the A train's turnstile and then pay my fare at the other set of fare gates". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  49. Berger, Raymond R.; Mercado, Raymond J. (January 2004). "JFK Airtrain Update – Revenue Passenger Service Begins". New York Division Bulletin. 47 (1). Electric Railroaders Association: 17–18. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  50. "Cost and Tickets – AirTrain – Ground Transportation – John F. Kennedy International Airport – Port Authority of New York & New Jersey". panynj.org. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  51. ^ "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Ozone Park" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  52. "NYC Official Accessibility Guide" (PDF). nyc.gov. City of New York. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.

External links

Stations of the New York City Subway, by service
"a" train Eighth Avenue Express
Lefferts branch
Rockaways branches
Far Rockaway branch
Rockaway Park branch
See also
Lists by borough (The Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens)
Accessible
Closed
Terminals
Transfer
Commons category
  • Note: Service variations, station closures, and reroutes are not reflected here.
    Stations with asterisks have no regular peak, reverse peak, or midday service on that route. See linked articles for more information.
Stations of the New York City Subway, by line (physical trackage)
Rockaway Line
"A" train
"A" train Far Rockaway branch
"A" trainRockaway Park Shuttle Rockaway Park branch
See also
Lists by borough (The Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Queens)
Accessible
Closed
Terminals
Transfer
Commons category
  • Stations and line segments in italics are closed, demolished, or planned (temporary closures are marked with asterisks). Track connections to other lines' terminals are displayed in brackets. Struck through passenger track connections are closed or unused in regular service.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Historic terminals
Ground
transportation
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See also: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
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