On Dec. 22, 1988, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City (NYC) Transit Queens Archer Avenue E, J and Z subway line opened. The price tag was $440 million and was paid for by a grant from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, which is known today as the Federal Transit Administration.
One benefit of the Archer Avenue subway three stop extension was a direct connection from the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Station to the NYC Transit subway system and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Air Train to Kennedy Airport. When service disruptions take place on the LIRR between Jamaica, Queens and Penn Station or now Grand Central Madison, LIRR riders have an alternative route for traveling to and from Jamaica via the NYC Transit E subway line. Eight of nine LIRR branches connect at Jamaica. Only the north shore Queens/Nassau County Port Washington branch does not. It also provides a local direct connection for Kennedy Airport via the Air Train.
The Queens Archer Avenue subway extension also permitted removal of the Jamaica Avenue El between 168th St. and 121st St. stations in two sections. First, in September 1977, the 168th St., 160th St. and Sutphin Boulevard stations were closed. This was followed in April 1985 by closure of the Metropolitan Avenue and Queens Boulevard stations.
This opened up these sections of Jamaica Avenue to sunlight and new economic development, including the introduction of the NYC Transit Z subway line on the Jamaica Avenue El, supported introduction of skip stop rush hour service. This results in both the J and Z line providing a faster trip between Jamaica and Richmond Hill, Cypress Hills, Broadway Junction, East New York, Bushwick, Williamsburg and downtown Manhattan including the Lower East Side, Chinatown, City Hall and the Financial District in downtown Manhattan.
