Broad Channel along with Roosevelt Island are the only two NYC subway stations that are located on their own islands and not on Long Island, Manhattan, or the mainland (the Bronx). Broad Channel is a small island neighborhood in the middle of Jamaica Bay of single-family homes that feels like a Long Island Town and not in Queens at all. The subway station also provides access to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a haven for birders in Jamaica Bay's swampy marshes. That's another cool fact about the NYC subway, it can take you to a National Wildlife Refuge.
The station also has the dubious distinction of having the second-worst ridership (in terms of Number of fares paid) after Beach 105 Street (and techniqually Aqueduct Racetrack if that stop counts). For example only 73 people got on the subway their on the average sunday (361 on the average weekday), that's just enough people to fill a single R44 subway car. A total of only 103,573 got on the subway there throughout the year 2007, that's about the same as the number who board at the Times Square Complex on the average Sunday (Source). The platforms though are more crowded from passengers transferring from Rockaway Park Shuttle Trains to A trains to reach Manhattan.
The station itself has two side platforms along the two-track line. Rockaway Park Shuttle trains terminate by depositing there passengers on the Manhattan-bound platform for an A train that is scheduled to come in shortly after it before running north of the station. Fare control is located on an overpass that has a nice view down the tracks, towards the southern end of the station. There is a single staircase down to street level that is the station's entrance. This staircase also has a High Exit Turnstile directly from the Rockaway-bound platform so passengers exiting don't have to go up and back down. There is a limited amount a tiling along the platforms that is in the unusual 1970s style. The platforms are canopied near the exit, and are the extra long LIRR size because they were built for 10 85-foot cars. There is also a substation towards the northern end of the Rockaway-bound platform.
The station was closed from October 28, 2012 until May 30, 2013 because of survere damage to the station and subway line through the flats after Superstorm Sandy.
R38 #4145, on a Construction Shuttle replacing service between Rockaway Blvd and Far Rockaway leaves Broad Channel.
Two Construction shuttle trains pass each other at Broad Channel: R38 #4145 to Far Rockaway and Yellow 'S' R44 #5242 to Rockaway Blvd
R44 #5242 on the Yellow S construction Shuttle bound for Rockaway Blvd enters Broad Channel
R44 #5430 leaves Broad Channel bound for Rockaway Park on a Yellow S shuttle.
R32 #3767 on an 8 car not in service 'X' train, with side signs for the C bypasses Broad Channel.
R32 #3767 on an 8 car not in service 'X' train has bypassed Broad Channel.
R38 #4127 on a Far Rockaway-bound A train enters Broad Channel.
A 4 car Rockaway Park Shuttle trian of R44s, enters Broad Channel to terminate
A 4 car Rockaway Park Shuttle train of R44s stops at Broad Channel, to become not in service and head north of the station to reverse
R44 #5306 on a Rockaway Park bound shuttle train enters Broad Channel to Pick-up its passengers
R160B #8717 leading the intial test train enters Broad Channel, to reverse from the Rockaway Test Track to reach its spot in Pitkin Yard.
R160B #8717 on the initial test train reverses at Broad Channel.
R160B #8717 on the initial test train at Broad Channel not in service. Also R32 #3850 is in the station on a not in service 8 car train of R32s signed up as C.
The oldest cars and the newest cars at Broad Channel: Not-in-service R32 #3767 with the flip-dot sign at 'X' passes R160B #8717 reversing on the inital test train. Both are trying to get inbound and clogging traffic.
R160b #8713 on the initial test train at Broad Channel.
R160b #8713 on the initial test train at Broad Channel. An 8 Car Not-in-service train of R32s is also in the station. The Driver of that train as walked back and opened the door of R32 #3442 to find out who is leaving first.
Looking across the swamps of Jamaica Bay along Cross Bay Blvd at a four car train of R143s undergoing testing on the long and streight Broad Channel Test track north of the station.
A close up of R143 #8209 being passed by R44 #5383 and #5385 along the Broad Chanel test track in the flats, viewed from Cross Bay Blvd.
An abandoned exit only exit at Broad Channel that connected towards the northern end of the Rockaways-bound platform.
The single entrance staircase from street level to the station building and Broad Channel Subway Station.
Last Updated: 27 May, 2009
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All photos are by Jeremiah Cox
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