Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station explained

Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue
Accessible:yes
Address:Mott Avenue & Beach 22nd Street
Queens, NY
Borough:Queens
Locale:Far Rockaway
Coordinates:40.604°N -73.7554°W
Division:B (IND, formerly LIRR Far Rockaway Branch)
Line:IND Rockaway Line
Service:Far Rockaway
Platforms:1 island platform
Tracks:2
Structure:Elevated
Open Date: (SSRRLI, then LIRR station)[1]
Rebuilt:, (as a subway station)[2]

The Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station (announced as Far Rockaway station) is the eastern terminal station of the New York City Subway's IND Rockaway Line. Originally a Long Island Rail Road station, it is currently the easternmost station in the New York City Subway. It is served by the A train at all times.

, this station is the busiest subway station on the Rockaway peninsula. The original surface station on this site was opened in 1869; the current elevated station began operation as a subway station on January 16, 1958. The station was renovated between 2009 and 2012.

History

LIRR use

Until 1950 the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road was part of a loop that traveled along the existing route. The line diverges from the present-day Atlantic and Long Beach Branches east of Valley Stream station in Valley Stream, New York. Eastbound trains continued south then southwest, through Five Towns and the Rockaway Peninsula, and onto a trestle across Jamaica Bay through Queens where it reconnected with the Rockaway Beach Branch; westbound trains did the reverse, using the Rockaway Beach Branch to cross the trestle, go through the Rockaways and Five Towns, and continue northeast then north to join the westbound Atlantic Branch.

Far Rockaway station itself was originally built by the Far Rockaway Branch Railroad, a subsidiary of the South Side Railroad of Long Island. Construction on the line began in September 1868, and the station was opened on July 29, 1869.[3] [4] The station was later converted into a freight house, when a second station was moved from Ocean Point Station (a.k.a. Cedarhurst Station), remodeled, and opened on October 1, 1881. The third depot opened on July 15, 1890, while the second depot was sold and moved to a private location in October 1890. The surface station featured a large plaza and depot, serving horse-drawn carriages, taxis, and surface trolleys.[5] The Ocean Electric Railway terminated at the station between 1897 and September 2, 1926, and the station served as the headquarters for the Ocean Electric Railway.[6] [7]

The station also served as the terminus of a Long Island Electric Railway trolley line leading to Jamaica, via New York Avenue (now Guy R. Brewer Boulevard). Following the end of trolley service in November 1933, the depot served buses from Green Bus Lines and Jamaica Buses; the former Jamaica trolley route became Jamaica Buses' Route B (now the and buses).[8] [9] Around noon on April 10, 1942, the surface station was closed, and a new elevated station on the current concrete trestle was opened as part of the Long Island Rail Road's grade crossing elimination project.[10] [11] This station had two low-level side platforms.[12]

Subway use

There were frequent fires and maintenance problems on the Jamaica Bay viaduct. The most notorious of these problems was a fire in May 1950 between The Raunt and Broad Channel Stations. After this fire, the LIRR abandoned the Jamaica Bay viaduct and the Queens portion of the Rockaway Beach/Far Rockaway route. On June 11, 1952, the city acquired all trackage west of Mott Avenue, incorporating it as part of the IND Rockaway Line.[13] Service provided by the A train over the line began in June 1956, with the full western spur to Rockaway Park operational. While the remainder of the line operated, with Beach 25th Street–Wavecrest serving as the eastern spur terminal,[14] a new Far Rockaway subway station was constructed, opening on January 16, 1958.[15] [16] [17]

The Far Rockaway LIRR station was moved to a grade-level station at Nameoke Street on February 21, 1958—two blocks from the original station and three blocks from the subway station—becoming the terminus of the Far Rockaway branch.[18] The original site of the LIRR's elevated station and the bus depot, located on the northeast side of Mott Avenue, were replaced with a shopping center and parking lot,[18] [19] [20] which began construction in 1960.[21] The Far Rockaway Shopping Center, as it was called, started undergoing redevelopment in 2017 as part of the Far Rockaway rezoning; it was proposed to replace the shopping center with affordable housing.[22] [23]

In 1981, the MTA listed the Mott Avenue station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system, despite the fact that the station had become part of the subway system just two decades earlier.[24] From 2009 to 2012, this and eight other stations were renovated for $117 million. At Far Rockaway, the 1950s design of the station house was replaced with metallic facades and a dome enclosure, and upgrading several features including staircases and employee areas. Elevators from the station house to the platforms were added, as were yellow tactile warning strips on the platform edges, making the station ADA-accessible. A glass artwork titled Respite was installed as part of the MTA's Arts for Transit program. The renovated station was unveiled on May 11, 2012.[25] [26] [27]

Disputed age

Far Rockaway is the oldest currently operating New York City Subway station, having originally opened years ago, on July 29, 1869, as a Long Island Rail Road station. By contrast, the Gates Avenue station on the BMT Jamaica Line in Brooklyn is the oldest station to have been built specifically for rapid transit use, having opened in 1885 (years ago). The Gates Avenue station is also the oldest continuously operating station in the subway system.[28] The Far Rockaway station was converted from LIRR to subway loading gauges in 1958 and has only operated for years in this capacity. Therefore, by that interpretation, Far Rockaway is actually the fifteenth newest station in the subway system (behind Grand Street;[29] Harlem–148th Street;[30] 57th Street; the three Archer Avenue Line stations;[31] the three IND 63rd Street Line stations;[32] the new South Ferry station;[33] 34th Street–Hudson Yards;[34] and the three Second Avenue Subway stations[35]).

Station layout

P
Platform level		Northbound← toward
Island platform
Northbound← toward Inwood–207th Street (Beach 25th Street)
GStreet levelExits/entrances
Station buildingLobby, fare control, station agent

The Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station, the Rockaway Line's eastern terminus, is built on a concrete viaduct and has two tracks and an island platform. The tracks end at bumper blocks just beyond the northeast end of the platform.[36] The station is served by the A train at all times and is its southern terminus; the next stop to the west (railroad north) is Beach 25th Street.

The former track connection to the current LIRR's Far Rockaway station has been removed, and transferring now requires a walk of three blocks. A NYCDOT municipal parking facility lies just east of the station between Beach 22nd and Beach 21st Streets, adjacent to the bus loop formerly used by the and n33 services that used to terminate at the station.[37] [38]

The doors at the northeast end of the platform lead to stairs down to the street level fare control area. A tower and crew offices are at the southwest end. Two elevators and several staircases inside the station house lead to the platform level. A bodega called the "A Line Deli", previously called the "Last Stop Deli", is attached to the station entrance. It was originally a cafe, having been built along with the station in the 1950s.[39] [40]

External links

Notes and References

  1. [Vincent F. Seyfried]
  2. Web site: New York City Transit . New York City Transit - History and Chronology . January 10, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021019203759/http://www.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffhist.htm . October 19, 2002 .
  3. News: Lucev. Emil. Historical Views of the Rockaways: The old Far Rockaway Station Plaza, Mott and Central Avenues, 1922. The Wave. June 29, 2015. June 18, 2010. July 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701100052/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-06-18/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html. live.
  4. News: A Fire Watch Transportation. August 17, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. December 13, 1973. 6. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042013/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201972-1975%2520-%25200863.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fe8d06ce54f1405287035a780c7b92ec8#page=1. live.
  5. News: Lucev. Emil. Historical Views of the Rockaways: The LIRR Depot and Plaza Far Rockaway, New York ... 1912. The Wave. June 29, 2015. October 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701090338/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2010-10-08/Columnists/Historical_Views__of_the_Rockaways.html. July 1, 2015. dead.
  6. Book: Meyers, S.L. . Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island . Arcadia Publishing . Images of Rail . 2006 . 978-1-4396-3386-1 . July 16, 2016 . 139–140 . February 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170203073419/https://books.google.com/books?id=a_nD6GCh9c4C&pg=PT140 . live .
  7. Web site: OCEAN ELECTRIC RAILROAD . LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD HISTORY, Online Museum of Long Island Rail Road and Photo Gallery . en . July 16, 2016 . October 16, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111016062836/http://www.arrts-arrchives.com/oceanelectricry.html . live .
  8. News: Jamaica Buses To Inaugurate New Service: Ceremony Will Be Held Tomorrow in Opening Routes to Southeast. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 13, 2015. November 10, 1933. October 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181002092227/https://www.newspapers.com/image/59977114/?terms=%22Jamaica%2BBuses%22. live.
  9. News: Soto. Juan. New Q114 bus line ready for first riders. Times Ledger. October 12, 2015. August 29, 2014. September 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926222309/http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/35/q114_tl2014_08_29_q.html. live.
  10. Web site: Last Grade Crossing In Rockaways Ends. The New York Times. June 30, 2015. April 11, 1942. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042014/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/04/11/85529653.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  11. News: Pushes Grade Separation. The New York Times. June 30, 2015. January 24, 1932. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042014/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/01/24/105771821.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  12. Linder. Bernard. Rockaway Line. New York Division Bulletin. February 2006. 49. 2. 3–4. August 27, 2016. Electric Railroader's Association. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002714/https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-02-bulletin/3. live.
  13. June 2006. Fifty Years of Subway Service to the Rockaways. New York Division Bulletin. New York Division, Electric Railroaders' Association. 49. 6. August 31, 2016. Issu. October 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022061408/https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-06-bulletin. live.
  14. News: Freeman. Ira Henry. Rockaway Trains to Operate Today. The New York Times. June 29, 2015. June 28, 1956. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/06/28/84703811.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  15. News: New Subway Unit Ready: Far Rockaway IND Terminal Will Be Opened Today. The New York Times. June 29, 2015. January 16, 1958. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/01/16/83388071.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  16. News: New Station Set At Howard Beach. The New York Times. June 29, 2015. November 11, 1954. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/11/11/84436091.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  17. News: Far Rockaway Subway Station: Transit Authority Advances On Rockaway Frontier. July 22, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. October 24, 1957. 1. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200521.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fd0933267899032f07bd2030a69bac481#page=1. live.
  18. News: Shop Center Due in Far Rockaway: Market and Big Parking Lot to Replace L.I. Station Being Moved 2 Blocks. The New York Times. June 29, 2015. July 6, 1956. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042015/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/07/06/305787872.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  19. News: Far Rockaway To Have $3 Million Shopping Center. July 22, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Newspapers.com. August 1, 1957. 1. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201957%2520-%25200376.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F883c20e07b0608364b7cf8f788ab2885#page=1. live.
  20. News: L.I.R.R. to Shift Station. The New York Times. June 29, 2015. April 5, 1957. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/04/05/90790306.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  21. News: Shopping Center Construction To Get Under Way In September. July 22, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. May 12, 1960. 1. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042016/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201960%2520-%25200186.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F5ec243eff33b02b018e9f65525c50bbe#page=1. live.
  22. News: Housing planned for blighted Queens shopping center . am New York . March 6, 2018 . November 12, 2018 . November 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101335/https://www.amny.com/real-estate/far-rockaway-village-1.17162463 . live .
  23. News: New Life for Old Far Rockaway Shopping Center . Rockaway Times . October 25, 2018 . November 12, 2018 . November 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101430/http://rockawaytimes.com/index.php/columns/3536-new-life-for-old-far-rockaway-shopping-center . live .
  24. News: Gargan. Edward A.. Agency Lists Its 69 Most Deteriorated Subway Stations. August 13, 2016. The New York Times. June 11, 1981. March 31, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204421/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html. live.
  25. Web site: Far Rockaway-Mott Av. Station Rehabilitation Now Complete: Rockaway A Line Station Now ADA Compliant. mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 29, 2015. May 11, 2012. December 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226155830/http://www.mta.info/press-release/nyc-transit/far-rockaway-mott-av-station-rehabilitation-now-complete. live.
  26. News: Rosenberg. Miriam. Ribbon Cut On A Train Station. The Wave. June 29, 2015. May 18, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701071157/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2012-05-18/Community/Ribbon_Cut_On_A_Train_Station.html. July 1, 2015. dead.
  27. News: Mott Avenue Subway Renovations Taking Shape. The Wave. June 29, 2015. May 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701061344/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2011-05-06/Community/Mott_Avenue_Subway_Renovations_Taking_Shape.html. July 1, 2015. dead.
  28. Web site: Dembart. Lee. A Sentimental Journey on the BMT.... The New York Times. July 2, 2015. September 9, 1977. May 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520042017/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/09/09/75756028.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  29. News: Perlmutter. Emanuel. Subway Changes to Speed Service: Major Alterations in Maps, Routes and Signs Will Take Effect Nov. 26. The New York Times. July 7, 2015. November 16, 1967. October 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211030145628/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/11/16/90418352.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false. live.
  30. News: IRT Passengers Get New 148th St. Station. The New York Times. May 14, 1968. 95. October 4, 2011. December 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211221185250/https://www.nytimes.com/1968/05/14/archives/irt-passengers-get-new-148th-st-station.html. live.
  31. News: Johnson. Kirk. Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin. The New York Times. July 14, 2015. December 9, 1988. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308122331/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/09/nyregion/big-changes-for-subways-are-to-begin.html. live.
  32. News: Randy . Kennedy . Panel Approves New V Train but Shortens G Line to Make Room . The New York Times . May 25, 2001 . March 20, 2010 . November 26, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101126012438/http://nytimes.com/2001/05/25/nyregion/panel-approves-new-v-train-but-shortens-g-line-to-make-room.html . live .
  33. Web site: NY1 News. NY1. South Ferry Station To Open Next Week. NY1. September 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20090311154515/http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/95247/south-ferry-station-to-open-next-week/Default.aspx. March 11, 2009. dead . March 9, 2009.
  34. Web site: Fitzsimmons. Emma G.. Schweber. Nate. Subway Station for 7 Line Opens on Far West Side. The New York Times. September 26, 2015. September 13, 2015. September 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150914231924/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/nyregion/no-7-subway-station-far-west-side-manhattan.html. live.
  35. Web site: Fitzsimmons . Emma G. . Wolfe . Jonathan . Second Avenue Subway Opening: What to Know . The New York Times . January 1, 2017 . January 1, 2017 . January 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170101195614/http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/01/nyregion/second-avenue-subway-opening-upper-east-side-manhattan.html . live .
  36. Web site: Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue (A) - The SubwayNut. Cox. Jeremiah. www.subwaynut.com. January 2, 2017. July 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706140035/http://www.subwaynut.com/ind/far_rockaway_motta/index.php. live.
  37. Web site: Municipal Parking Facilities. New York City Department of Transportation. August 16, 2016. May 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210503001143/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/parkinglist.shtml. live.
  38. Web site: MTA Bus Time: Q22 Rockaway Beach Blvd - Beach Channel Dr. mta.info. MTA Bus Time. August 16, 2016. November 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151107093818/http://bustime.mta.info/#q22. live.
  39. News: Newman. Andy. The Curious World of the Last Stop. The New York Times. August 22, 2008. December 12, 2010. February 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150225060926/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/nyregion/24laststop.html. live.
  40. Web site: New York City Transit Authority. New York City Transit Authority. Restaurant Attached to Far Rockaway Station: IND Rockaway Line. New York Transit Museum. August 25, 2016. June 12, 1958. August 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828070703/http://nytm.pastperfectonline.com/photo/0A086F81-39FB-4E3C-A1A5-162436884451. live.

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