BMT Jamaica Line
1455302
222755874
2008-06-30T23:17:55Z
Alex537
1165204
{{BMT Jamaica Line}}
The '''Jamaica Line''' (earlier also '''Broadway Line''' or '''Broadway (Brooklyn) Line''') is an elevated [[rapid transit]] line of the [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]] of the [[New York City Subway]], in [[Brooklyn]] and [[Queens]], [[New York City]], [[United States]]. It runs from the [[Williamsburg Bridge]] southeast over [[Broadway (Brooklyn)|Broadway]] to [[East New York, Brooklyn]], and then east over [[Fulton Street (Brooklyn)|Fulton Street]] and [[Jamaica Avenue]] to [[Jamaica, Queens]]. In western Jamaica, the line goes into a tunnel, becoming the lower level of the [[Archer Avenue Line]] in central Jamaica. {{NYCS|J}} and {{NYCS|Z}} trains serve the entire length of the Jamaica Line, and the {{NYCS|M}} serves the line west of [[Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line station)|Myrtle Avenue]].
The Jamaica Line includes the oldest existing elevated line on the subway system - the original 1885 line of the [[Brooklyn Elevated Railroad]] - between [[Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Gates Avenue]] and [[Van Siclen Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Van Siclen Avenue]], as well as the newest elevated structure - the 1988 ramp into the underground Archer Avenue Line.
When the [[Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation]] (BMT) operated the line, north was towards Manhattan (compass west).{{Fact|date=April 2007}} However, this resulted in services that ran through the [[BMT Nassau Street Line]] to [[Downtown Brooklyn]] having two south ends, and so by 1967, when the [[Chrystie Street Connection]] opened and services ([[QJ (NYCS)|QJ]] and [[RJ (NYCS)|RJ]]) began running in this manner, the directions were switched, and north was towards Jamaica.<ref>The service table on the 1967 New York City Rapid Transit Map and Station Guide refers to southbound a.m. skip-stop service on the [[JJ (NYCS)|JJ]] and [[QJ (NYCS)|QJ]].</ref><!--presumably the Myrtle Avenue Line switched at the same time?--> However, the [[BMT Canarsie Line]] did not switch,{{Fact|date=April 2007}} and so the [[JJ (NYCS)|JJ]] trips that switched to the Canarsie Line at [[Broadway Junction]] had two south ends. In addition, the [[KK (NYCS)|KK]] (later [[K (Broadway Brooklyn Local)|K]]) had two north ends, since it used the [[Chrystie Street Connection]] from the Jamaica Line to the [[IND Sixth Avenue Line]].
==Description==
The Jamaica Line includes a variety of structures. From [[Marcy Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Marcy Avenue]] to a point just before [[Alabama Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Alabama Avenue]] the line operates on the structure of old [[elevated railway]]s, but substantially rebuilt and upgraded to a three-track line around [[World War I]] under the [[Dual Contracts]] of 1913. From Alabama Avenue to just before the current [[Cypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line)|Cypress Hills]] station, the Jamaica Line operates on the oldest elevated structure in [[New York City]], a [[steel]]-reinforced [[cast iron]] line opened in 1893. Interestingly enough, west of Alabama Avenue, a third middle trackway exists and elevates over the other two tracks, ending just west of the Alabama Avenue station. It is not immediately clear whether the trackway was intended to be a stub track or an express track.
At Cypress Hills, the line turns northeast onto Jamaica Avenue on what was known as the Jamaica Avenue Line, a Dual Contracts structure. This structure has provisions on its entire length for three tracks, but a center track was never built, with the exception of a layup track at [[111th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|111th Street]] and another between 160th Street and 168th Street on the now-demolished original end of the line.
{{Sectstub|date=May 2008}}
==History==
The Union Elevated Railroad, leased to the [[Brooklyn Elevated Railroad]], opened an elevated line above Broadway from [[Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Gates Avenue]] northwest to Driggs Avenue in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn|Williamsburg]] on [[June 25]], [[1888]].<ref name=Driggs>{{cite BDE|title=The Broadway Line Opened|md=June 25|y=1888|page=6}}</ref> This was a branch of the existing [[Lexington Avenue Elevated]], which then ended at [[Van Siclen Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Van Siclen Avenue]]; Broadway trains ran between Driggs and Van Siclen Avenues.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} A popular [[free transfer (transit)|free transfer]] was available at Gates Avenue to Lexington Avenue trains towards [[Downtown Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite BDE|title=Pushing the Road Along|md=July 20|y=1888|page=4}}</ref> The Broadway Elevated was extended to Broadway Ferry on [[July 14]], [[1888]].<ref name=Ferry>{{cite BDE|title=When the Union Road will be Finished|md=July 13|y=1888|page=1}}</ref>
An extension of the Broadway Elevated east to [[Cypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line)|Cypress Hills]], over Fulton Street and Crescent Street, opened on [[May 30]], [[1893]],<ref name="Cypress Hills">{{cite BDE|title=Trains Running This Morning|md=May 30|y=1893|page=10}}</ref> and the company extended both Lexington Avenue and Broadway trains to the new terminal.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} This extension incorporated portions of the recently-demolished [[Park Avenue Elevated (Brooklyn)|Park Avenue Elevated]].<ref>{{cite BDE|title=Elevated Railroad Extensions|md=May 28|y=1893|page=16}}</ref>
==Service patterns==
{{main|J/Z (New York City Subway service)|K (Broadway Brooklyn Local)}}
The line has had two major service patterns - the [[BMT 14|14]] Broadway (Brooklyn) Line (earlier called the [[Canarsie Line]], before that line was connected to the [[14th Street Line (BMT)|14th Street Line]]) and the [[BMT 15|15]] Jamaica Line. Eventually the 14 became the K and the 15 the J; the K was eliminated in 1976. The Z was introduced in 1988 to provide [[skip-stop]] service, which had been done by the 14/K and 15/J at times.
==The line name==
From its accession 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 L or the Broadway-Brooklyn Line. Beyond that point it was known as the Jamaica Avenue 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==
{{NYCS service legend
| alltimes = show
| allexceptrush = show
| allexceptnights = show
| weekdaysonly = show
| rushpeak = show
}}
{| class=wikitable
!{{Access icon}}
!Station
!Tracks
!Services
!Opened
!Transfers and notes
|-
!colspan=6|demolished section of original line
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|168th Street
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 3]], [[1918]]<ref name=168th>[[New York Times]], [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20F1EF63B5F1B7A93C5A9178CD85F4C8185F9 New Subway Line], [[July 7]], [[1918]], page 30</ref>
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed [[September 10]], [[1977]]<ref name=removed-168th>Lee Dembart, [[New York Times]], [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D16F8385A167493CBA91782D85F438785F9 A Sentimental Journey on the BMT], [[September 9]], [[1977]], page 61</ref>
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|160th Street
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 3]], [[1918]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed [[September 10]], [[1977]]<ref name=removed-168th/>
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Sutphin Boulevard
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 3]], [[1918]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed [[September 10]], [[1977]]<ref name=removed-168th/>
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Queens Boulevard
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 3]], [[1918]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed [[April 13]], [[1985]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Metropolitan Avenue
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 3]], [[1918]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed [[April 13]], [[1985]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!colspan=6|begins as continuation of [[BMT Archer Avenue Line]] ({{NYCS Archer lower|time=show}})
|-
|
|[[121st Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|121st Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[July 3]], [[1918]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|[[Q10 (New York City bus)|Q10]] bus to [[JFK Airport]]
|-
|
|[[111th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|111th Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[May 28]], [[1917]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
|
|[[104th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|104th Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[May 28]], [[1917]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|Earlier 102nd Street
|-
|
|[[Woodhaven Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)|Woodhaven Boulevard]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east|time=show}}
|[[May 28]], [[1917]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
|
|nowrap|[[85th Street–Forest Parkway (BMT Jamaica Line)|85th Street–Forest Parkway]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[May 28]], [[1917]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
|
|[[75th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|75th Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[May 28]], [[1917]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|Earlier Elderts Lane
|-
|
|[[Cypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line)|Cypress Hills]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[May 30]], [[1893]]<ref name="Cypress Hills">{{cite BDE|title=Trains Running This Morning|md=May 30|y=1893|page=10}}</ref>
|
|-
|
|[[Crescent Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Crescent Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east|time=show}}
|[[May 30]], [[1893]]<ref name="Cypress Hills"/>
|
|-
|
|[[Norwood Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Norwood Avenue]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[May 30]], [[1893]]<ref name="Cypress Hills"/>
|
|-
|
|[[Cleveland Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Cleveland Street]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[May 30]], [[1893]]<ref name="Cypress Hills"/>
|Earlier Cleveland Avenue
|-
|
|[[Van Siclen Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Van Siclen Avenue]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[December 3]], [[1885]]<ref name="Van Siclen">{{cite BDE|title=Finished at Last|md=December 3|y=1885|page=4}}</ref>
|
|-
|
|[[Alabama Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Alabama Avenue]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[September 5]], [[1885]]<ref name=Alabama>{{cite BDE|title=Still Extending Its Lines|md=September 5|y=1885|page=6}}</ref>
|
|-
!colspan=6|merge with connection from [[BMT Canarsie Line]] ({{NYCS Jamaica-Canarsie|time=show}})
|-
|
|[[Broadway Junction (BMT Jamaica Line)|Broadway Junction]]
|all
|{{NYCS Jamaica east|time=show}}
|[[June 14]], [[1885]]<ref name=MBC>{{cite BDE|title=East New York|md=June 13|y=1885|page=6}}</ref>
|{{NYCS Fulton|time=show}} ([[IND Fulton Street Line]])<br>{{NYCS Canarsie|time=show}} ([[BMT Canarsie Line]])<br>[[Long Island Rail Road]] at [[East New York (LIRR station)|East New York]]<br>Earlier Manhattan Beach Crossing or Manhattan Junction or Eastern Parkway
|-
|
|[[Chauncey Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Chauncey Street]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[July 18]], [[1885]]<ref name=Chauncey>{{cite BDE|title=A New Station Opened|md=July 18|y=1885|page=4}}</ref>
|
|-
|
|[[Halsey Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Halsey Street]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[August 19]], [[1885]]<ref>{{cite BDE|title=Halsey Street Station Opened|md=August 19|y=1885|page=4}}</ref>
|
|-
|
|[[Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Gates Avenue]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica east Z|time=show}}
|[[May 13]], [[1885]]<ref name=Gates>{{cite BDE|title=Done at Last|md=May 13|y=1885|page=1}}</ref>
|
|-
|
|[[Kosciuszko Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Kosciuszko Street]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica east J|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
!colspan=6|merge with [[BMT Myrtle Avenue Line]] ({{NYCS Myrtle|time=show}})
|-
|
|[[Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Myrtle Avenue]]
|all
|nowrap|{{NYCS Jamaica Myrtle|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|moved from Stuyvesant Avenue for the [[Myrtle Avenue Elevated]] transfer in April 1889<ref>{{cite BDE|title=It Reaches Broadway|md=April 5|y=1889|page=6}}</ref>
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Park Avenue
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed
|-
|{{Access icon}}
|[[Flushing Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Flushing Avenue]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
|
|[[Lorimer Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Lorimer Street]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|
|-
|
|[[Hewes Street (BMT Jamaica Line)|Hewes Street]]
|local
|{{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|-
|{{Access icon}}
|[[Marcy Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)|Marcy Avenue]]
|local
|{{NYCS Williamsburg|time=show}}
|[[June 25]], [[1888]]{{Fact|date=March 2007}}<!--<ref name=Driggs-2>{{cite BDE|title=Getting Ready for Extension|md=June 22|y=1888|page=6}}</ref> says that all the stations but Broadway Ferry were ready to open, but I haven't found anything saying what those stations were-->
|
|-
!colspan=6|continues over [[Williamsburg Bridge]] and becomes the [[BMT Nassau Street Line]] ({{NYCS Nassau north|time=show}})
|-
|colspan=6|
|-
!colspan=6|demolished section of original line
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Driggs Avenue
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[June 25]], [[1888]]<ref name=Driggs/>
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed 1916{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|-
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|Broadway Ferry
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|
|style="background-color: silver;"|[[July 14]], [[1888]]<ref name=Ferry/>
|style="background-color: silver;"|Closed 1916{{Fact|date=March 2007}}
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{NYCS lines}}
{{NYCS navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamaica}}
[[Category:Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation]]
[[Category:New York City Subway lines]]
[[es:línea Jamaica]]