Broad Channel (IND Rockaway Line)

Broad Channel
New York City Subway rapid transit station
Broad Channel station after the post-Hurricane Sandy renovation
Station statistics
Address	Noel Road & West Road Queens, NY 11693
Borough	Queens
Locale	Broad Channel
Coordinates	40°36′31″N 73°48′58″W / 40.608618°N 73.816°WCoordinates: 40°36′31″N 73°48′58″W / 40.608618°N 73.816°W
Division	B (IND, formerly LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch)
Line	IND Rockaway Line
Services	A  (all times)       S  (all times)
Transit connections	MTA Bus: Q52, Q53, QM16, QM17
Structure	At-grade
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	1880 (LIRR station)[1]
Closed	1950 (LIRR station)
Rebuilt	June 28, 1956 (as a Subway station)
Accessibility	Same-platform wheelchair transfer available
Traffic
Passengers (2015)	91,766[2]  23.4%
Rank	421 out of 422
Station succession
Next north	Howard Beach – JFK Airport: A  (Terminal): S
Next south	Beach 67th Street (Far Rockaway): A  Beach 90th Street (Rockaway Park): A  S
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Location

Broad Channel is a station on the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway, located in the neighborhood of the same name at Noel and West Roads in the borough of Queens. It is served by the A train and the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times, the latter of which originates/terminates here.

Station layout

M	Mezzanine	Crossover
P Platform level	Side platform, doors will open on the right
	Northbound	← toward Inwood – 207th Street (Howard Beach – JFK Airport) ← alighting passengers only
	Southbound	→ toward Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue (Beach 67th Street) → → ( during PM rush hours) toward Rockaway Park – Beach 116th Street (Beach 90th Street) →
	Side platform, doors will open on the right
G	Street level station house	Exit/ Entrance, station agent, MetroCard vending machines, fare control

The station originally opened in 1880 as a New York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Railroad station (although some sources claim it opened in June 1881), that was acquired by the Long Island Rail Road and became a station on the Rockaway Beach Branch. As a Long Island Rail Road station it served as one of two junctions between the Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach Branches. The other junction was at Hammels Station, although it was originally a junction for the Far Rockaway Branch and the Ocean Electric Railway. Wooden shelter sheds were added to the station in 1921 and 1923. A fire on the trestle between this station and another one known as The Raunt forced the closure of both stations on May 23, 1950, as well as the entire Jamaica Bay trestle. By October 3, 1955, the entire Rockaway Beach Branch south of Ozone Park, and all of the Far Rockaway Branch west of Far Rockaway was purchased by the New York City Transit Authority, who reopened Broad Channel Station to subway service on June 28, 1956.^[3]

This station has two tracks and two side platforms, with a glass-enclosed station house above containing a crossover, waiting area and fare control. The single street staircase goes down to West Road by the intersection of Noel Road next to the Rockaway-bound platform, which has a set of exit-only turnstiles leading directly to this staircase so riders exiting the station on this side do not have to go through the station house.

Crossovers to tail (right) and test tracks

Just to the north, the Rockaway Line gains two extra non-revenue tracks straddling the two revenue tracks; the 2 mile long western track is used as a test track, while the eastern track is used to relay shuttle trains. The eastern track is long enough for one full-length train and ends at a bumper block. Continuing north, the Rockaway Line crosses Jamaica Bay before reaching Howard Beach; the distance between the two stations is the longest between any two in the New York City Subway system. To the south, the Rockaway Line continues to the Rockaway peninsula, where it splits at Hammels Wye to allow service to both Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue and Rockaway Park – Beach 116th Street.

Broad Channel is a small island with fewer than 3,000 residents, and the station has the second-lowest ridership in the subway system as of 2015. It was only trailed by a closed station, making Broad Channel the least used of any fully operating subway station in the city. However, it is the only transfer point for passengers to access the Rockaway Park Shuttle, from the A train, and most riders use it in this capacity.

The station and the adjacent segment of the Rockaway Line suffered serious damage during Hurricane Sandy and was out of service for several months. During its temporary closure, the station received new ADA-tactile strips, platform edge rubbing boards, and cosmetic and mechanical work. Service was restored to the station on May 30, 2013.^[4]

Nearby points of interest include a visitor center and trails for the Gateway National Recreation Area's Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Gallery

• 

  Noel Road entrance

• 

  Before renovation

• 

  Renovation of the station

• 

  During renovation

• 

  Reopening

References

1. Long Island Rail Road History Website — The NY, Woodhaven and Rockaway RR
2. "Facts and Figures: Annual Subway Ridership". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
3. LIRR Station History (TrainsAreFun.com)
4. A Train Service Restored to Rockaways

External links

• nycsubway.org—IND Rockaway: Broad Channel
• Station Reporter — Rockaway Park Shuttle
• The Subway Nut - Broad Channel Pictures
• entrance to Broad Channel station from Google Maps Street View