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Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer ​​​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Upper level platform
Station statistics
Address	Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue Queens, New York
Borough	Queens
Locale	Jamaica
Coordinates	40°42′09″N 73°48′00″W / 40.702407°N 73.799973°W / 40.702407; -73.799973
Division	B (BMT/IND)
Line	BMT Archer Avenue Line IND Archer Avenue Line
Services	E  (all times)​ ​   J  (all times) ​   Z  (rush hours, peak direction)
Transit	See 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; 36 years ago (1988-12-11)
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite- direction transfer	N/A
Former/other names	Jamaica Center–Parsons Boulevard
Traffic
2023	5,715,839  9.1%
Rank	39 out of 423
Services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK AirportE ​ ​J  ​Z services split Terminus
Location Show map of New York City SubwayShow map of New York CityShow map of New York
Track layout Legend Upper level to Sutphin Boulevard Lower level to Sutphin Boulevard
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops rush hours in the peak direction only

The Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer station (formerly the Jamaica Center–Parsons Boulevard station and sometimes shortened as the Jamaica Center station) 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 served by E and J trains at all times, as well as Z trains during rush hours in the peak direction.

This station opened on December 11, 1988, as Jamaica Center–Parsons Boulevard, and was renamed in 2004. The station is a major transfer point for buses from eastern Queens, and replaces the old 160th Street and 168th Street stations of the BMT Jamaica Line; the Jamaica Center station is located near the site of the former. It is also near the site of the Long Island Rail Road's now-demolished Union Hall Street station. The station is announced as Jamaica Center on E trains.

History

Construction and opening

The plans for the Archer Avenue Lines emerged in the 1960s under the city and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s Program for Action. The Archer Avenue subway's groundbreaking took place on August 15, 1972, at Archer Avenue and 151st Street, and the station's design started on December 7, 1973. By July 1974, when the federal government announced its approval of a $51.1 million (equivalent to $315,702,834 in 2023) grant for the project, the Parsons Boulevard station was expected to be used by 8,700 passengers during rush hours. Construction of two 200-foot (61 m) tunnels under the nine tracks of the LIRR Main Line in Jamaica began in January 1976. This section, connecting to the Archer Avenue Line's upper-level platform. started at Archer Avenue near 159th Street and ending about 150 feet (46 m) south of South Road near the Atlantic Branch, passing underneath the center of the York College campus. The two tunnels were completed in May 1976; south of these tunnel segments, the line would have been extended south several hundred yards, but this extension was never built.

On September 26, 1980, $40 million of federal funding was transferred to the MTA to build the connection to the Jamaica Line, to complete the Parsons Boulevard station, and the installation of track along the line, including the section south of that station to South Road and 158th Street. Work continued on the connection to the Queens Boulevard Line. The project's opening date at this juncture was October 1984. Plans for the station were completed in-house on June 17, 1981. Bids on the station construction were received on September 21, 1981, and was awarded to A. J. Pegno Construction Corporation for $22,425,415 (equivalent to $75,156,332 in 2023). Work on the station commenced on October 12, 1981.

Because of the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis, the Archer Avenue Line was never fully built to Springfield Boulevard, and was instead truncated to Parsons Boulevard. The shortened version of the line contained three stations and was 2 miles (3.2 km) long. In October 1980, the MTA considered stopping work on the line and on the 63rd Street Line, due to its budget crisis and the bad state of the existing subway system. Due to lack of money, all bidding on new subway and bus projects for the MTA was suspended in 1981, except for the already-built portions of the 63rd Street and Archer Avenue lines, which were allowed to continue. In September 1983, the project was 80 percent complete, and was expected to be in operation in fall 1985. Construction was completed a year ahead of schedule, in 1983, but was delayed for several more years due to various disputes. The station opened along with the rest of the Archer Avenue Line on December 11, 1988.

Post-opening

On December 14, 1991, a display titled "Astoria–Dreams of New York," a 32 feet (9.8 m)-long mural, consisting of seven portraits of first-generation Greek immigrants was removed from the station for not including any pictures of African Americans, seven days after going up. The artist, Eugenia Marketou, called the decision "censorship of the worst kind." The piece was removed at the request of the directors of the Arts for Transit program after a negative public reaction, which included their defacement with graffiti and protest stickers. A dozen African American riders had complained to the agency. On the same date, a $70,000 sculpture called "Jamaica Center Stations Riders, Blue," which was created by well-known African American artist Sam Gilliam, was unveiled at the station. The sculpture was funded through the MTA Arts for Transit program, which allocates 1 percent of capital construction costs for art projects. After negotiations between Marketou and his agency took place, it was reinstalled on February 6, 1992, with a banner stating "Portraits of the Greek Immigrant Community" added in addition to the tile. In addition, Marketou agreed to appear in front of it during three rush hours to explain it. One of the photographs was removed in the following two weeks. The exhibit was only scheduled to stay until May 6, 1992.

To save energy, the MTA installed variable-speed escalators at Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer and three other subway stations in August 2008, although not all of the escalators initially functioned as intended.

In 2020, the MTA announced that it would reconstruct the track and third rail on the IND Archer Avenue Line, which had become deteriorated. From September 19 to November 2, 2020, E service was cut back to Jamaica–Van Wyck, with a shuttle bus connecting to Sutphin Boulevard and Jamaica Center. The MTA then announced it would reconstruct the track on the BMT Archer Avenue Line. Starting on July 1, 2022, J service was cut back to 121st Street, and Z service was temporarily discontinued, with a shuttle bus connecting to Sutphin Boulevard and Jamaica Center. The work was completed in September 2022. The lower-level platform underwent structural and esthetic renovations in mid-2023.

Station layout

Ground	Street level	Exit/entrance
Mezzanine		Fare control, station agents, MetroCard and OMNY machines Elevator on south side of Archer Avenue at Parsons Boulevard
Basement 2 IND platform	Westbound	← toward World Trade Center (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
	Island platform
	Westbound	← toward World Trade Center (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
Basement 3 BMT platform	Westbound	← toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport) ← AM rush toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
	Island platform
	Westbound	← toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport) ← AM rush toward Broad Street (Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)

The Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer station contains two levels, each with two tracks and an island platform. The E train serves the upper level (IND) at all times. The J and Z trains serve the lower level (BMT); the former operates all times and the latter operates during rush hours in the peak direction. The station is the eastern terminus of all service; the next stop to the west is Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport. Like the other stations on the Archer Avenue Line, Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer is fully ADA-accessible. 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.

As with other stations constructed as part of the Program for Action, the Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer station contained technologically advanced features such as air-cooling, noise insulation, CCTV monitors, public announcement systems, electronic platform signage, and escalator and elevator entrances. This station has ten escalators and two elevators.

This station has tan brick walls and red brick floor on both levels. The coved trapezoidal ceilings are suspended and have metal slats.

Exits

There are two entrances to this station. The first one is at the very east end of the station and connects with Parsons Boulevard. 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 with nine 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 near the southeast corner of the intersection. This entrance contains a 1991 artwork called Jamaica Center Station Riders by Sam Gilliam made up of blue painted aluminum.

The second exit is near the middle of the platforms and connects with 153rd Street. 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 are fire regular turnstiles, five High Entry-Exit Turnstiles, and two high exit-only turnstiles. 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 at the northeast corner of Archer Avenue and 153rd Street.

Infrastructure

West of the station, both levels feature diamond crossovers, which are halfway between this station and Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue.

The tracks on both levels extend past the station for possible future extensions, but are currently used for storage. On the lower level, they continue one train length of about 480 feet (150 m) and end at bumper blocks at 160th Street; they were originally planned to extend as far as Merrick Boulevard. 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). 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 end at bumper blocks near Tuskegee Airmen Way (formerly South Road). This was the site of the line's original groundbreaking in 1973. The plan was for this line to use the LIRR Locust Manor Branch (Atlantic) ROW and run to Springfield Boulevard or Rosedale LIRR station. Where the upper level tracks stub end, there is a provision for a portal to go outside if the line going to Southeastern Queens is ever built. The tunnel was originally planned to curve west towards the Atlantic ROW just north of Liberty Avenue, running underneath the York College Athletic Field.

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.

Ridership

In 2018, the station had 10,681,269 boardings, making it the 27th most used station in the 423-station system. This amounted to an average of 922,959 passengers per weekday.

Gallery

• The western mezzanine
• The main entrance, located at the northeast corner of Archer Avenue and Parsons Boulevard

Jamaica Center Bus Terminal

The subway complex includes the Jamaica Center Bus Terminal, a series of bus stops located along Archer Avenue (primarily along the south side of the street next to the LIRR right of way). The bus stop areas are 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". It serves as a major transit hub within Jamaica. 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. Several of the trolley lines were the predecessors to current bus service.

Jamaica Center is also a hub for dollar vans in the New York metropolitan area.

Nearby points of interest

• King Manor
• York College
• Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning

References

1. "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
2. ^ "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
3. "Full text of "Metropolitan transportation, a program for action. Report to Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor of New York."". Internet Archive. November 7, 1967. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
4. Shapiro, Hal (August 16, 1972). "A Groundbreaking... With an Eye on the El". Long Island Press.
5. McCallum, Ann (February 3, 1974). "Something Big Under Archer Avenue–a Subway". Long Island Press. p. 9.
6. ^ "Archer Avenue Extension Ceremony 1988". New York City Transit Authority. December 1988. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
7. Portnoy, Sandra (July 3, 1974). "U.S. Puts $51 Million in Archer Ave. Turnstile". Long Island Press.
8. Rabin, Bernard (March 6, 1975). "New Subway's Burrowing Along". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
9. "2 Jamaica Tunnels Completed". Long Island Press. May 23, 1976.
10. ^ Rabin, Bernard (September 26, 1980). "Archer Ave. Subway Gets $40 Million Fed Boost". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
11. Logan, Betti (September 26, 1980). "U.S. Pledges Aid For Archer Ave. Subway Project". Newsday.
12. ^ Johnson, Kirk (December 9, 1988). "Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
13. Allen, Joy (October 11, 1980). "Manes Warns MTA on Subways Vows to Fight Any Move to Suspend Extension of Two Lines to Pay for Maintenance". Newsday.
14. Cummings, Judith (February 25, 1981). "Subway Maintenance Cited As 'Emergency'; Bddng Is Suspended". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
15. Rabin, Bernard (September 26, 1983). "Archer Ave. Subway 2 Years Away: MTA". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
16. Schmalz, Jeffrey (August 18, 1985). "U.S. Holds Up Ad For Subway Work". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
17. Anders, Marjorie; Associated Press (December 11, 1988). "Subways Get Biggest Change Since 1904" (PDF). Nyack Journal News. p. I1. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via fultonhistory.com.
18. Finder, Alan (February 7, 1992). "Settling a Subway Art Dispute, Artfully: Photos Are Reinstalled but Artist Must Explain Her Work to Critics". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
19. Leahy, Jack (December 15, 1991). "Am I Blue? Just Ask IND's New Sculpture". New York Daily News.
20. Cox, Robert B. (December 20, 1991). "Art Exhibit Goes Off the Wall". Newsday.
21. "Subway Exhibit Reinstalled". Newsday. February 18, 1992.
22. Chan, Sewell (August 6, 2008). "M.T.A. Rolls Out Escalators With Conservation Features". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
23. Chan, Sewell (August 11, 2008). "Bumpy Start for 'Green' Subway Escalators". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
24. "Press Release – NYC Transit – MTA to Perform Critical Track Replacement Work at End of E Line in Queens Next Month". MTA. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
25. Pozarycki, Robert (August 28, 2020). "Two Queens Meetings on Major Track Work at End of E Line in Jamaica". amNewYork. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
26. ^ Parry, Bill (June 6, 2022). "MTA track replacement work will shut down J and Z lines in southeast Queens for much of summer". QNS.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
27. "MTA to alter service to complete track replacement project". Spectrum News NY1 New York City. June 3, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
28. "MTA to begin final phase of critical track replacement work in Queens next month". Railway Track and Structures. June 6, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
29. Parry, Bill (June 26, 2023). "MTA refurbishes subway station in Jamaica, offering riders a safer, cleaner experience". QNS.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
30. ^ "17: Transit and Pedestrians". Jamaica Rezoning Final Environmental Impact Statement (PDF). New York City Department of City Planning. 2007. p. 17.4. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
31. "Tracks of the New York City Subway". Tracks of the New York City Subway. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
32. "E Subway Timetable, Effective April 1, 2024". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
33. "J/Z Subway Timetable, Effective December 15, 2024". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
34. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
35. "MTA Accessible Stations". MTA. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
36. Burks, Edward C. (August 7, 1976). "New York Improving Subways, But Still Trails Foreign Cities". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
37. "MTA Accessible Stations". MTA. July 11, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
38. ^ "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Jamaica" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
39. "www.nycsubway.org: New York City Subway Track Maps". www.nycsubway.org. October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
40. ^ Raskin, Joseph B. (2013). The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System. New York, New York: Fordham University Press. doi:10.5422/fordham/9780823253692.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-82325-369-2.
41. ^ 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 July 10, 2016.
42. ^ Archer Ave Route (Proposed) Construction, Queens: Environmental Impact Statement. Urban Mass Transit Administration, United States Department of Transportation. August 1973. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
43. ^ Burks, Edward C. (October 24, 1973). "Work Begun on Queens Subway Extension" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
44. Burks, Edward C. (March 9, 1975). "Building Progresses On Subway In Jamaica" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
45. ^ Burks, Edward C. (September 24, 1976). "Coming: Light at End of 63d St. Tunnel" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
46. "Jamaica Bus Improvement Study" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of Transportation. May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
47. ^ 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 December 20, 2015.
48. ^ 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 December 20, 2015.
49. ^ "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Jamaica" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2020.

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
• Upper level from Google Maps Street View
• Lower level from Google Maps Street View

v t e Stations of the New York City Subway, by service
Eighth Avenue Local	Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport Jamaica–Van Wyck Briarwood* Kew Gardens–Union Turnpike 75th Avenue* Forest Hills–71st Avenue 67th Avenue* 63rd Drive–Rego Park* Woodhaven Boulevard* Grand Avenue–Newtown* Elmhurst Avenue* Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue 65th Street* Northern Boulevard* 46th Street* Steinway Street* 36th Street* Queens Plaza Court Square–23rd Street Lexington Avenue–53rd Street Fifth Avenue/53rd Street Seventh Avenue 50th Street 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal 34th Street–Penn Station 23rd Street 14th Street West Fourth Street–Washington Square Spring Street Canal Street World Trade Center
Nassau Street Local	Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport 121st Street 111th Street 104th Street Woodhaven Boulevard 85th Street–Forest Parkway 75th Street–Elderts Lane Cypress Hills Crescent Street Norwood Avenue Cleveland Street Van Siclen Avenue Alabama Avenue Broadway Junction Chauncey Street Halsey Street Gates Avenue Kosciuszko Street Myrtle Avenue Flushing Avenue Lorimer Street Hewes Street Marcy Avenue Essex Street Bowery Canal Street Chambers Street Fulton Street Broad Street
Nassau Street Express	Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport 121st Street 104th Street Woodhaven Boulevard 75th Street–Elderts Lane Crescent Street Norwood Avenue Van Siclen Avenue Alabama Avenue Broadway Junction Chauncey Street Gates Avenue Myrtle Avenue Marcy Avenue Essex Street Bowery Canal Street Chambers Street Fulton Street Broad Street
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.

v t e Stations of the New York City Subway, by line (physical trackage)
Archer Ave. Lines ​​​	[← to Briarwood, Queens Blvd. Line] Jamaica–Van Wyck (IND only) [← to 121st Street, Jamaica Line] Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer
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.

v t e MTA Regional Bus Operations
Routes	Bronx (Bx-) Brooklyn (B-) Manhattan (M-) Queens (Q-) Staten Island (S-) Express (BM-, BxM-, QM-, SIM-, X-) Select Bus Service
Fleet	Current
Transit hubs	165th Street Coney Island Canarsie Eltingville Fordham Plaza George Washington Bridge Jamaica Center Kings Plaza Ridgewood St. George Staten Island Mall Victor A. Moore Williamsburg Bridge Plaza
Other	Access-A-Ride Apps Bus Time MYmta Bus depots Bus lanes Bus stop signage Fares MetroCard OMNY Guide-A-Ride Transportation in New York City
Official website

• Accessible New York City Subway stations
• Archer Avenue Line stations
• Program for Action
• New York City Subway stations in Queens, New York
• Railway stations in the United States opened in 1988
• New York City Subway transfer stations
• Jamaica, Queens
• 1988 establishments in New York City
• New York City Subway terminals