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Upper level platform |
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| Station statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Address | Parsons Boulevard & Archer Avenue Jamaica, NY 11433 |
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| Borough | Queens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | B (BMT/IND) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line | BMT Archer Avenue Line IND Archer Avenue Line |
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| Services | E (all times) J (all times) Z (rush hours, peak direction) |
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| Connection |
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| Structure | Underground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Levels | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 island platforms (1 on each level) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 (2 on each level) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | December 11, 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2010) | 11,656,110[1] 0.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 22 out of 422 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station succession | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next north | (Terminal): E J Z | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next south | Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK Airport: E J Z | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Next north | (none) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next south | Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK Airport: E J Z | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer is the northern terminal station on the IND Archer Avenue Line and BMT Archer Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. It is a major transfer point for buses from eastern Queens and opened on December 11, 1988.
This is a two-level station with E trains serving the upper level at all times, J and Z trains serving the lower level, the latter of which operates during rush hours only. Each level has two tracks and one island platform. Both platforms can hold a standard 600 foot train, but since BMT Eastern Division trains are only 480 feet long, there are fences on both ends of the lower level platforms to prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks.
This station has tan brick walls and red brick floor; the ceiling has metal slats and resembles a vaulted ceiling, except there are no curves.
There are two entrances to this station. The first one is at the very north end of the platforms. It contains a mezzanine that has four escalators, two to each platform, and an ADA-accessible elevator serving both platforms. There is a large, single bank of turnstiles leading to fare control. One wide staircase and one escalator leads to a pavilion behind the streets at the northeast corner of Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue. A narrower staircase and escalator leads to the southeast corner. An elevator is present as well. This entrance contains a 1991 artwork called Jamaica Center Station Riders by Sam Gilliam made up of blue painted aluminum.
The second exit is near the middle of the platforms. Each platform contains two escalators to the mezzanine. The upper level also has one staircase to the mezzanine while the lower level has two. In this mezzanine there is more overlap of walls between fare control and the portion of the mezzanine for the station exits. In addition to the part-time bank of standard turnstiles, there are HEET turnstiles to provide access during off-peak hours. This entrance has three street stairs. Two of them, one of which also has an up-only escalator, lead up to the south side of Archer Avenue outside the bus boarding area. The staircase with the escalator has a brickwork design surrounding it while the other staircase at this entrance has an ultra-wide green metal fence. There is another staircase, the narrowest in the entire station at the northeast corner of Archer Avenue and 153rd Street.
The tracks on both levels extend past the station for possible future extensions. On the lower level, they continue one train length and end with at bumper blocks. This was a planned extension toward 190th Street – Hollis Avenue. Where the lower level tracks end, there is a provision for a diamond crossover switch at the end of the tunnel (under 160th Street).
On the upper level, the tracks curve south to run under 160th Street and stop at about South Road, also ending at bumper blocks. The plan was for this line to use the LIRR Locust Manor Branch ROW and run to Springfield Boulevard or Rosedale. Where the upper level tracks stub end, there's a provision for a portal to go outside if the line going to Southeastern Queens is ever built.
East of the upper level platform, a Central Instrument Room (753CIR) is located deep in the tunnel on track D2A (upper level) bench wall.
East of the station, next to the D1A tail track on the upper level, the tunnel catwalk structure widens, and the track curves south along with the D2A track. Where the catwalk structure ends, there is a stairway to the lower level tail tracks.
The tail tracks on both levels are currently used for storage.