Broad Channel (A, Rockaway Park Shuttle)

Home<N.Y.C. Subway Stations<Broad Channel

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 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.

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(broad_channela1) R38 #4145, on a Construction Shuttle replacing service between Rockaway Blvd and Far Rockaway leaves Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela2) Two Construction shuttle trains pass each other at Broad Channel: R38 #4145 to Far Rockaway and Yellow "S" R44 #5242 to Rockaway Blvd. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela3) R44 #5242 on the Yellow S construction Shuttle bound for Rockaway Blvd enters Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela4) R44 #5430 leaves Broad Channel bound for Rockaway Park on a Yellow S shuttle. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005

(broad_channela5) R32 #3767 on an 8 car not in service "X" train, with side signs for the C bypasses Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela6) R32 #3767 on an 8 car not in service "X" train has bypassed Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela7) R38 #4127 on a Far Rockaway-bound A train enters Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela8) A 4 car Rockaway Park Shuttle trian of R44s, enters Broad Channel to terminate. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005

(broad_channela9) A 4 car Rockaway Park Shuttle train of R44s stops at Broad Channel, to become not in service and reverse. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(broad_channela10) R44 #5306 on a Rockaway Park bound shuttle train enters Broad Channel to Pick-up its passengers. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(r160b5) R160b #8713 on the initial test train at Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(r160b6) 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. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005

(r160b1) R160B #8717 leading the intial test train enters Broad Channel, to reverse from the Rockaway Test Track to reach its spot in Pitkin Yard. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(r160b2) R160B #8717 on the initial test train reverses at Broad Channel. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(r160b3) 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. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005	(r160b4) 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. Photo by Jeremiah Cox, 30 September, 2005
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