BMT Jamaica Line

Route map:
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the BMT line under Broadway in Manhattan, see BMT Broadway Line.

BMT Jamaica Line
600V DC third rail
Route map

Legend
168th Street
160th Street
Sutphin Boulevard
Queens Boulevard
Metropolitan Avenue
Archer Avenue Line
121st Street
111th Street
104th Street
Woodhaven Boulevard
85th Street–Forest Parkway
75th Street–Elderts Lane
Queens
Brooklyn
 Cypress Hills
Crescent Street
Norwood Avenue
Cleveland Street
Van Siclen Avenue
Alabama Avenue
Lefferts Boulevard
East New York Yard
Canarsie Line
 Broadway Junction
(Bay Ridge Branch)
Fulton Street Line
to Jay Street–MetroTech
 Chauncey Street
Halsey Street
Gates Avenue
former BMT Lexington Avenue Line
 Kosciuszko Street
Myrtle Avenue Line
 Myrtle Avenue
(upper level abandoned)
former Myrtle Avenue Line
Park Avenue
 Flushing Avenue
Lorimer Street
Crosstown Line
 Hewes Street
Marcy Avenue
Driggs Avenue
Broadway Ferry
Williamsburg Bridge (East River)
Brooklyn
Manhattan
Nassau Street Line
Legend
Closed station
This diagram:

The BMT Jamaica Line, also known as the Broadway - Brooklyn Line, is an elevated

Myrtle Avenue
.

The longest elevated line in the system, the Jamaica Line includes the oldest existing elevated structure in the system – the original 1885 line of the

Van Siclen Avenue
– as well as the newest elevated structure, the 1988 ramp into the Archer Avenue subway.

The

K) and current M services were an exception to this, with Jamaica, Broadway Junction, or Metropolitan Avenue remaining the south terminal, since they used the Chrystie Street Connection from the Jamaica Line to the IND Sixth Avenue Line
.

Description

Three tracks over Broadway
Elevated ramp to Archer Avenue

The Jamaica Line includes a variety of structures. The original BMT Jamaica Line started from

Marcy Avenue, from the west. This section, which was called the "Broadway Spur", has a short, but easily seen remnant (about one-half of a block in length, no tracks, just maintenance buildings) west and south of where the line curves toward the Williamsburg Bridge.[3]

From Marcy Avenue to a point just before

Broadway Junction, a third middle trackway exists and elevates over the other two tracks, ending just west of the Alabama Avenue station. This track was intended to be an express track,[4]
but engineering studies completed after the work started indicated that the vibration of trains passing over the stations would be too severe and would literally shake the stations apart.

Between Crescent Street station and Cypress Hills, the line runs on an "S-curve", turning north from

111th Street[3]
and another between 160th Street and 168th Street on the now-demolished original end of the line.

Four curves on the line, including the two on the Jamaica Avenue "S-curve", are among the 30 sharpest curves in the subway system. The curve west of Marcy Avenue has radii of 175 and 190 feet (53 and 58 m) for Manhattan- and Queens-bound trains, respectively. The curve from Broadway Junction to Alabama Avenue has a radius of 175 feet (53 m). The curve east of Crescent Street has radii of 175 and 180 feet (53 and 55 m) and the curve west of Cypress Hills has radii of 210 and 200 feet (64 and 61 m), both respectively for Manhattan- and Queens-bound trains.[5]: 55  As with other BMT Eastern Division lines, the Jamaica Line can only accommodate trains with eight 60-foot-long (18 m) or eight 67-foot-long (20 m) cars. Due to the narrow turning radiuses of the lines, 75-foot-long (23 m) cars (R44, R46, R68, R68A) could not be used on the Eastern Division.[5]: 57 

History

The Jamaica Line seen in the 1940s

The Union Elevated Railroad, leased to the

free transfer was available at Gates Avenue to Lexington Avenue trains towards Downtown Brooklyn.[12] The Broadway Elevated was extended to Broadway Ferry on July 14, 1888.[13]

An extension of the Broadway Elevated east to

Park Avenue Elevated.[14] On May 30, 1903, a connection between the Broadway Elevated and trolley tracks was completed south of the Cypress Hills terminal. Known as the Cypress Hills Incline, it allowed trains to run to 168th Street in Jamaica via Jamaica Avenue. This service was discontinued on December 30, 1903, due to traffic congestion in Jamaica.[15]

A connection to the

168th Street was opened on July 3, 1918.[7][16]

Joint service with the

Penn Station). This service ended in 1917 when the United States Railroad Administration took over the LIRR, and classified different operating standards between rapid transit trains and regular heavy rail railroads such as the LIRR.[17]: 59  In Fiscal Year 1930, the platforms at Kosciuszko Street were lengthened to accommodate an eight-car train of Standard subway cars.[18]

Power substation at 144th Place adjacent to a former section of the elevated tracks

By the time the

Queens Boulevard) were closed in 1985, with the line there being demolished in 1990. The Archer Avenue subway was opened in 1988. Two remnants of the former Jamaica El in Jamaica itself still exist today: the 144th Place power substation, which is now used for the Archer Avenue subway, and the station house and tower for 168th Street, which can be found on the southeast corner of Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street and is now used as a Boston Market restaurant. [22]

In 1986, the New York City Transit Authority launched a study to determine whether to close 79 stations on 11 routes, including the segment of the Jamaica Line east of Crescent Street, due to low ridership and high repair costs.[23][24] Numerous figures, including New York City Council member Carol Greitzer, criticized the plans.[24][25]

Eastern Jamaica Line third track proposals

On July 7, 1934, the Transit Commission ordered that the BMT construct a transformer in Woodhaven at 77th Street, which would provide more power, and therefore it would allow the construction of a third track on the Jamaica El.[26]

In 1958, the

Eastern Parkway and Cypress Hills with a new structure above Jamaica Avenue, with new stops built.[28]

111th Street
, the only station on the Jamaica Line east of Broadway Junction with three tracks

On October 9, 1958, because of a lack of funds and because of community opposition, the City Planning Commission removed the project from the capital outlay budget.

Marcy Avenue. The Planning Commission killed the plan in the prior year, because of insufficient evidence that there was a need for such a project.[31]

On June 18, 1959, skip-stop service was implemented on the Jamaica El, with trains stopping at alternate stations between 168th Street and Eastern Parkway with the hope of enticing riders from the IND Queens Boulevard Line to use the new skip-stop service. If skip-stop service was a success, the Transit Authority would have shelved the triple-tracking project.[32]

The project, as it was planned in 1962, would have necessitated the condemnation of about 200 homes and would have cost $35 million. The only express stop between

Woodhaven Boulevard, which would have needed to be reconstructed to allow for express platforms to be built.[27] The project had serious community opposition, with the district leader of the 13th Assembly District, Arthur A. Gray, saying that the project was "an unnecessary and unwarranted renovation of an antiquated elevated structure in which the transportation needs of our community are sacrificed for the convenience of the many Nassau residents who board the line at its Jamaica terminus." The project was thought as becoming worthless in a few years, as Jamaica was planned to become a big shopping center, and therefore, the el would have had to come down. Suggestions were made to raze the elevated in this section to allow for a shopping mall in Woodhaven.[27] The City Planning Commission continued to oppose the project on the grounds of the "inadequacies of the project".[27]

The NYCTA once again requested for funds for the third-tracking of the Jamaica Line for its 1965–1966 fiscal year. This time the projected cost would have been reduced to $16.45 million.[33] In November 1967, William Ronan, chairman of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority, and later the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, suggested that money from a transportation bond issue could have paid for the installment of the third track on the line.[34]

Service patterns

The following services use part or all of the BMT Jamaica Line:[35]

  Time period Section of line
Rush hours Middays Evenings
and weekends 		Late nights
"J" train
  • express west of Myrtle Avenue in peak direction
  • skip-stop east of Myrtle Avenue
 express west of Myrtle Avenue in peak direction, local elsewhere all stops entire line
"Z" train no service
"M" train local Myrtle Avenue only west of Myrtle Avenue

The line has had two major service patterns: the

15 Jamaica Line. Eventually, the 14 became the KK (which became the K in 1974) and the 15 the J; the K was eliminated in 1976. The Z was introduced in 1988 to provide skip-stop
service with the J, using the same pattern that the 14/K and 15/J formerly used in multiple instances throughout their history.

Nomenclature

From its acquisition by the BRT to and beyond city ownership in 1940, the portion of the line from its western terminus to Cypress Hills was known as the Broadway El or the Broadway-Brooklyn Line, to distinguish from the underground Broadway-Manhattan Line. Beyond that point it was known as the Jamaica Avenue El or the Jamaica Line. Subsequent to city takeover, the dividing line between the Broadway and Jamaica Avenue Lines was often considered to be the more westerly station at Eastern Parkway, now known as Broadway Junction.

Since the discontinuance of separate Broadway-Brooklyn services, the entire line is now known as the Jamaica Line.

Station listing

Station service legend
Stops all times Stops all times
Stops all times except late nights Stops all times except late nights
Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekdays during the day
Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Time period details
Disabled access Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Disabled access ↑ Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
in the indicated direction only
Disabled access ↓
Elevator access to mezzanine only
Neighborhood
(approximate) 		Disabled access Station Tracks Services Opened Transfers and notes
Queens
Jamaica Demolished section of original line
168th Street July 3, 1918[7] Closed September 10, 1977,[36] replaced by Q49 bus. Bus abandoned December 11, 1988.
160th Street July 3, 1918[7] Closed September 10, 1977,[37] replaced by Q49 bus. Bus abandoned December 11, 1988.
Sutphin Boulevard July 3, 1918[7] Closed September 10, 1977,[37] replaced by Q49 bus. Bus abandoned December 11, 1988.
Queens Boulevard July 3, 1918[7] Closed April 15, 1985,[38] replaced by Q49 bus. Bus abandoned December 11, 1988.
Metropolitan Avenue July 3, 1918[7] Closed April 15, 1985,[39] replaced by Q49 bus. Bus abandoned December 11, 1988.
 
Begins as continuation of
Z rush hours, peak direction
)
Richmond Hill 121st Street all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		July 3, 1918[7]
JFK Airport
111th Street all
J all times
 		May 28, 1917[40]
104th Street all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 28, 1917[40] Earlier 102nd Street
Woodhaven Woodhaven Boulevard all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 28, 1917[40] Q52/Q53 Select Bus Service
Jamaica Center-bound trains will not stop here because of renovations until Summer 2023.
85th Street–Forest Parkway all
J all times
 		May 28, 1917[40] Earlier Forest Parkway
75th Street–Elderts Lane all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 28, 1917[40] Earlier Elderts Lane
Jamaica Center-bound trains will not stop here because of renovations until Summer 2023.
Brooklyn
Cypress Hills
 Cypress Hills all
J all times
 		May 30, 1893[11]
Crescent Street all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 30, 1893[11]
Norwood Avenue all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 30, 1893[11]
Cleveland Street all
J all times
 		May 30, 1893[11] Earlier Cleveland Avenue
East New York Van Siclen Avenue all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		December 3, 1885[41]
Alabama Avenue all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		September 5, 1885

[42]

Connecting tracks to
East New York Yard
Center express track begins (no regular service)
Merge to local tracks with connection from BMT Canarsie Line (no regular service)
Broadway Junction all
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		June 14, 1885

[43]

A all times ​C all except late nights (IND Fulton Street Line)
L all times (BMT Canarsie Line)
Connection to LIRR at East New York
Earlier Manhattan Beach Crossing or Manhattan Junction or Eastern Parkway
Connecting track to
East New York Yard
Bedford–Stuyvesant/
Bushwick 		Chauncey Street local
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		July 18, 1885[44]
Halsey Street local
J all times
 		August 19, 1885[45]
Gates Avenue local
Z rush hours, peak direction
 		May 13, 1885[46]
Kosciuszko Street local
J all times
 		June 25, 1888[10]
B46 Select Bus Service
Merge with BMT Myrtle Avenue Line (M all times)
Myrtle Avenue all
Z rush hours, peak direction
​ 		June 25, 1888[10] originally at Stuyvesant Avenue, moved for the
Myrtle Avenue Elevated transfer by April 1889[47]
Park Avenue June 25, 1888[10] Closed June 5, 1916
Williamsburg Disabled access Flushing Avenue local
J all times except weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., peak direction ​M all times except late nights
 		June 25, 1888[10] B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport
Lorimer Street local
J all times except weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., peak direction ​M all times except late nights
 		June 25, 1888[10]
Hewes Street local
J all times except weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., peak direction ​M all times except late nights
 		June 25, 1888[10]
Crossovers to local tracks (
Z rush hours, peak direction
)
Disabled access Marcy Avenue local
Z rush hours, peak direction
​ 		June 25, 1888[citation needed]
B44 SBS
Center express track ends as stub within Marcy Ave station
Continues over
Z rush hours, peak direction
​)
 
Williamsburg Demolished section of original line
Driggs Avenue June 25, 1888[10] Closed July 3, 1916[48]
Broadway Ferry July 14, 1888[13] Closed July 3, 1916[48]

References

  1. ^ "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. QJ
    .
  3. ^
    OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books
    .
  4. ^ "City Transit Unit Seeks 141 Million: Funds for Buses and BMT Cars Included in Budget" (PDF). The New York Times. July 18, 1962. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Broadway Junction Transportation Study: NYC Department of City Planning Final Report-November 2008" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of City Planning. November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Woodhavenites Fear Loss of Homes by El Improvement: Residents Clamor for Facts About City's Plan to Build El Structure Through Heart of Community; Official Statement Released by Transit Authority". The Leader–Observer. October 2, 1958. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h
  8. New York Municipal Railway Corporation. 1915. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "Annual Report of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. for The Year Ending June 30, 1912" (PDF). bmt-lines.com. Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. June 30, 1912. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  10. ^
    Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . June 25, 1888. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  11. ^
    Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . May 30, 1893. p. 10. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  12. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . July 20, 1888. p. 4. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  13. ^
    Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . July 13, 1888. p. 1. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  14. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . May 28, 1893. p. 16. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  15. ^ Rogoff, Dave (April 1968). "Crescent Street Incline". New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association.
  16. ^ "Annual Report of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. for The Year Ending June 30, 1918" (PDF). bmt-lines.com. Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  17. ^ ERA Headlights. Electric Railroaders Association. 1956.
  18. ^ New York (State). Transit Commission. (1930). Tenth Annual Report, 1930. Columbia University Libraries. Albany, N.Y. : J.B. Lyon Co.
  19. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  20. ^ Cunningham, Joseph; DeHart, Leonard O. (January 1, 1993). A History of the New York City Subway System. J. Schmidt, R. Giglio, and K. Lang.
  21. ^ Breslin, Rosemary (May 22, 1983). "After a Long Slide, Hope For Jamaica". NY Times. NY Times. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  22. ^ "Google Maps".
  23. ^ Brooke, James (April 29, 1986). "Subway Aides to Weigh Cuts on 11 Routes". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Gordy, Margaret (April 29, 1986). "MTA Studies Citywide Cuts in Subway Lines, Stations". Newsday. pp. 3, 27. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Finder, Alan; Connelly, Mary (May 4, 1986). "The Region; On Shrinking The Subways". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Express 'L' Service to 168th Street Looms: Transformer Ordered at 77th Street: New Stream-Lined Cars Will Appear on Jamaica Line". The Press Service Page. July 7, 1934. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  27. ^ a b c d "Third Tracking of Jamaica Avenue "L" Called a Disgrace: Grey Calls Proposal 'Unnecessary Unwarranted Renovation of Antiquated Elevated Structure'; City Planning Commission Has Repeatedly Turned Down the Plan". The Leader–Observer. August 16, 1962. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  28. ^ "Is It For Real?". The Leader–Observer. October 16, 1958. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  29. ^ "Lack of Funds Kills Unwanted El Project: City Planning Commission Removes Item From Next Year's Capital Budget; Local Residents Rejoice on Hearing Homes Will Not Be Taken". The Leader–Observer. October 9, 1958. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  30. ^ Fitzergerald, Owen (July 15, 1959). "Cashmore Again Hits BMT Plan". New York World–Telegram. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  31. ^ "Patterson Asks Third Track El Construction: Personal Appearance Lends Weight to Bid Before Commission". The Leader–Observer. August 20, 1959. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  32. ^ "BMT 3rd Track Plan May Be Abandoned". New York World Telegram and Sun. August 26, 1959. Retrieved July 27, 2016 – via Fulton History.
  33. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  34. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  35. ^ "Subway Service Guide" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  36. ^ Dembart, Lee (September 9, 1977). "A Sentimental Journey on the BMT..." (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  37. ^ a b Lee Dembart, The New York Times, A Sentimental Journey on the BMT, September 9, 1977, page 61
  38. ^ "www.nycsubway.org".
  39. ^ "www.nycsubway.org".
  40. ^ a b c d e
  41. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . December 3, 1885. p. 4.
  42. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . September 5, 1885. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  43. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . June 13, 1885. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  44. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . July 18, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  45. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . August 19, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  46. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY
    . May 13, 1885. p. 1. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  47. ^ "Brooklyn Daily Eagle: It Reaches Broadway (April 5, 1889)". bklyn.newspapers.com.
  48. ^ a b BMT Lines: Brooklyn Manhattan Transit: A History as Seen Through the Company's Maps, Guides and other Documents: 1923-1939," by James Poulous

External links

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