For photos please see www nycsubway.org

Parsons/Archer Jamaica Center Opened 12/11/1988 this station sits at the central hub of Downtown Jamaica and is the terminus of both E and J/Z trains. The station was not intended to be a terminal, as a late 1960’s MTA master plan show the lines were planned to extend down Merrick Blvd, towards either Springfield Gardens or JFK Airport. The plans were cut short and construction was halted, during the 70’s fiscal crisis. Noting the overburdened 169^th Street/Hillside Ave station, which this station is inadequate to accommodate crowds through narrow staircases, the first 2 MTA Capital Programs helped put Jamaica Center and 2 other stations on the subway map. It also ensured the J line’s presence into the 21^st Century, as it was being cut back from 168^th Street to 121^st Street on 2 separate occasions, the first due to a fire that gutted part of the 168^th Street station, the other to allow a new track connection to take place. The current terminal station has 2 levels and is fully ADA accessible. The upper level is for E trains, while the lower level is for J/Z trains. Neither level has track connections from one level to another, although it is possible to run a train from one level, through Manhattan, and come back to Jamaica Center on the other level. Each level is 2 tracks and 2 island platforms/ F/T side has 1 wide set of street stairs, 2 escalators, one on each side on Archer Ave, an elevator, newsstand, 1 escalator and stair to upper level, 2 escalators directly to lower level from mezzanine, and one elevator from mezzanine to both platform levels. The elevator and south escalator leads to an outdoor intermodal bus terminal which serves several NYCT bus routes to most of southeastern Queens and one LI Bus line (Route N4) to Freeport, Long Island. Many other bus routes from various companies are a short walk away from this station. The P/T side at 153^rd Street has 3 street stairs, one escalator to the same bus terminal, 1 set of escalators to each level from the mezzanine area, and 1 staircase from upper to lower level.

Sutphin/ Archer/JFK ( formerly Sutphin Blvd/Archer Ave, Archer Ave at Sutphin Blvd) Opened 12/11/1988: This station has the same bi-level setup as Jamaica Center (2 tracks on each island platform level), and is an important feeder connection to the LIRR’s Jamaica Hub station, AirTrain, as well as numerous local bus routes in the area. Though the station is young, it already is in need of a little bit of TLC. The platforms are extra wide on the upper level. Station has 4 street stairs, 1 stair/1 pair of escalators fro mezzanine to upper level, 2 stairs/2 escalators from upper to lower levels. Newest exits are 2 escalators leading to the LIRR and AirTrain stations on the southeastern end of the circular mezzanine.

We now rise upward and curve unto Jamaica Avenue. To the right are the LIRR Main Line Tracks to Penn Station. This is the newest section of the BMT and replaces the old Jamaica El from north of 121^st Street to 168^th Street which was demolished. For a discussion of these stations please see the JJ Line Page.

121^st Street (on Jamaica Avenue at 121^st Street) opened 12/12/1916 and has two tracks and two wall platforms. The north exit leads to 123^rd street and is open via high exit on the northbound side only. The north Mezzanine is closed and has a ghost booth. The south exit has a crossunder and leads to 121^st street.

111^th Street (on Jamaica Avenue at 111^th Street) opened 6/11/1917 and has three tracks and two wall platforms. The center track is used for storage and was used to turn trains while the El was being torn down north of 121^st and the Archer Avenue subway line was being built. The north exit is sealed and is used for storage and offices. It probably had a crossunder and a ghost booth. The South exit leads to 111^th street and has a crossunder.

104^th Street (on Jamaica Avenue at 104^th Street) opened 6/11/1917 and has two tracks and two wall platforms It was formerly known as 102^nd-104^th Street but renamed when the south exit to 102^nd street was sealed. It probably had a crossunder but no formal proof is available. The north exit has a crossunder and leads to 104th street. This station has an artwork entitled "Five Points of Observation and was installed in 1990 to 1993. It was designed by Kathleen McCarthy and affords a view of the street from the platforms and resembles a face when seen from the street

Woodhaven Boulevard (on Jamaica Avenue at Woodhaven Boulevard) opened 6/11/1917 and has two tracks and two wall platforms. This station has an artwork entitled "Five Points of Observation and was installed in 1990 to 1993. It was designed by Kathleen McCarthy and affords a view of the street from the platforms and resembles a face when seen from the street. The north exit leads to 95^th street and has a crossunder and a ghost booth and the south exit with a crossunder leads to Woodhaven Blvd.

85^th Street Forest Parkway (on Jamaica Avenue at Forest Parkway) opened 6/11/1917 and has two tracks and two wall platforms. This station has an artwork entitled "Five Points of Observation and was installed in 1990 to 1993. It was designed by Kathleen McCarthy and affords a view of the street from the platforms and resembles a face when seen from the street. The north exit, which is open leads to 85^th street and has a crossunder. The south exit, if it exited is closed. The dual name has recently been restored to station signage.

75^th Street Elderts Lane (on Jamaica Avenue at Elderts Lane) opened 6/11/1917 and has two tracks and two wall platforms. The dual name has recently been restored to station signage. The north exit leads to 75^th street and has a crossunder. The south exit, if it existed, is sealed. The station is in two Boroughs—the north end is in queens and the south end is in Brooklyn. This station has an artwork entitled "Five Points of Observation and was installed in 1990 to 1993. It was designed by Kathleen McCarthy and affords a view of the street from the platforms and resembles a face when seen from the street.

Cypress Hills (on Jamaica Avenue at Hemlock Street, Autumn Avenue and Crescent Street) opened 6/11/1917 and has two tracks and two wall platforms. This station has an artwork entitled "Five Points of Observation and was installed in 1990 to 1993. It was designed by Kathleen McCarthy and affords a view of the street from the platforms and resembles a face when seen from the street. Northbound has a high exit at the north end. The southbound north exit has been removed, The Mezzanine is closed and probably had a crossunder.. The South exit, which leads to Hemlock Street, Autumn Avenue and Crescent Street, has a crossunder. Leaving here we enter the oldest section of the system dating to the 1890s and a highlight of the line- The S Curve unto Crescent Street.

Cypress Hills Terminal (on Crescent Street South of Jamaica Avenue) was the former end of the line before the Jamaica Avenues line was opened. It had an island platform and stub ended past the station. All that remains is the girders once holding the platform and a short stub near the cemetery. Most of the crescent street section has three tracks with the center track used to short turn trains from either end. The curve end near Crescent Street Station has been eased. A careful examination of the structure shows the original track locations. We are now over Fulton Street in Brooklyn. According to various sources the line had wall platforms originally. All 5 are planned for renovations starting this fall. The contractor is Ahern Painting Company.

Crescent Street (on Fulton Street at Crescent Street) opened 6/12/1893 and has two tracks and an island platform. The mezzanine is a platform level at the North end. The Mezzanine has a wood floor and walls and is quite small. The canopy is short and has arched supports. Between here and the next station a careful examination reveals a turn off for the former Chestnut Street Incline which lead to the Long Island Rail Road. It was abandoned a long time ago because federal regulation prohibited allowances of a commuter railroad (LIRR) to share tracks with a subway or elevated line company.

Norwood Avenue (On Fulton Street at Norwood Avenue) opened 6/12/1893 and has two tracks and an island platform The Mezzanine is at platform level at the north end The Mezzanine has a wood floor and walls and is quite small. The canopy is short and has arched supports

Cleveland Street (on Fulton Street at Cleveland Street)) opened 6/12/1893 and has two tracks and an island platform The Mezzanine is at platform level at the south end The Mezzanine has a wood floor and walls and is quite small. The canopy is short and has arched supports The Mezzanine has a wood floor and walls and is quite small. The canopy is short and has arched supports. The Mezzanine has a wood floor and walls and is quite small. The canopy is short and has arched supports

Van Siclen Avenue (on Fulton Street at Van Siclen Avenue) opened 6/12/1893 and has two tracks and an island platform. The canopy is short and has squared off, flat roofline. There is a center Mezzanine under the tracks with wood floor and walls. This mezzanine is actually to the geographic south of the Jamaica bound track

Alabama Avenue (On Fulton Street at Alabama Avenue) opened 2/2/1885 and has two tracks and an island platform. To the geographic north is a view of the East New York Bus depot and complex. The Mezzanine under the platform is metal and has a wood floor. The station has flat roof canopy which source suggest supported a planned express track. All that remains or was built is a track which rises East (system North) of Broadway Junction and ends at the south end of this station. Joe Cunningham states that the BRT had poor records and no hard evidence is known to him. Leaving here is a maze of tracks leading to yards and we enter our next station. He thinks the next stop would have been Woodhaven Blvd. The line is now located over Broadway.

Broadway Junction (Entrance at Van Sinderen Avenue between Fulton Street and Eastern Parkway) opened 9/9/1885 as Eastern Parkway and is discussed on the Complexes Page

The following stations up to and including Hewes Street were all renovated by M.A. Angeliades.

Chauncey Street (on Broadway at Rockaway Avenue) opened 9/4/1885 and has three tracks and two wall platforms. The north exit leads to Marion and Chauncey Streets and is closed except as emergency exit. The south exit has a crossunder, metal Mezzanine and leads to Rockaway Avenue and Broadway. A new art glass installation in this renovated station and features scenes of neighborhood life.

Halsey Street (on Broadway at Halsey Street) opened 9/4/1885 and has 3 tracks and two wall platforms. North exit leads to Halsey with a crossunder while the south exit leads to Jefferson Street. No art glass is present as of 8/29/04 although plywood panels could be where it will be placed.

Gates Avenue (on Broadway at Quincy Street) opened 9/4/1885 and has three tracks and two wall platforms. The north exit leads to Howard Avenue is an emergency exit only. The south exit leads to Quincy Street and Broadway and has a crossunder. Art glass is a subway (J train) theme.

Kosciuszko Street (on Broadway at) opened 9/4/1885 and has three tracks and two wall platforms. The north exit has a crossunder and leads to Kosciuszko Street and has a crossunder. The south exit is an emergency exit and leads to DeKalb Avenue. Art glass is a floral theme.

Myrtle Avenue (on Broadway at Myrtle Avenue) opened 9/16/1888 for the J and has three tracks and two island platforms. There is a crossunder at the center along with one stairway on the southbound platform which is for access to the tower and once accessed the upper level platform which served the MJ Train which used to run further south on Myrtle Avenue to Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The line in even earlier times ran over the Brooklyn Bridge to Park Row (City Hall Park) in Manhattan. For further info on the torn down M Sections see www.nycsubway.org and old M Train The M now runs with the J train from Here to Manhattan and ends on the middle track late nights, weekends and holidays. Art glass here is entitled "Jamaica under the El" by Verna Hart and was installed in 1999. This station is renovated. Across the mezzanine area and underneath the Manhattan bound track is another mezzanine with ghost  booth and one staircase to the Northeast corner on Broadway by Myrtle Avenue. This area was abandoned and later removed during the renovation, however you can see this abandoned exit in the film "Ghost"(1990 where Patrick Swayze exits Myrtle Avenue station via this abandoned staircase.