Woodhaven residents demand fix of ‘J’ train station

BY KELDY ORTIZ

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 3:22 PM EDT

Riding, walking or parking below the J train line in Woodhaven could be hazardous.

The urgency of refurbishing the J train line that rumbles above Jamaica Avenue, where there have been reports of falling debris, brought together Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Senator Joseph Addabbo, and Maria Thompson of the Great Woodhaven Development Cooperation at a press conference on Monday, August 24 at the Woodhaven Station in Jamaica.

“For far too long the Jamaica Avenue train line has been neglected,” said Crowley. “We have safety concerns that need to be address that should have been addressed years ago.”

Crowley and the others explained that the MTA should make this an immediate top priority and not put the plan “on the backburner” to be discussed later.

Addabbo recalled that, over the years, little progress has been made to renovate the line.

“I’ve been coming along Jamaica Avenue since I was a kid, and I can tell you this has not changed since I was about five-years-old,” he said.

An area resident for 40 years, Thompson explained that, while the MTA worries about budgeting and improving bus and subway lines, they should worry about what will become of stations like Woodhaven.

“It’s time Woodhaven got some attention from the MTA to correct this problem,” said Thompson. “It looks terrible, it’s falling apart, and pieces fall on people as they walk on the avenue.”

A passerby, who declined to give his name, agreed that changes to the external structure of the J line need to be made.

“When it rains, the water gets into the station and the painting cracks from the walls,” said a 10-year area resident, adding that incidents occur from not fixing the station.

“The stairs are very dangerous. I saw a woman fall down the stairs the other day,” the resident added.

“If we don’t fix what’s currently here, how can we embark upon new projects?” said Crowley.

Photo Courtesy of Bill Alatriste
Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley points to the peeling paint from the beam of the elevated J train line at the Woodhaven Station on Jamaica Avenue.