Sutphin Blvd-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport (E,J,Z)

Sutphin Blvd is the intermediate stop on E trains and first stop on J/Z trains, on the Archer Avenue extension that opened on December 11, 1988. The station is a direct replacement for the former Jamaica Elevated Sutphin Blvd Station, located two blocks north on Jamaica Avenue. This elevated station closed on September 10, 1977, with J trains terminating at the previous stop Queens Blvd until April 15, 1985 (when trains were pushed back to 121 Street to allow final construction of the new elevated that leads to the tunnel portal to enter construction) after merchants thought having the elevated removed from Downtown Jamaica would help revitalize their businesses. Groundbreaking for the Archer Avenue extension began in 1973 with the new subway line projected to open in 1980 but it ended up opening in 1988 due to faulty construction and the NYC fiscal crisis

The station has stacked platforms, an upper-level platform serves the E train, the lower-level the J/Z trains. There are no track connections between the IND and BMT lines anywhere on the Arthur Avenue extension. Each island platform curves around during their lengths, the Manhattan-bound ends especially are quite narrow with the platforms becoming extremely wide towards their midsections. The J/Z platforms lower level has silver columns along its entire length, the E's upper-level platforms have columns only where the mezzanine exists above it with the mezzanine tucked into the ceiling of the station, the rest of the E platform has a vaulted ceiling. The stations tiling scheme is creme along the platform walls, with some patches of maroon and orange tiling in various places, including Sutphin spelled in the mezzanine walls.

The mezzanine over the middle of the platform is where the station's only fare control area is. For vertical access there are two staircases and a pair of escalators next to each other that connect the upper and lower platforms, and a single escalator bank with two escalators on it and a stairwell on the opposite side that connect the upper level E platform with the mezzanine (All J/Z passengers must set foot on the E train's platform). This fare control area has the main turnstiles along its south side and two secondary High Entrance/Exit Turnstiles on the north side that lead to closer to exits on the north side of Archer Avenue from the LIRR Station. These fare control areas are connected on both sides with the main turnstiles by passageways rapping around the fare paid area with glass walls allowing views down to the E train platform below.

For exits a short wide passageway leads out to escalators up to the surface for street level and the LIRR and AirTrain JFK Station. Three elevator shafts lead directly from this mezzanine area, through the surface (with at intermediate stop) and to the LIRRs upper level bridge, that provides the most direct connection to the AirTrain. Passengers who take the escalators up to the surface to reach AirTrain must walk beneath the LIRR tracks at street level to come to the other side of the Jamaica LIRR station to where AirTrain station is. In addition, there are street stairs to all four corners of Archer Avenue and Sutphin Blvd. These street stairs are unusual with tiling on the surface in the same style as the station, a couple are currently decorated in rainbow colors.
Photos: 1: April 21, 2006; 2-5: August 14, 2008; 6-14: January 3, 2010; 15: December 23, 2010; 16-37: January 4, 2011; 38-46: November 1, 2012; 47-53: November 2, 2012; 54-57: November 11, 2013

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The blur of a R32 E train leaving Sutphin Blvd beneath lighted signs along the tracks. One is the backlit sign from the station's opening day, the other two are modern additions

The main fare control area at Sutphin Blvd from the elevators that lead directly up to the overpass to the Long Island Rail Road and Airtrain.

Another view of main portion of the mezzanine outside of fare control at Sutphin Blvd.

Looking down the busy but quite wide E train platform at Sutphin Blvd.

Another view down the busy E train platform at Sutphin Blvd. The island platform slowly curves together, becoming very narrow at its extreme end.

Disembarking from an R160 E train at Sutphin Blvd, passengers rolling their suitcases towards the stairs and escalators to take AirTrain to their flights at JFK.

Looking down towards one end of the E train platform where it gets a lot narrower, by a staircase down to the J train's.

A wide 2 escalator and a staircase well lead down from the small mezzanine area to the E train's platform. The E trains platform is visible off the mezzanine.

Small signs directing passengers to the Airtrain on a wall of the mezzanine area.

The wide turnstile bank, leads out to the main station exit at Sutphin Blvd, signs direct passengers to bus connections, the Airtrain, and the LIRR Station.

Outside of fare control on the more recently built connection area with unusual signs directing passengers in each direction for Airtrain JFK (usually a blue color, not green), or the NYC Transit Subway to Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn.

More unusual signage in the connector area underground that leads to the bank of elevators up to Airtrain.

Looking back towards the main entrance area of the station, notice the line in the floor where the tiling changed, this shows the border of the floor of the original station to the newer small underground area that was built to provide easier connections to the Airtrain.

Two escalators provide access to the main exit to Sutphin Blvd and the LIRR ticket lobby, 3 elevators stop here at a middle landing, and at an upper level that provides connection to the bridge that provides the easiest way to access the Airtrain.

The upper level E platform viewed from the glass at an end of the small mezzanine at Sutphin Blvd

A lighted E train service sign for Manhattan-bound service beneath its track

Looking up the escalators with their narrow staircase between them from the E platform to the mezzanine area

Outside of fare control and the high turnstiles looking towards the Sutphin name made out in the station's orange mosaic theme

A close up of the light orange on red with a grey background Sutphin mosaic in the mezzanine level

A street stair at the NE corner of Archer Avenue and Sutphin Blvd, behind notice the contrast of the old LIRR headquarters building and the modern steel and glass overpass canopy across the LIRR tracks

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