Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street station explained

Rockaway Park–Beach 116 Street
Accessible:yes
Address:Beach 116th Street between Rockaway Beach Boulevard & Newport Avenue
Queens, NY
Borough:Queens
Locale:Rockaway Park
Coordinates:40.5807°N -73.8362°W
Division:IND Rockaway Beach
Line:IND Rockaway Line
Service:Rockaway Park
Platforms:1 island platform
Tracks:2 (excludes 8 yard tracks adjacent to the station)
Structure:At-grade
Open Date: (LIRR station)
Rebuilt: (as a Subway station)

The Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street station is the western terminal station on the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway, located on Beach 116th Street near Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Rockaway Beach, Queens. It is served by the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times and ten daily rush-hour A trains in the peak direction.

History

The station was originally built in 1882 as a Long Island Rail Road station on the Rockaway Beach Branch, was called Rockaway Beach, and contained a trolley stop for the Ocean Electric Railway, which eventually expanded their line further west to Belle Harbor and Neponsit. In 1899, the station was enlarged in order to accommodate the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company cars, and the name was changed to Rockaway Park.

In spring 1917, a second station was built as a replacement for the former station, which was razed. After a 1950 fire at The Raunt destroyed the trestle across Jamaica Bay, the LIRR rerouted Rockaway Beach service along the Far Rockaway Branch, then abandoned the Rockaway Beach Branch. The New York City Board of Transportation purchased all stations on the branch in June 1952, and the New York City Transit Authority (successor to the Board of Transportation) closed them to LIRR service on October 3, 1955 in order to convert many of them into subway stations.[1] The current station, Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street, opened on June 28, 1956, with all other stations on the Rockaway Line except Far Rockaway.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Far Rockaway reopened in 1958 after being rebuilt for Subway use,[7] and the LIRR opened a new Far Rockaway station on Nameoke Street. Plans to add a subway line to the Rockaway Peninsula actually date back to the 1920s and originally involved extending the western terminus along Newport Avenue to Beach 149th Street, rather than its current terminus at Rockaway Park.[8] [9] [10]

In 2002, it was announced that Rockaway Park would be one of ten subway stations citywide to receive renovations.[11] Starting in May 2007, the station building, platform and yard area underwent renovation. The new station building was unveiled in early November 2007.

Station layout

G
Platform level		Yard tracksNo passenger service
Track 2 toward →
AM rush toward →
Island platform
Track 1 toward Broad Channel (Beach 105th Street) →
AM rush toward Inwood–207th Street (Beach 105th Street) →
Yard trackNo passenger service
Street levelExits/entrances
Station houseLobby, fare control, station agent, police precinct

The station is at ground level. There are two tracks and an island platform. The tracks end at bumper blocks at the west (railroad south) end of the platform. The station is served by the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times and limited A trains during rush hours in the peak direction (toward Manhattan in the morning and toward the Rockaways in the afternoon). It is the southern terminus of all service; the next stop to the east (railroad north) is Beach 105th Street.

On either side of the station are tracks leading to the Rockaway Park Yard. Originally, terminal tracks with low-level platforms occupied the yard area during the LIRR years.[12] The area of the current high-level platform was part of the LIRR depot yard.

Exit

As the entrance is at street level, the station is ADA accessible without the use of an elevator or ramps.[13] The station house is made of concrete with windows and plywood walls and a brick exterior. It also has an entrance leading to an adjacent restaurant. An examination of the station house shows the former ticket windows, which were used when the line was part of the LIRR. The station houses Transit Police District 23,[14] which was moved to the station in June 1977.[15] A new police facility was opened on September 18, 2009.[16] [17] [18] [19] A NYCDOT municipal parking lot lies just north of the station.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. Web site: 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.
  3. News: First Train On Rockaway Line Runs This Afternoon. August 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. June 28, 1956. 1. October 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211013152411/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%25201956%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201956%2520-%25200350.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F43c772ea5053ba7a2fe1850240ed52cd#page=1. live.
  4. News: First Train On Rockaway Line Runs This Afternoon. August 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. June 28, 1956. 6. October 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211013152419/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%2021%2FRockaway%20Beach%20NY%20%20Wave%20Of%20Long%20Island%2FRockaway%20Beach%20NY%20%20Wave%20Of%20Long%20Island%20%201956%2FRockaway%20Beach%20NY%20%20Wave%20Of%20Long%20Island%20%201956%20-%200355.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F6b6ee609a1895c1f89ff0c622e5b3813#page=1. live.
  5. News: TA's New Line To Rockaways Begins Today: Fifty Piece Band To Play as Special Train Makes First Run. August 16, 2016. The Leader-Observer. Fultonhistory.com. June 28, 1956. 1. October 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211013152443/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201955-1957%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201955-1957%2520-%25200650.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F8150b004ade0565d32aa4d88b21d2892#page=1. live.
  6. News: To Rockaways: Beach Trains In Operation. August 16, 2016. Greenpoint Weekly Star. Fultonhistory.com. June 29, 1956. 2. October 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211013152443/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%2023%2FBrooklyn%20NY%20Greenpoint%20Daily%20Star%2FBrooklyn%20NY%20Greenpoint%20Daily%20Star%201956-1957%2FBrooklyn%20NY%20Greenpoint%20Daily%20Star%201956-1957%20-%200241.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F147cd4c4e78bb11637387bbb8e8e3a06#page=1. live.
  7. Web site: 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.
  8. Web site: Duffus. R.L.. Our Great Subway Network Spreads Wider; New Plans of Board of Transportation Involve the Building of More Than One Hundred Miles of Additional Rapid Transit Routes for New York. The New York Times. August 19, 2015. September 22, 1929. September 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150927200458/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0CE4D71530E73ABC4A51DFBF668382639EDE. live.
  9. [:File:1929 IND Second System.jpg|Board of Transportation of the City of New York Engineering Department, Proposed Additional Rapid Transit Lines And Proposed Vehicular Tunnel]
  10. [:Image:1939 IND Second System.jpg|Project for Expanded Rapid Transit Facilities, New York City Transit System]
  11. News: Renovation Is Set For 10 Subway Stations. June 11, 2002. NY Daily News. January 8, 2018. en. January 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064005/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/renovation-set-10-subway-stations-article-1.485558. 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. Web site: NYC Official Accessibility Guide. nyc.gov. City of New York. September 20, 2015. 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150807065656/http://www.nyc.gov/html/mopd/downloads/pdf/accessibility_guide.pdf. August 7, 2015.
  14. Web site: Subway-Sidewalk Interface Project: Rockaway Park/Beach 116th Street Station. transalt.org. Transportation Alternatives, City of New York, New York City Department of City Planning, New York City Department of Transportation. July 16, 2016. 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20110626090817/http://www.transalt.org/files/resources/otherreports/subwaysidewalk/techmemo3/Queens/Rockaway%20Park%20-%20Beach%20116.pdf. June 26, 2011. dead.
  15. News: TA Police Shifting Dist. HQ To 116 St.. July 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. Fultonhistory.com. May 18, 1977. July 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220702214634/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%25201977%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201977%2520-%25200697.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Faf1d8fe65a788c109d015a90e8621c54#page=1. live.
  16. News: City Officials Dedicate New Transit Police HQ at Beach 116. July 16, 2016. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 18, 2009. June 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160623043937/http://transittrax.mta.info/audio/ttx_transcpts/District23.htm. live.
  17. News: NYPD Officially Opens TD 23 Headquarters: HQ Situated Inside Beach 116 Street Subway Station. July 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. September 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819200617/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2009-09-18/top_stories/030.html. August 19, 2016. dead.
  18. News: Renovations Close Beach 116 Street Stores. July 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. March 23, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819121806/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2007-03-23/Community/161.html. August 19, 2016. dead.
  19. News: Magoolaghan. Brian. New Facility for Transit Bureau District 23. July 16, 2016. Wave of Long Island. March 15, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819204950/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2003-03-15/Community/041.html. August 19, 2016. dead.
  20. 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.

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