Ozone Park
The Ozone Park section of the right-of-way runs from Atlantic Avenue to Liberty Avenue on a concrete and steel viaduct. A track ramp that once connected the underground LIRR Atlantic Branch tracks to the elevated LIRR Rockaway Branch tracks at the Atlantic Avenue station.
Much of the land below it is now occupied by commercial and light industrial companies that provide jobs to the working class community of Ozone Park. Should these relocating these businesses be possible, the land could be used for a new park, Atlantic Green. But the transit element could function while they remain.
A protected bicycle lane would be built, extending the new bicycle path on 102nd Street north of Atlantic Avenue west along the avenue’s median to a new Atlantic Green Park at 96th Street. The bicycle lane would then turn south onto 99th Street, where it would run along an extended sidewalk to Rockaway Boulevard and end at MS 137, America’s School of Heroes.
The Ozone Park section contains four parts: Atlantic Green Park, The Viaduct, 97th Avenue and 101st Avenue.
The Ozone Park section contains 4 parts:
- Atlantic Ave station, including:
- Reopening of the long-closed LIRR Woodhaven station underground along the LIRR Atlantic Branch
- ADA compliant access
- Bike storage
- Atlantic Green
- Multi-use viaduct, featuring:
- Commercial space on the ground floor
- An elevated park and walking on the roof
- Expanded sidewalks with a public plaza
- Bike lanes
- Parking
- Liberty Ave station, including:
- ADA compliant access
- ground level retail
- Bike storage
- An enclosed passageway along Liberty Ave connecting to the Rockaway Blvd station for a free transfer to the A train.
Atlantic Ave Station
Atlantic Avenue station is two stations in one. The former, elevated Rockaway Branch station is still visible from the street, while the former Woodhaven station is hidden underground. LIRR riders used to transfer here between the Rockaway line and the line running from the Flatbush Avenue station in Brooklyn to Long Island. Trains still run underground between Brooklyn and Long Island but no longer stop here.
Reopening the Woodhaven LIRR station would allow riders on the LIRR line to transfer to the QueensLink/M train to get to central Queens, rather than traveling all the way to Jamaica and doubling back. It would also allow M train passengers heading for Long Island to save time and a headache by transferring to the LIRR at Atlantic Avenue, instead of Jamaica Center.
Atlantic Green Park
Before-and-after view, looking east at the proposed Atlantic Green park, with subway train at Atlantic Ave station behind.
Next to the Atlantic Avenue station is a triangle of land that once hosted a track connection between the underground LIRR Atlantic Ave tracks and the elevated LIRR Rockaway tracks. This allowed two services to run to the Rockaways, one from Pennsylvania Station and one from Brooklyn Flatbush Avenue.
The land has been partly redeveloped, but a small section still owned by the City could be converted into park space. Most of this land is now used as a parking lot for school buses. Moving the parking lot is not necessary to reactivate train service, but if a suitable replacement for the bus company can be found, a new park could be built on this land.
This new park would feature an active play field, surrounded by walking paths, trees, and a bike lane. The wide central median along Atlantic Ave could host a protected bike lane connecting the proposed bike lanes on 102nd and 103rd streets to the entrance of Atlantic Green. This would require further study and working with NYC Department of Transportation (DOT).
Within the proposed park is an abandoned LIRR power substation. Further investigation is needed to determine if it can be rehabilitated to power the subway. If not needed, the building could be renovated as a community center.
The embankment along 100th Street would separate the park from the neighborhood to the east. Boring a small tunnel through the embankment would allow pedestrians and bicycles to enter the park from the east. A ground level entrance to the park for bikes and pedestrians would be built at 97th Avenue, along with a ramp providing access to the elevated Viaduct Park.
The Viaduct
Before-and-after view, looking north at 97th Ave, showing the southern entrance to Atlantic Green park, and the new linear park atop the viaduct.
From 97th Avenue to Liberty Avenue, the old tracks were laid on an elevated concrete and steel viaduct, which carried four tracks. This viaduct is much stronger and heavier than the structures supporting most elevated subways and much wider than most of the right of way, spanning the full distance from 99th Street to 100th Street. Since the last RBB train ran in 1962, the space below the track structure has been converted to commercial use. Storage and automobile-related businesses predominate.
Local residents are concerned that reactivating train service would spell the end of these small businesses and the jobs they provide. The viaduct is in poor condition, however, and must be rebuilt. We envision building a new viaduct with the same dimensions, and its ground level dedicated to commercial use and parking.
The new viaduct would carry two subway tracks and a linear park, with a sound wall separating tracks from park. This linear park would connect with the new Atlantic Green Park to the north, and stairs and elevators would provide access to the park from street level. Covered viewing platforms would be above the avenues crossing below.
At street level, a parking lane of 99th Street would be taken for bicycle lanes and a widened sidewalk with a covered colonnade. At 103rd Ave, a plaza would be built under the viaduct and lead into the new Liberty Avenue station.
97th Ave
- Garden-lined pathway, with seating and views, leading to the new Atlantic Green park
- NYCT (subway) right-of-way and maintenance walkway
- Colonnade along expanded 99th St eastern sidewalk
- Replacement parking under the viaduct
- Revamped 99th St with protected bidirectional bike lane
The south side of 97th Avenue will host an entrance to Atlantic Green Park. Bicycle lanes would run on the east side of 99th Street, along a widened sidewalk that would continue south to Liberty Avenue. To make up for the loss of parking on 99th Street, the space under this section of the viaduct will be opened for parking.
Before-and-after view, looking north along the linear park on top of the viaduct at 101st Ave.
101st Ave
- Garden-lined pathway, with seating and views, leading to the new Atlantic Green park
- NYCT (subway) right-of-way and maintenance walkway
- Colonnade along expanded 99th St eastern sidewalk
- Entrance to commercial space within viaduct
- Revamped 99th St with protected bidirectional bike lane
- Open air staircase to elevated park
The viaduct at this point will act as an anchor for the 101st Avenue commercial district, with the viaduct’s ground level occupied by local businesses. The expanded sidewalk will be covered by the park above, creating a colonnade. Stairs and elevators will connect the ground level to the linear park above. A sound wall and trees will shield the linear park from the active train tracks.
Liberty Ave Station
103rd Ave & Liberty Ave
- Southern fare control area (Primary station entry and egress)
- Elevated passageway to Rockaway Blvd Station (A train)
- NYCT elevated structure (A train)
- Entrance to commercial space within viaduct
- Elevator connecting passageway, platform and street levels
- Station platform and canopy
- Expanded 99th St eastern sidewalk
- Multipurpose commercial space
The linear park will end at 103rd Avenue, where an open public plaza with bicycle parking will serve as a street-level entrance to the new Liberty Avenue station; another entrance will be on Liberty Avenue. The station will have retail shops at street level, and an island platform above, with elevators providing ADA accessibility.
The new Liberty Avenue station would allow free transfers to and from the A train at the nearby Rockaway Boulevard Station, via a covered mezzanine built along the existing A train tracks.
Before-and-after view, looking east at Liberty Ave station with new commercial space on ground level.
South of Rockaway Boulevard, the new tracks would meet the existing A train tracks at the same level. The southbound QueensLink track would need to fly over the A train tracks, landing on the other side around Linden Boulevard, where the tracks would merge, so that M trains could continue to Howard Beach and the Rockaways on the existing A train tracks.
Today, most A trains go east in the Rockaways to Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, while a shuttle from Broad Channel runs west to Rockaway Park-116 Street. At rush hour, a few A trains also serve Rockaway Park. With the introduction of M train service to the Rockaways, the shuttle train would be replaced by a full-time service. Either the M train would run to Rockaway Park, or the A train would run there, and the M would run to Far Rockaway. The final service pattern would be based on ridership needs.
