101-913: Interstate 678 ( I-678 ) is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that extends for 14 miles (23 km) through two boroughs of New York City . The route begins at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Jamaica Bay and travels north through Queens and across the East River to the Bruckner Interchange in the Bronx , where I-678 ends and the Hutchinson River Parkway begins. I-678 connects to I-495 (the Long Island Expressway ) in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park . The highway
202-614: A contactless fare payment system. Fare payment would be made using Apple Pay , Google Pay , debit/credit cards with near-field communication enabled, or radio-frequency identification cards. As part of the implementation of OMNY, the MTA also plans to use the system in the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. In December 2022, the MTA announced the launch of an additional fare for use on journeys that utilize both of its railroad systems via Grand Central. The fare
303-543: A loop route ) completely surrounds a metropolitan city, and it is often connected with multiple junctions to other routes. Unlike other auxiliary Interstate Highways (and by extension, all primary Interstate Highways ), beltways do not have termini; however, they have a place where the highway mileage resets to zero. Beltways are also preceded by an even number in the first digit. Some examples of beltways include: Long Island Rail Road [REDACTED] Gray lines represent freight-only branches, and other colors represent
404-437: A proof of concept report in 2015. At the time of the report, express bus riders from Southeast Queens had some of the longest commutes in the city, with their commutes being 96 minutes long, yet they paid a premium fare of $ 6.50. Riders who take the dollar van to the subway paid $ 4.75 to get to Manhattan in 65 minutes; riders who only took the bus and subway paid $ 2.75 to get to Manhattan in 86 minutes; and riders who took
505-425: A LIRR spur to Grand Central Terminal that will run in part via the lower level of the existing 63rd Street Tunnel . The East Side Access project added a new eight-track terminal called Grand Central Madison underneath the existing Grand Central Terminal. The project was first proposed in the 1968 Program for Action , but due to various funding shortfalls, construction did not start until 2007. As of April 2018 ,
606-645: A contract authorizing a northward extension of the highway to Grand Central Parkway. This segment was to cost $ 11.6 million. The project included widening a segment of Grand Central Parkway between Horace Harding Boulevard (today's Long Island Expressway) and the Kew Gardens Interchange. In addition, a ramp was built from Main Street to the Van Wyck Expressway, and an overpass was built to carry Queens Boulevard above both Main Street and
707-530: A family ticket for children who are accompanied by an 18-year-old for $ 0.75 if bought from the station agent or TVM, $ 1.00 on the train. Senior citizen/disabled passengers traveling during the morning peak hours are required to pay the AM peak senior citizen/disabled rate. This rate is not charged during PM peak hours. Commuters can also buy a peak or off-peak ten trip ride, a weekly unlimited or an unlimited monthly pass. Monthly passes are good on any train regardless of
808-606: A fourth vehicle lane on the Van Wyck Expressway south of Kew Gardens. In addition, northbound exit 5 at Atlantic Avenue and southbound exit 4 at Liberty Avenue would be permanently closed, as these junctions are near each other. Were the proposal approved, construction would begin in early 2020 and would be completed three years later. In 2021, workers began reconstructing five overpasses of I-678 in southern Queens. Work on an additional five overpasses began in mid-2022. Also in 2017, NYSDOT began renovating an overpass that carried Jewel Avenue above I-678. The Jewel Avenue overpass
909-627: A funding agreement from the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952. The New York Times quoted a state official who said that this move had the effect of canceling these projects. I-78 currently ends at the east portal of the Holland Tunnel. In early 1988, both directions of the Whitestone Expressway near Northern Boulevard were temporarily closed because several girders in the southbound viaduct had corroded to
1010-523: A second, fixed span would be built adjacent to the drawbridge. Several boat operators initially opposed the plans—the bridges would be 40.8 feet (12.4 m) above mean high water , shorter than some of the vessels that used the creek—but they eventually withdrew their opposition. Flushing Meadows Park was subsequently selected to host the 1964 New York World's Fair . In advance of the World's Fair, city officials announced in early 1960 that they would upgrade
1111-638: A six-lane freeway. Just after the taxiways, the expressway connects with North Service Road, which services the airport's western services. From there, the expressway begins to turn northward and crosses the United Airlines hangar. I-678 continues its northwestern path, curving to the northeast at the interchange with Federal Circle. From there, the highway continues northward, becoming a divided highway and meeting NY 878 (the Nassau Expressway) at exit 1E. I-678 continues northward to
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#17327728499491212-446: A typical 3-digit Interstate Highway, bypasses usually have both its two termini junctioned with another Interstate highway. Bypass routes are preceded by an even number in the first digit. Examples include: In the case of an auxiliary Interstate highway which has both ends at Interstates but not the same Interstate, some states treat these as bypasses while others treat these as spurs—see Spur route above. A beltway (also known as
1313-726: Is also not valid for travel to the Elmont station or the special event only Belmont Park station, which are just barely east of the Queens-Nassau border and thus are within Zone 4. In late 2017, the MTA was slated to launch a pilot that will allow LIRR, bus and subway service to use one ticket. The proposal for the ticket, called the "Freedom Ticket," was initially put forth by the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) in 2007. The NYCTRC wrote
1414-765: Is known as the Van Wyck Expressway ( / v æ n ˈ w ɪ k / van WIK or / v æ n ˈ w aɪ k / van WYKE ) from JFK Airport to Northern Boulevard ( New York State Route 25A or NY 25A), the Whitestone Expressway from NY 25A north to the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge , and the Hutchinson River Expressway from the bridge to the Bruckner Interchange. North of
1515-435: Is priced as $ 8 more than an adult off-peak ticket from an origin station on one system to Grand Central. It is valid on both peak and off-peak trains. The LIRR is relatively isolated from the rest of the national rail system despite operating out of Penn Station, the nation's busiest rail terminal. It connects with other railroads in just two locations: All LIRR trains have an engineer (driver in non-US English) who operates
1616-491: Is the Bruckner Interchange , where I-678's designation ends and the highway continues northward as the Hutchinson River Parkway . In 1936, New York governor Herbert H. Lehman signed a bill that authorized the construction of the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge, which would connect Queens and the Bronx. At its north end, the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge would connect to Eastern Boulevard (later known as Bruckner Boulevard ) via
1717-577: Is the busiest commuter railroad in North America. It is also one of the world's few commuter systems that runs 24/7 year-round. It is publicly owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , which refers to it as MTA Long Island Rail Road . In 2023, the system had a ridership of 75,186,900, or about 276,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. The LIRR logo combines the circular MTA logo with
1818-735: Is the case with the Montauk Branch, which is known as the Babylon Branch service in the electrified portion of the line between Jamaica and Babylon, while the diesel service beyond Babylon to Montauk is referred to as Montauk Branch service. All branches except the Port Washington Branch pass through Jamaica ; the trackage west of Jamaica (except the Port Washington Branch ) is known as the City Terminal Zone . The City Terminal Zone includes portions of
1919-423: Is usually one of the following: Examples include: Sometimes, a three-digit Interstate Highway branches off from another three-digit Interstate Highway. These spurs do not connect directly with their parent highways, but are associated with them via the three-digit highways they do intersect with. Examples include: A bypass route may traverse around a city, or may run through it with the mainline bypassing. In
2020-672: Is valid for travel within zones 1 and 3 on the Long Island Railroad. CityTickets can only be bought before boarding, except at Willets Point where they can be purchased on board, and they must be used on the day of purchase. CityTicket was originally not valid for travel to Far Rockaway because the station is in Zone 4 (despite being within the city limits) and the Far Rockaway Branch passes through Nassau County . In May 2023, MTA officials announced that they would expand CityTicket to Far Rockaway. CityTicket
2121-676: The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 , in which the federal government would pay 90 percent of the proposed highway's cost. The parkway would be expanded from two to four lanes in each direction, and the interchange with the Cross Island Parkway would also be upgraded. The design process for the upgrade was nearing completion when the state approved the project. The head of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), Robert Moses , stated that
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#17327728499492222-656: The Grand Central Parkway . These plans were mostly canceled by the late 1960s, leading to the truncation of I-78 to the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway (I-278) on January 1, 1970. In March 1971, Governor Nelson Rockefeller revealed a plan for improving New York City highways. The plan denied funding to several proposed New York City Interstate Highways, including the Astoria Expressway. Rockefeller said that these highways did not qualify for
2323-578: The Hutchinson River Parkway . The bridge's south end would connect to a new Whitestone Parkway, which led southwest off the bridge to Northern Boulevard. Just south of the bridge, there was to be a three-level interchange between the Whitestone Parkway and the Cross Island Parkway . Plans for the bridge were completed by February 1937, at which time the state started issuing bonds to fund bridge construction. The right-of-way for
2424-548: The Jamaica station is a major hub station and transfer point in Jamaica, Queens . It has ten tracks and six platforms, plus yard and bypass tracks. Passengers can transfer between trains on all LIRR lines except the Port Washington Branch . The sixth platform opened in February 2020, and exclusively serves Atlantic Branch shuttle trains to Brooklyn. Transfer is also made to separate facilities for three subway services at
2525-803: The Kennedy Airport Interchange , where it crosses under the Nassau Expressway and over NY 27 east (South Conduit Avenue ) and the Belt Parkway , and then over NY 27 west (North Conduit Avenue) at exit 1B. At this point the highway exits the facility of JFK Airport and maintenance switches to the New York State Department of Transportation . North of North Conduit Avenue, AirTrain JFK 's elevated people mover structure begins to run above
2626-644: The Laurelton , Locust Manor , Rosedale , and St. Albans stations in Queens. Riders, under the pilot, would be able to purchase one-way, weekly, or monthly passes that will be valid on the LIRR, on buses, and the subway. The fare will be higher than the price of a ride on the MetroCard , but it will be lower than the combined price of an LIRR ticket and a MetroCard, and it will allow unlimited free transfers between
2727-594: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968 when it incorporated several other New York City-area transit agencies. With MTA subsidies the LIRR modernized further, continuing to be the busiest commuter railroad in the United States. The LIRR is one of the few railroads that has survived as an intact company from its original charter to the present. The LIRR operates out of four western terminals in New York City. These terminals are: In addition,
2828-537: The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) bought a controlling interest as part of its plan for direct access to Manhattan which began on September 8, 1910. The wealthy PRR subsidized the LIRR during the first half of the new century, allowing expansion and modernization. Electric operation began in 1905. After World War II , the railroad industry's downturn and dwindling profits caused the PRR to stop subsidizing
2929-639: The Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport station ( E , J , and Z trains), a number of bus routes, and the AirTrain automated people mover to JFK Airport . The railroad's headquarters are next to the station. The Long Island Rail Road system has eleven passenger branches, three of which are main trunk lines: There are eight minor branches. For scheduling and advertising purposes some of these branches are divided into sections; this
3030-685: The Williamsburg Bridge to Queens , where it would have followed the Bushwick Expressway past the southern end of the Van Wyck Expressway to Laurelton . From here, I-78 would have continued northward onto an extended Clearview Expressway and to the Bronx . Early plans for I-678 had the highway following the Astoria Expressway , a proposed freeway that would run along the NY ;25A corridor from I-278 to
3131-406: The 20th century, the LIRR did not begin using signals with color lights on its above ground sections until 2006. Some portions of the railway lack automatic signals and cab signals completely, instead train and track car movements are governed only by timetable and verbal/written train orders , although these areas are gradually receiving modern signals. Many other signals and switching systems on
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3232-529: The AirTrain structure diverges to the east. After entering Jamaica , the Van Wyck crosses under a complex, two-level Long Island Rail Road structure with 13 tracks. Continuing northward, the expressway passes Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and intersects Jamaica Avenue at exit 6. I-678 expands to eight lanes as it crosses under Hillside Avenue ( NY 25B ), which is serviced by exit 7 in
3333-816: The Belt Parkway. Construction started in May 1998. The fact that the Jamaica Branch had to be built in the middle of the Van Wyck Expressway, combined with the varying length and curves of the track spans, caused complications during construction. One lane in each direction was closed during the off-peak hours, causing congestion on the Van Wyck. The AirTrain's guideways above the Van Wyck were completed in August 2001. The system opened in December 2003. A $ 286-million (equivalent to $ 470 million in 2023) renovation of
3434-415: The Bronx–Whitestone Bridge started in August 2001. The project replaced the bridge's span, among other things. The Queens and Bronx approaches were replaced in a project that started in 2008 and ended in 2015. In early 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that as part of his plan to improve JFK Airport, two traffic bottlenecks along I-678 near the airport would be removed. At the Kew Gardens Interchange,
3535-589: The Hamptons and Montauk on the Cannonball can reserve a seat in the all-reserved Parlor Cars. Prior to November 2021, passengers going to Belmont Park had to buy a special ticket to go from Jamaica to Belmont Park (or vice versa). Weekly and monthly passes were not accepted at Belmont Park. With the opening of Elmont station in November 2021, Belmont Park and Elmont were placed into fare zone 4. In 2003,
3636-435: The LIRR and Metro-North started a pilot program in which passengers traveling within New York City were allowed to buy one-way tickets for $ 2.50. The special reduced-fare CityTicket, proposed by the New York City Transit Riders Council, was formally introduced in 2004. The discounted fares were initially only available for travel on Saturdays and Sundays. In March 2022, it was expanded to include all off-peak trains throughout
3737-616: The LIRR are being modernized and upgraded as part of the Main Line's Third Track Project, most notably at Mineola, where the system is being completely redone and modernized. On portions of the railroad equipped with ASC, engineers consult the speed display unit, which is capable of displaying seven speed indications. As a result of a December 1, 2013, train derailment in the Bronx on the Metro-North Railroad, railroads with similar cab signal systems to Metro-North, such as
3838-662: The LIRR are under the control of the Movement Bureau in Jamaica, which gives orders to the towers that control a specific portion of the railroad. Movements in Amtrak territory are controlled by Penn Station Control Center or PSCC, run jointly by the LIRR and Amtrak. The PSCC controls as far east as Harold Interlocking , in Sunnyside, Queens . The PSCC replaced several towers. The Jamaica Control Center, operational since
3939-481: The LIRR corridor, which carried 1,635 trains every twenty-four hours. The final construction contract for the Van Wyck's first segment was awarded in January 1950. The segment from Queens Boulevard to Idlewild ultimately cost $ 17 million. It opened on October 14, 1950, with a ceremony attended by New York governor Thomas E. Dewey . The new highway reduced driving time between Idlewild and Manhattan by 20 percent. Later
4040-692: The LIRR paid $ 10 to get to Manhattan in 35 minutes. Unlike the CityTicket, the Freedom Ticket would be valid for off-peak and multidirectional travel; have free transfers to the subway and bus system; and be capped at $ 215 per month. At the time, monthly CityTickets cost $ 330 per month. The Freedom Ticket will initially be available for sale at the Atlantic Terminal , Nostrand Avenue , and East New York stations in Brooklyn and at
4141-620: The LIRR would procure new M9 railcars from Kawasaki . A 2014 MTA forecast indicated that the LIRR would need 416 M9 railcars; 180 to replace the outdated M3 railcars and an additional 236 railcars for the additional passengers expected once the East Side Access project is complete. The first M9s entered revenue service on September 11, 2019. The LIRR also uses 134 C3 bilevel coaches powered by 24 DE30AC diesel-electric locomotives and 20 DM30AC dual-mode locomotives . They are used mostly on non-electrified branches, including
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4242-411: The LIRR, and the LIRR went into receivership in 1949. The State of New York , realizing how important the railroad was to Long Island's future, began to subsidize the railroad in the 1950s and 1960s. In June 1965, the state finalized an agreement to buy the LIRR from the PRR for $ 65 million. The LIRR was placed under the control of a new Metropolitan Commuter Transit Authority . The MCTA was rebranded
4343-414: The LIRR, buses, and subway. The former head of the MTA, Thomas Prendergast, announced at the January 2017 board meeting that the plan would be explored in a field study to determine fares and the impact on existing service. The plan is intended to fill approximately 20,000 unused seats of existing trains to Atlantic Terminal and Penn Station (or about 50% to 60% of peak trains in each direction), while at
4444-554: The LIRR, were ordered to modify the systems to enforce certain speed limit changes, which has resulted in lower average speeds and actual speed limits across the LIRR. The LIRR's electrified lines are powered via a third rail at 750 volts DC . The LIRR's electric fleet consists of 836 M7 and 170 M3 electric multiple unit cars in married pairs, meaning each car needs the other one to operate, with each car containing its own engineer's cab. The trainsets typically range from 6 to 12 cars long. In September 2013, MTA announced that
4545-929: The Long Island Rail Road fare system is based on the distance a passenger travels, as opposed to the New York City Subway and the area's bus systems, which charge a flat rate. The railroad is broken up into eight non-consecutively numbered fare zones. Zone 1, the City Terminal Zone , includes Penn Station, Grand Central, all stations in Brooklyn, all stations in Queens west of Jamaica on the Main Line, and Mets–Willets Point. Zone 3 includes Jamaica as well as all other stations in eastern Queens except Far Rockaway. Zones 4 and 7 include all stations in Nassau County, plus Far Rockaway and Belmont Park in Queens. Zones 9, 10, 12 and 14 include all stations in Suffolk County. Each zone contains many stations, and
4646-599: The Long Island Rail Road operated trains over portions of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) elevated and subway lines until 1917. In addition to its daily commuter patronage, the LIRR also offers the following services: Penn Station offers connections with Amtrak intercity trains and NJ Transit commuter trains, as well as the PATH , New York City Subway , and New York City Bus systems. Grand Central offers connections with Metro-North Railroad, as well as
4747-671: The Main Line, Atlantic, and Montauk Branches, as well as the Amtrak -owned East River Tunnels to Penn Station. The railroad has dropped a number of branches due to lack of ridership over the years. Part of the Rockaway Beach Branch became part of the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway , while others were downgraded to freight branches, and the rest abandoned entirely. Additionally,
4848-594: The Main Line. On the western end it provides service on the surviving freight-only tracks of the LIRR: the Bay Ridge and Bushwick branches; the "Lower Montauk" between Jamaica and Long Island City; and to an interchange connection at Fresh Pond Junction in Queens with the CSX , Canadian Pacific , and Providence and Worcester railroads. Some non-electrified lines are used only for freight: The East Side Access project built
4949-468: The Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Montauk, Central, and Greenport Branches. There are also 23 MP15AC locomotives in use as work trains and yard switchers. For most of its history LIRR has served commuters, but it had many named trains, some with all-first class seating, parlor cars, and full bar service. Few of them lasted past World War II, but some names were revived during the 1950s and 1960s as
5050-439: The United States still operating under its original name and charter. There are 126 stations and more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of track on its two main lines running the full length of the island and eight major branches, with the passenger railroad system totaling 319 route miles (513 km). As of 2018 , the LIRR's budget for expenditures was $ 1.6 billion plus $ 450 million for debt service, which it supports through
5151-401: The United States' Interstate Highway System . The 323 auxiliary routes generally fall into three types: spur routes , which connect to or intersect the parent route at one end; bypasses , which connect to the parent route at both ends; and beltways , which form a circle that intersects the parent route at two locations. Some routes connect to the parent route at one end but to another route at
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#17327728499495252-446: The Van Wyck Expressway to Main Street were delayed for another year, opening in November 1954. In December 1957, the state approved a $ 9.5 million (equivalent to $ 78.8 million in 2023) project to widen a 2.1-mile (3.4 km) segment of Whitestone Parkway from Northern Boulevard to the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge, build a new bridge over the Flushing River , and improve the parkway to Interstate Highway standards using funds from
5353-443: The Whitestone Bridge and Parkway was legally designated in July 1937. The Whitestone Bridge and Parkway both opened on April 29, 1939. Construction on the bridge and parkway had been accelerated in preparation for the 1939 New York World's Fair , which opened one day after the Whitestone Bridge and Parkway. The new highway was intended as a major thoroughfare to the World's Fair, which was hosted in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park , near
5454-421: The Whitestone Expressway. The Whitestone Expressway continues northward along with the Van Wyck into College Point , where the service roads resume. I-678 passes over Linden Place, served by exit 14, and continues northeastward past the distribution center of The New York Times to the west. Shortly afterward, I-678's service roads intersect with 20th Avenue in Whitestone , and there are ramps to and from
5555-447: The Whitestone Parkway and extend the Van Wyck Expressway northward to the Whitestone Expressway. City officials approved a $ 10 million (equivalent to $ 78.9 million in 2023) project to upgrade the Whitestone Parkway in May 1960, and work on the parkway began near Northern Boulevard in September 1961. Contracts for the upgrade were awarded in September 1962. The portion of the Hutchinson River Parkway south of Bruckner Boulevard and all of
5656-440: The Whitestone Parkway were converted to Interstate standards. The Whitestone Parkway was subsequently renamed the Whitestone Expressway, and the aforementioned segment of the Hutchinson River Parkway was renamed the Hutchinson River Expressway. The new four-lane bridges over the Flushing River opened in June 1963; it temporarily carried two lanes in each direction until the old drawbridge was upgraded. The Whitestone Expressway upgrade
5757-504: The Whitestone Parkway's southern end. In 1953, work began on an interchange between Willets Point Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, and Whitestone Parkway, at the parkway's southern end. In the 1940s, Moses proposed the construction of a system of highways that would traverse the New York City area. The plan was to cost $ 800 million (equivalent to $ 13.6 billion in 2023), and, in 1945, the city agreed to pay $ 60 million (equivalent to $ 805 million in 2023) of that cost. Among them
5858-514: The city started relocating or demolishing houses in the proposed expressway's right-of-way . The city had acquired 355 houses in the expressway's path, and it ultimately relocated 263 households, as well as the Van Wyck Avenue Congregational Church. In some cases, the city government placed existing houses on trailers and rolled them to vacant sites nearby, allowing residents to move back into their houses in as little as 24 to 48 hours. One four-story apartment building, which housed 35 families,
5959-400: The collection of fares (which cover 43% of total expenses) along with dedicated taxes and other MTA revenue. The Long Island Rail Road Company was chartered in 1834 to provide a daily service between New York City and Boston via a ferry connection between its Greenport, New York , terminal on Long Island's North Fork and Stonington, Connecticut . This service was superseded in 1849 by
6060-476: The corresponding passenger branches. The Long Island Rail Road ( reporting mark LI ), or LIRR , is a railroad in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York , stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island . The railroad currently operates a public commuter rail service, with its freight operations contracted to the New York and Atlantic Railway . With an average weekday ridership of 354,800 passengers in 2016, it
6161-446: The early 1960s. The Hutchinson River and Whitestone Expressways were collectively designated as I-678 c. 1965 . The designation was extended southward in 1970 to follow the Van Wyck Expressway to its end at JFK Airport. I-678 begins at JFK Airport in the borough of Queens and proceeds along the stretch of highway known as the Van Wyck Expressway. I-678 progresses westward through the airport, crossing under airport taxiways as
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#17327728499496262-402: The expressway crosses under Roosevelt Avenue and the IRT Flushing Line ( 7 and <7> trains) of the New York City Subway . After crossing Roosevelt Avenue, I-678 passes Citi Field to the west, then intersects NY 25A (Northern Boulevard) and the Whitestone Expressway at the Flushing River Interchange, via exit 13. At this point, I-678 transitions onto
6363-410: The expressway passes over Francis Lewis Park and begins its approach onto the Whitestone Bridge over the East River . The highway leaves Queens and enters the Bronx along the bridge. The bridge descends to ground level and I-678 passes through an open-road toll gantry, which is located at the former site of a tollbooth. Afterward, the expressway intersects Lafayette Avenue. North of Lafayette Avenue
6464-411: The expressway's median, and the Van Wyck descends to an open-cut structure. At this point, I-678 gains service roads on either side, connecting to local streets. I-678 continues northward along the Van Wyck Expressway through Queens, interchanging with Rockaway Boulevard , Linden Boulevard , Liberty Avenue , and Atlantic Avenue at exits 2 through 5, respectively. Just south of Atlantic Avenue,
6565-425: The highway turns northwestward once again, interchanging with Jewel Avenue via Park Drive East at exit 11. Crossing through Flushing Meadows–Corona Park , I-678 continues northward until exit 12, where there are ramps to College Point Boulevard and the westbound Long Island Expressway (I-495). After the interchange with the Long Island Expressway, the Van Wyck continues northeastward. A short distance later,
6666-413: The highway. The Gull Construction Company received the contract for the segment of the highway between Hoover Avenue and 88th Avenue in September 1950. A direct ramp from the northbound Van Wyck to Queens Boulevard opened in June 1953; prior to the opening of this segment, the northbound expressway was frequently congested. The extension to Grand Central Parkway opened on November 13, 1953, but the ramps from
6767-486: The interchange, I-678 ends and the roadway continues as the Hutchinson River Parkway. The portion of I-678 north of NY 25A follows the path of the Whitestone Parkway and a short section of the Hutchinson River Parkway's Bronx extension. The Whitestone and Hutchinson River parkways were first opened in 1939, while the Van Wyck Expressway opened in pieces between 1950 and 1953. Both highways were connected to each other and upgraded to meet Interstate Highway standards in
6868-433: The land route through Connecticut that became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad . The LIRR refocused its attentions towards serving Long Island, in competition with other railroads on the island. In the 1870s, railroad president Conrad Poppenhusen and his successor, Austin Corbin acquired all the railroads and consolidated them into the LIRR. The LIRR was unprofitable for much of its history. In 1900,
6969-586: The need for better railroad freight service in New York City and on Long Island . Both areas are primarily served by trucking for freight haulage, an irony in a region with the most extensive rail transit service in the Americas, as well as the worst traffic conditions. Proposals for a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel for freight have existed for years to alleviate these issues, and, in recent years, there have been many new pushes for its construction by officials. Financial issues, as well as bureaucracy, remain major hurdles in constructing it. In May 1997, freight service
7070-433: The numbers can repeat from state to state along their route, but they will not repeat within a state. There are three states that have no auxiliary Interstate Highways: Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico. North Dakota has an auxiliary route, but it is unsigned , and Wyoming's does not meet Interstate Highway standards. Auxiliary Interstates are divided into three types: spur , loop , and bypass routes. The first digit of
7171-406: The original parkway had opened in 1939, creating two U-turn ramps, and creating a new exit ramp from eastbound Northern Boulevard to Linden Place. Previously, traffic from Northern Boulevard had to cross over three lanes of northbound traffic from the Van Wyck Expressway. The Jamaica Branch of the AirTrain JFK people mover system was built within the median of the Van Wyck from Atlantic Avenue to
7272-687: The other end; some states treat these as spurs while others treat them as bypasses. Like the primary Interstate Highways , auxiliary highways meet Interstate Highway standards (with rare exceptions ). The shorter auxiliary routes branch from primary routes; their numbers are based on the parent route's number. All of the supplement routes for Interstate 95 (I-95) are designated with a three-digit number ending in "95": I-x95. With some exceptions, spur routes are numbered with an odd hundreds digit (such as I-395 ), while bypasses and beltways are numbered with an even hundreds digit (such as I-695 ). Because longer Interstates may have many such supplemental routes,
7373-536: The pilot program has led the MTA to extend the program up to the summer of 2020 and renewed calls for the program to be implemented within New York City, where the fare for the Freedom Ticket—if approved—would cost US$ 2.75 and include free transfers between the LIRR & Metro-North, bus, and subway. In 2017, it was announced that the MetroCard fare payment system, used on New York City-area rapid transit and bus systems, would be phased out and replaced by OMNY ,
7474-482: The point that a structural failure was imminent. This part of the Whitestone Expressway, as well as the Van Wyck Expressway from Fowler Avenue south to the Long Island Expressway, were renovated in the mid-1990s. Starting in 2003, the northbound lanes of the Whitestone Expressway near Northern Boulevard were renovated. The project involved replacing a bascule bridge that had been at the location since
7575-442: The railroad expanded its east end parlor car service with luxury coaches and Pullman cars from railroads that were discontinuing their passenger trains. The LIRR and other railroads that became part of the system have always had freight service, though this has diminished. The process of shedding freight service accelerated with the acquisition of the railroad by New York State. In the 21st century, there has been some appreciation of
7676-401: The railroad utilizes a variety of wayside railroad signals including position light, color light and dwarf signals. In addition, much of the LIRR is equipped with a bi-directional Pulse code cab signaling called automatic speed control (ASC), though portions of the railway still retain single direction, wayside-only signaling. Unlike other railroads, which began using color-light signals in
7777-493: The same fare applies for travel between any station in the origin zone and any station in the destination zone. Peak fares are charged during the week on trains that arrive at western terminals between 6 AM and 10 AM, and for trains that depart from western terminals between 4 PM and 8 PM. Any passenger holding an off-peak ticket on a peak train is required to pay a step up fee. Passengers can buy tickets from ticket agents or ticket vending machines (TVMs) or on
7878-598: The same time providing affordable service to people with long commutes. The details were to be announced in spring 2017, and the pilot would last six months. The MTA Board voted to approve a six-month pilot for a similar concept, the Atlantic Ticket, in May 2018. The Atlantic Ticket is similar in that it would allow LIRR riders in southeast Queens to purchase a one-way ticket to or from Atlantic Terminal for $ 5. The Atlantic Ticket would start in June 2018. The success of
7979-484: The same year, the Gull Construction Company was contracted to install "safety plantings" in the median, consisting of shrubs and trees, to separate the different directions of traffic. New York state officials announced in 1960 that they would install a Jersey barrier in the Van Wyck's median, replacing the plantings, which had not been effective in preventing crashes. In April 1949, Dewey signed
8080-481: The service roads at exit 15. I-678 passes under 14th Avenue a short distance to the north. Just after 14th Avenue, the lefthand lanes of both directions diverge to exit 16, which continues onto Cross Island Parkway via a left exit. The service roads end at this point. After the interchange with Cross Island Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway turns to the northwest as a six-lane expressway that passes through Whitestone. After exit 17, which serves 3rd Avenue,
8181-701: The southbound direction. A short distance later, the highway approaches a large interchange with NY 25 ( Queens Boulevard ) and Main Street at exits 8–9. After crossing under Hoover Avenue, I-678 enters the Kew Gardens Interchange , a complex interchange with traffic from five directions. I-678 crosses on overpasses over Union Turnpike , the Grand Central Parkway , the Jackie Robinson Parkway , and different interchange ramps before returning at-grade in Flushing . There,
8282-422: The standard numbering guidelines exist for a number of reasons. In some cases, original routes were changed, extended, or abandoned, leaving discrepancies in the system. In other cases, it may not be possible to use the proper number because the limited set of available numbers has been exhausted, causing a "non-standard" number to be used. A spur route 's number usually has an odd number for its first digit. It
8383-537: The subway and bus systems. Additionally, almost all stations in Brooklyn and Queens offer connections with the New York City Bus system, and several stations also have transfers to New York City Subway stations. Transfers to Nassau Inter-County Express and Suffolk County Transit buses are available at many stations in Nassau and Suffolk counties, respectively. Like Metro-North Railroad and NJ Transit,
8484-531: The text Long Island Rail Road , and appears on the sides of trains. The LIRR is one of two commuter rail systems owned by the MTA, the other being the Metro-North Railroad in the northern suburbs of the New York area. Established in 1834 (the first section between the Brooklyn waterfront and Jamaica opened on April 18, 1836) and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest railroad in
8585-514: The third quarter of 2010, controls the area around Jamaica terminal by direct control of interlockings. This replaced several towers in Jamaica including Jay and Hall towers at the west and east ends of Jamaica station respectively. At additional locations, line side towers control the various switches and signals in accordance with the timetable and under the direction of the Movement Bureau in Jamaica. Today's LIRR signal system has evolved from its legacy Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)-based system, and
8686-521: The three digits usually signifies whether a route is a bypass, spur, or beltway. The last two digits are derived from the main Interstate Highway. For instance, I-115 contains an odd number in the first digit (1), which indicates that this freeway is a spur. The last two digits signify the highway's origin. In this case, the "15" in I-115 shows that it is a supplement to I-15 . Exceptions to
8787-503: The time of day, within the fare zones specified on the pass. The LIRR charged off-peak fares at all times during the COVID-19 pandemic . Peak fares were reinstated on March 1, 2022, and several new discounts and ticket options were introduced at the same time. During the summer the railroad offers special summer package ticket deals to places such as Long Beach, Jones Beach, the Hamptons, Montauk, and Greenport. Passengers traveling to
8888-631: The time. The opening of the Jewel Avenue interchange had been delayed by six weeks after a major steel contractor had filed for bankruptcy during the project. As early as 1961, The New York Times had reported that the Whitestone Expressway was to be known as Interstate 678. City traffic commissioner Henry A. Barnes subsequently claimed that Moses had proposed the I-678 designation unilaterally. The Whitestone and Hutchinson River expressways were designated as I-678 c. 1965 . The I-678 designation
8989-427: The train from conductors, but will incur an on-board penalty fee for doing so. This fee is waived for customers boarding at a station without a ticket office or ticket machine, senior citizens, people with disabilities or Medicare customers. There are several types of tickets: one way, round trip, peak, off-peak, AM peak or off-peak senior/disabled, peak child, and off-peak child. On off-peak trains, passengers can buy
9090-441: The train, and a conductor who is responsible for the safe movement of the train, fare collection and on-board customer service. In addition, trains may have one or more assistant conductors to assist with fare collection and other duties. The LIRR is one of the last railroads in the United States to use mechanical interlocking control towers to regulate rail traffic. As of 2016 , the LIRR has 8 active control towers. All movements on
9191-825: The two-lane ramps between the Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway would be upgraded to three lanes in each direction. South of the interchange, the expressway will be expanded from three lanes to four lanes in each direction, with the new lanes being used as either high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) or bus lanes . These projects, combined, would cost $ 1.5 billion–2 billion (equivalent to $ 1.83 billion–2.45 billion in 2023). In October 2018, Cuomo released details of his $ 13-billion (equivalent to $ 15.5 billion in 2023) plan to rebuild passenger facilities and approaches to JFK Airport. The plan included widened ramps in Kew Gardens and
9292-563: The upgrade could start in 1960. At the time of the announcement, the junction with Northern Boulevard was heavily congested because motorists used local streets to connect to the Grand Central Parkway , opposite Flushing Meadows Park from the Whitestone Parkway. In early 1959, Moses formally asked the United States Army Corps of Engineers for permission to close the existing Flushing River drawbridge permanently. The drawbridge would then be upgraded to Interstate standards, and
9393-470: The week for $ 5. The MTA announced plans in December 2022 to allow CityTickets to be used on peak trains as well; governor Kathy Hochul confirmed these plans the next month. The peak CityTickets, as announced in July 2023, would cost $ 7 each. As part of a one-year pilot program starting in July 2024, monthly tickets for LIRR trips entirely within New York City would also receive a 10% discount. CityTicket
9494-424: Was completed in 2019 and cost $ 13 million. In addition, the I-678 viaduct between I-495 and NY 25A was replaced in the early 2020s. The project, which consisted of the replacement of the viaduct's concrete deck, cost $ 124 million and was completed in February 2024. Auxiliary Interstate Highway Auxiliary Interstate Highways (also called three-digit Interstate Highways ) are a subset of highways within
9595-588: Was completed on December 12, 1963. The New York City Planning Commission approved the 3.7-mile (6.0 km) extension of the Van Wyck Expressway in April 1960. At the time, that project was planned to cost $ 3.48 million. Work on the Van Wyck Expressway Extension, as it was originally known, began in late 1961. The extension opened on December 30, 1963, although the Long Island Expressway and Jewel Avenue interchanges were not yet completed at
9696-546: Was contracted to build retaining walls and utilities along the expressway's right of way. Construction was delayed several times; the state government had rejected bids for several major contracts, saying the bids were too high. One of the most complex aspects of the project was the replacement of an overpass carrying the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) near the Jamaica station . The LIRR overpass alone cost $ 3.2 million, as contractors could not interrupt service on
9797-474: Was extended southward over the Van Wyck Expressway to JFK Airport on January 1, 1970. Although it is designated as a three-digit auxiliary Interstate Highway , I-678 never intersects with its ostensible "parent" Interstate, I-78 . Originally, I-78 would have continued eastward through New York City from its current terminus at the Holland Tunnel along the proposed Lower Manhattan Expressway and over
9898-669: Was franchised on a 20-year term to the New York and Atlantic Railway (NYAR), a short line railroad owned by the Anacostia and Pacific Company . It has its own equipment and crews, but uses the rail facilities of the LIRR. To the east, freight service operates to the end of the West Hempstead Branch, to Huntington on the Port Jefferson Branch, to Bridgehampton on the Montauk Branch, and to Riverhead on
9999-405: Was heavily disputed: depending on the person, "Wyck" could rhyme with either "lick" or "like". The Van Wyck Expressway was to be built to higher standards than New York's parkways , as it was intended to handle truck traffic. The highway would contain three lanes in each direction, as well as cobblestone shoulders. Several parks and playgrounds were also built along the expressway's route. In 1946,
10100-487: Was placed on metal rollers and relocated away from the expressway's path. Normally, new houses would have been built for these families, but there was not enough land to build individual homes for these families. After some of the houses were relocated, they were sold to military veterans at reduced prices. The first major contract for the Van Wyck Expressway's construction was awarded in September 1947, when Rusciano and Son
10201-411: Was the Van Wyck Expressway, which would stretch from Idlewild Airport (now JFK Airport) in the south to Queens Boulevard in the north. The six-lane expressway was to be built along the path of what was then Van Wyck Boulevard, and it was to cost $ 11.65 million. The original street and the freeway were both named after former New York City Mayor Robert Anderson Van Wyck , but the pronunciation of "Wyck"
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