Archer Avenue lines

BMT/IND Archer Avenue lines
The B1 (BMT) Archer Avenue Line is typically served by the J and Z, while the B2 (IND) Archer Avenue Line is typically served by the E.
Overview
Owner	City of New York
Locale	Queens
Termini	Parsons/Archer (north) west of Jamaica–Van Wyck (south, upper level) south of Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport (south, lower level)
Stations	3
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	New York City Subway
Operator(s)	New York City Transit Authority
Daily ridership	35,891[1]
History
Opened	December 11, 1988
Technical
Number of tracks	2-4
Character	Underground
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification	600V DC third rail
Route map Legend Provision for future extension to southeast Queens Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer Sutphin Boulevard– Archer Avenue–JFK Jamaica–Van Wyck Queens Boulevard Line Jamaica Line This diagram: view talk edit

The Archer Avenue lines are two rapid transit lines of the New York City Subway, mostly running under Archer Avenue in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. The two lines are built on separate levels: trains from the IND Queens Boulevard Line (E train) serve the upper level, and trains from the BMT Jamaica Line (J and ​Z trains) serve the lower.

The two lines are separate, and do not share track connections, and therefore have different chainings and radio frequencies. The B2 (IND Division) Archer Avenue line uses the upper level, and the B1 (BMT Division) Archer Avenue line uses the lower level.

These lines were conceived as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s 1968 expansion plans, and along with the 63rd Street lines and a small section of the Second Avenue Subway, they were the only portions of the plan to be completed before it was scaled back due to fiscal issues. These lines were originally planned to be extended further east into Queens. Construction on the line started in 1973, and the project was expected to be completed in 1980. However, due to financial issues and concern about the quality of the construction, the lines did not open until December 11, 1988.^[2] On that date, several bus routes serving the 169th Street station were diverted to the new bus terminal at Jamaica Center. This line is also used by passengers transferring to or from the Long Island Rail Road and the AirTrain JFK.