Jamaica-Van Wyck is a station on the E line’s Archer Avenue extension – of which, most of which is shared with the J line. However, Jamaica-Van Wyck is a bit of an oddball in a couple of ways. Let’s get into it.
So, how is this station unusual? Well, for one, remember the Archer Avenue extension? This station, while part of it, is the only one served exclusively by the E – and, for that matter, the only station exclusively served by the E as of writing this. Also unusual for a NYC subway station, it’s built in the middle of a highway (the namesake Van Wyck Expressway). As for station amenities, you have a rather offputting talking escalator, benches, wastebaskets, countdown clocks, OMNY machines, a station booth, the Van Wyck Expressway, and bus connections. There’s also elevators. In terms of connections, the closest ones are the Q54 and Q56 that will bring you to the Williamsburg Bridge, Fresh Pond, and sometimes Broadway Junction. All of these buses will also bring you deeper into Jamaica. There’s, of course, also the E (which cannot run via the J – without reversing at W. 4th among other operational nightmares), which will go to the World Trade Center and to Jamaica Center via Queens Boulevard. Did I also mention this place was so barren when I was here – at 9am on a weekday, no less, it may as well have been a liminal space?
The good: It replaces two former stations – the old Metropolitan Avenue and Queens Boulevard stops on the J (before the Archer Avenue extension was built), so essentially this is a case of stop consolidation. Furthermore, there’s buses to the Williamsburg Bridge, Fresh Pond, Broadway Junction – and if you walk a bit, buses to College Point and Lenox Hill. It’s also relatively modern and accessible.
The bad: THAT DAMN HIGHWAY. Maybe that’s why it may as well be classified as a liminal space. FUCK YOU, ROBERT MOSES!!!
Nearby points of interest: Aside from some housing and businesses, the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is nearby, as well as a playground that’s equally as close to here as it is from Jamaica/JFK. There’s also a cemetery, however (from what I can find), Briarwood is considerably closer. If you’re a highway foamer, the Van Wyck Expressway is also a thing.
Transit connections:
8th Ave. (E)
MTA bus (On Jamaica Ave.: Q54, Q56; on Queens Blvd.: Q20, Q60)
Overall, it’s a weird place, with rather unfortunate placement (UNDER A HIGHWAY???? IN NYC?!). It may as well be legally classed as a liminal space on the side. But, it’s not a bad station by any means, though. Just weird, and sometimes weird isn’t bad.
Rating: 8/10
