Jamaica Station, located at the intersection of Archer and Sutphin Boulevard, is one of the nation's busiest transit hubs. Comprised of the Long Island Rail Road (serving more than 1,000 trains daily), the New York City subway system, the new AirTrain terminal linking directly to JFK Airport and 31 bus lines, Jamaica Station serves more than 255,000 commuters every day.

The planned infrastructure projects will optimize passenger transfers at this critical hub by improving pedestrian safety, bus operations, and vehicular access, while creating new open public space.

Shops at Station Plaza

Shops at Station Plaza, breaking ground this spring, will transform the Long Island Railroad underpass from a dark, uninviting corridor at the heart of the transit hub into a passenger friendly space with special lighting, public art, retail shops, and other amenities. This is a vital pedestrian link between the subway exits north of the LIRR embankment and the development sites to the south. Shops at Station Plaza will be completed in 2009. Congressman Greg Meeks and Councilman Thomas White have been key supporters of this project.

Station Plaza

This project will realign Archer Avenue to create a safer and more convenient transfer for passengers going between the bus and rail systems. It will create two new public plazas at new relocated subway entrances, wider sidewalks, and it will ease traffic congestion by creating separate bus loading and off loading lanes. The new transit plaza will transform this currently chaotic and unattractive place into a new gateway and an appropriate setting for the newly renovated LIRR station and AirTrain. Station Plaza will be completed in 2010.

Gateway Plaza

Gateway Plaza combines several important objectives: It creates a new image for Downtown Jamaica's western entrance from Atlantic Avenue and the Van Wyck Expressway, provides a new neighborhood park in an area that is underserved and will allow the construction of the Atlantic Avenues extension. The Atlantic Avenue extension will improve access from the Van Wyck Expressway and will serve a new one-way pair on 94 th and 95 th Avenues that will greatly improve access to the transit hub at the LIRR Jamaica station.

The new Gateway will be named and planted with decorative grasses and indigenous roses. It will have special lighting and signage, giving this entrance to Jamaica, seen primarily by motorists, a new and welcoming image. The new Gateway will be completed in 2009.

95/94 Avenue Connector Loop