J/Z (New York City Subway service)

{{Short description|Rapid transit services}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NYCS service | service = J | service2 = Z | name = Nassau Street Local Nassau Street Express | image1 = Alstom R160A “J” Train @ Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK - March 2023.jpg | caption1 = A Manhattan-bound J train of R160As at Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK | image2 = Bombardier Transportation R179 “Z” Train Leaving 111th Street.jpg | caption2 = A Jamaica Center-bound Z train of R179s leaving 111th Street | east term = Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer | west term = Broad Street | stations = 30 (J service) 21 (Z service) 20 (J skip-stop service) | depot = East New York Yard | started = {{start date and age|1893}} (predecessor) {{start date and age|1967|11}} (present-day J service) {{start date and age|1988|12|11}} (present-day Z service) | map = {{J/Z (New York City Subway service)}} | map_state = collapsed }}

The '''J Nassau Street Local''' and '''Z Nassau Street Express'''<ref name="timetable">{{NYCS const|timetable|j}}</ref> are two rapid transit services in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Their route emblems, or "bullets", are colored {{NYCS const|color|brown}}. The services use the BMT Nassau Street Line in Lower Manhattan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/developers/resources/line_colors.htm |title=Line Colors |work=mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref>

The J operates 24 hours daily, while the Z is a variant to the J<ref>{{cite web |url=https://progressiveaction.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/sub-division-b-general-distribution-fall-2016-wp-book.pdf |title=Sub-Division B Train Operator/Conductor Road & Non-Road Work Programs in Effect: November 6, 2016 |date=July 29, 2016 |website=progressiveaction.info |publisher=New York City Transit |access-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> and operates only in the peak direction during rush hours; both services operate between Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer in Jamaica, Queens, and Broad Street in Lower Manhattan. When the Z operates, the two services form a skip-stop pair between Sutphin Boulevard–JFK and Myrtle Avenue/Broadway and also make express stops between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues in Brooklyn. Midday J service also makes express stops between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues and all stops along the full route other times.

The J/Z's current skip-stop pattern was implemented in 1988. The J/Z is derived from four routes: * The '''JJ/15''' between Broad or Chambers Streets in Lower Manhattan and 168th Street in Queens * The '''KK''' between 57th Street/Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and 168th Street in Queens * The '''QJ''' between Brighton Beach (Coney Island August 1968–January 1973) in Brooklyn and 168th Street in Queens * The '''14''' between Broad or Chambers Streets in Lower Manhattan and Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn

== History == === Before the Chrystie Street Connection === thumb|left|A brochure describing the introduction of A/B skip-stop service on the No. 14 and No. 15 services of the BMT Jamaica Line on June 18, 1959 The Jamaica Line – then known as the Broadway Elevated – was one of the original elevated lines in Brooklyn, completed in 1893 from Cypress Hills west to Broadway Ferry in Williamsburg.<ref>{{cite news |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |location=Brooklyn, NY |url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50387599/ |title=Trains Running This Morning |date=May 30, 1893 |page=10}}</ref> It was then a two-track line, with a single local service between the two ends, and a second east of Gates Avenue, where the Lexington Avenue Elevated merged.<ref>{{cite news |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |location=Brooklyn, NY |url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50365431/ |title=Better Service on the Brooklyn L |date=December 20, 1893 |page=12}}</ref> This second service later became the 12, and was eliminated on October 13, 1950, with the abandonment of the Lexington Avenue Elevated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/10/14/archives/brooklyn-el-link-dies-with-aplomb-celebrants-pack-last-train-to-run.html |title=Brooklyn 'El' Link Dies With Aplomb; Celebrants Pack Last Train to Run on Lexington Spur, Soon to Be Torn Down In Service For 65 Years Riders Were So Scarce That Its 8 Stations Were Closed at Night for Last 10 Years |date=October 14, 1950 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 4, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The second major service on the Broadway Elevated ran between Canarsie and Williamsburg via the BMT Canarsie Line, started on July 30, 1906, when the Broadway and Canarsie tracks were connected at East New York.<ref>{{cite news |title=The BRT Opens Its New Extension for Through Traffic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/07/31/archives/burglars-queer-outfit-had-a-pistol-and-a-slumber-charm-which.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 31, 1906 |page=12 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> As part of the Dual Contracts, an extension from Cypress Hills east to Jamaica was completed on July 3, 1918,<ref>{{cite news |title=New Subway Line |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/07/07/archives/new-subway-line-affords-a-fivecent-fare-between-manhattan-and.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 7, 1918 |page=30 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> a third track was added west of East New York, and express trains began running on it in 1922.{{citation needed|date=April 2007}}

The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation numbered its services in 1924,{{citation needed|date=April 2007}} and the Canarsie and Jamaica services became 14 and 15. Both ran express during rush hours in the peak direction west of East New York. Express trains would only stop at Myrtle Avenue, Essex Street and Canal Street, before making local stops afterwards. Additional 14 trains, between Eastern Parkway or Atlantic Avenue on the Canarsie Line and Manhattan provided rush-hour local service on Broadway.<ref>Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation, Map and Guide to BMT Rapid Transit Division, 1924</ref> When the 14th Street–Eastern Line and Canarsie Line were connected on July 14, 1928,<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrate Opening of New B. M. T. Line|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/07/15/archives/celebrate-opening-of-new-b-m-t-line-officials-and-civic-association.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 15, 1928 |page=13 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> the old ''Canarsie Line'' service was renamed the ''Broadway (Brooklyn) Line'', providing only weekday local service over the Broadway Elevated west of Eastern Parkway. The Atlantic Avenue trips remained, and rush-hour trains continued to serve Rockaway Parkway (Canarsie), though they did not use the Broadway express tracks.<ref name=BMT1931>Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation, Map and Guide to BMT Rapid Transit Division, 1931</ref> The 14 was later cut back to only rush-hour service.{{citation needed|date=April 2007}}

On the Manhattan end, the first extension was made on September 16, 1908, when the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks opened.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor Runs a Train Over New Bridge |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 17, 1908 |page=16 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> Broadway and Canarsie trains were extended to the new Essex Street terminal, and further to Chambers Street when the line was extended on August 4, 1913.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bridge Loop to Open for One Line Only |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/08/03/archives/bridge-loop-to-open-for-one-line-only-only-two-tracks-of-the-four.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 3, 1913 |page=6 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> When the BMT Nassau Street Line was completed on May 30, 1931, the 15 was extended to Broad Street,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nassau St. Service Outlined by B.M.T. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/05/21/archives/nassau-st-service-outlined-by-bmt-loop-to-be-used-for-direct.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 21, 1931 |page=29 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor Drives Train in New Subway Link |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/05/30/archives/mayor-drives-train-in-new-subway-link-the-mayor-becomes-a-motorman.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 30, 1931 |page=11 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> and the 14 was truncated to Canal Street.<ref name=BMT1931/>

Weekday midday 14 Broadway-Brooklyn Local and midday 15 Jamaica Express service was discontinued on June 26, 1952.<ref>{{cite journal |date=August 1966 |title=Changes in BMT Service|url=|journal=New York Division Bulletin |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=9 |issue=8 |pages=}}</ref> Some 14 trains began terminating at Crescent Street on the Jamaica Line in 1956.{{citation needed|date=April 2007}}

Manhattan-bound rush hour skip-stop service between Jamaica and East New York was implemented on June 18, 1959, with trains leaving 168th Street on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Jamaica BMT to Start Speed-Up Tomorrow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/06/17/archives/jamaica-bmt-to-start-speedup-tomorrow.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 17, 1959 |page=28 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> Express 15 trains served "A" stations, while the morning 14 became the ''Jamaica Local'', running between Jamaica and Canal Street, and stopped at stations marked "B".<ref>New York City Transit Authority, [http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/caption.pl?/img/maps/system_1959_routeinfo.gif Official New York City Subway Map and Station Guide], 1959</ref> Express 15 trains continued to run express between Eastern Parkway and Canal Street, making only stops at Myrtle Avenue, Essex Street, and Canal Street.<ref name=":0" /> These stations were as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-jam-skip-stop.html |title=Skip Stop on the BMT Jamaica Line |date=1959 |website=www.thejoekorner.com |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |access-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008095752/http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-jam-skip-stop.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> * All trains: 168th Street • Sutphin Boulevard • 75th Street–Elderts Lane • Eastern Parkway • Myrtle Avenue • Essex Street • Canal Street * "A" stations: 168th Street • Sutphin Boulevard • 121st Street • 111th Street • Woodhaven Boulevard • 85th Street–Forest Parkway • Elderts Lane • Crescent Street • Cleveland Street • Eastern Parkway * "B" stations: 168th Street • 160th Street • Sutphin Boulevard • Queens Boulevard • Metropolitan Avenue • 104th Street • Elderts Lane • Cypress Hills • Norwood Avenue • Van Siclen Avenue • Alabama Avenue • Eastern Parkway

Letters were assigned to most BMT services in the early 1960s. The BMT Jamaica services retained their numbers until November 1967. The 15 became the J (express), and the 14 became the JJ.<ref>Joseph Cunningham and Leonard DeHart, A History of the New York City Subway System Part 2: Rapid Transit in Brooklyn, 1977</ref>

=== Chrystie Street Connection to 1977 === thumb|left|A new service brochure map for the KK service When the Chrystie Street Connection opened on November 26, 1967, many services were changed. The two local services – the #15 (non-rush hour Jamaica local) and #14 (rush hour Broadway-Brooklyn local) – continued as the JJ without any major routing changes. Thus non-rush hour JJ trains ran between Jamaica and Broad Street, while morning rush hour JJ trains ran to Canal Street, and afternoon rush hour JJ trains ran between Canal Street and Atlantic Avenue or Crescent Street. The rush-hour express J was combined with the weekday {{NYCS|QT}} ''Brighton Local via tunnel'' to form the weekday QJ, running between Jamaica and Brighton Beach via the Jamaica Line (express during rush hours in the peak direction), BMT Nassau Street Line, Montague Street Tunnel, and BMT Brighton Line (local). Finally, the {{NYCS|RJ}} was a special peak-direction rush-hour service, running local on the Jamaica Line in the AM, express in the PM, Nassau Street Line, Montague Street Tunnel, and BMT Fourth Avenue Line to 95th Street in Fort Hamilton. This service served two purposes: (1) early AM service from Jamaica prior to the first QJ trains got the equipment to 95th Street in Brooklyn in time for the AM rush, and obviated the need to have early service to Brighton Beach; and (2) in the evening, trains returned from 95th Street in Brooklyn to Jamaica, allowing the QJ to avoid having to run on the Brighton Line in the Manhattan direction post-rush hour.

The next change was made on July 1, 1968, when the Chrystie Street Connection tracks to the Williamsburg Bridge opened. A new service, KK, was instituted that provided skip-stop service from 168th Street/Jamaica along with the QJ in both AM and PM rush hours; because of the limited skip-stop time spans, other terminals for the KK included Rockaway Parkway, Atlantic Avenue, Eastern Parkway and 111th Street. The KK provided service to 57th Street/6th Avenue, as the B served 168th Street-Washington Heights during rush hours; during non-rush hours, the B began serving 57th Street/6th Avenue. The MM (depicted with a dark green bullet on R27 signage) had been proposed as a supplement to the KK as a local to 57th Street–Sixth Avenue, but was kept as the M and extended from Chambers Street to Broad Street. The {{NYCS|RJ}} was eliminated, being cut north of Chambers Street and relabeled as an RR variant, and the off-hour JJ was relabeled QJ. Less than two months later, on August 18, the QJ was extended to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue,<ref>New York City Transit Authority, [http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index.html Rapid Transit Service Changes], 1968</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-kk-line.html |title=KK A New Service |date=1968 |website=www.thejoekorner.com |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref> and the D cut back to Brighton Beach during QJ operating hours in order to avoid switching delays at Brighton Beach. On July 14, 1969, afternoon skip-stop service on the KK and QJ was discontinued due to rider complaints.<ref>{{cite journal |date=August 1969 |title=Skip-Stop Changed, Other Notes |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1960s/1969/1969-08-bulletin.pdf |journal=New York Division Bulletin |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=8}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |title=BMT Jamaica Line Skip-Stop Service Began 55 Years Ago |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2014/2014-09-bulletin.pdf |journal=The Bulletin |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=57 |issue=9 |pages=1}}</ref>

On January 2, 1973, the QJ, which was the longest route in the transit system, was cut back to Broad Street and redesignated the J; and the {{NYCS|M}} was extended to Coney Island in its place. At the same time, the KK was cut back to Eastern Parkway from 168th Street and renamed the K,<ref>{{cite news |title=Subway Schedules In Queens Changing Amid Some Protest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/02/archives/subway-schedules-in-queens-changing-amid-some-protest.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 2, 1973 |page=46 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/11/25/432164652.pdf |title=Changes Set for Jan. 2 Praised |date=November 25, 1972 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and both skip-stop patterns were carried out by alternate J trains between 7:25 a.m. and 8:12 a.m.. J trains making A stops trains stopped at 168th Street, Sutphin Boulevard, Metropolitan Avenue, 111th Street, Woodhaven Boulevard, Elderts Lane, Cypress Hills, Norwood Avenue, Van Siclen Avenue, and Eastern Parkway, while trains making B stops stopped at 168th Street, 160th Street, Queens Boulevard, 121st Street, 102nd Street, Forest Parkway, Elderts Lane, Crescent Street, Cleveland Street, and Eastern Parkway. All J trains would run express between Eastern Parkway and Essex Street between 6:00 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. from 168th Street, and from 3:35 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. leaving Essex Street.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1972 |title=To Serve You Better.... ...On the Jamaica Line |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/unionturnpike/52580898979/in/datetaken-public/ |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=Flickr |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref>

The K was discontinued entirely on August 30, 1976,<ref>{{cite news |title=Transit Agency Drops 215 Runs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/31/archives/transit-agency-drops-215-runs-resulting-schedule-shifts-bewilder.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 31, 1976 |page=42 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> eliminating the J skip-stop and express service east of Myrtle Avenue in the evening rush hour. Skip-stop service was retained toward Manhattan during the morning rush hour. One-way express service remained west of Myrtle Avenue, for the M was switched to the local tracks at that time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/30393951262/|title=Service Adjustment on BMT and IND Lines Effective 1 A.M. Monday, Aug. 30 |date=1976 |website=Flickr |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |access-date=October 23, 2016}}</ref> On January 24, 1977, as part of a series of NYCTA service cuts to save $13 million, many subway lines began running shorter trains during middays. As part of the change, J trains began running with four cars between 9:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cosgrove|first=Vincent|date=January 28, 1977|title=Straphangers: Mini-Train Idea Comes Up Short|work=New York Daily News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91232714/|access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref> On May 2, 1977, J trains began running in skip-stop service between Eastern Parkway and Myrtle Avenue. Chauncey Street and Gates Avenue were designated as A stops, while Halsey Street and Kosciusko Street were designated as B stops.<ref name=":2" />

The following table summarizes the changes that were made between 1959 and 1976. {| class="wikitable" ! ! Morning rush-hour local ! Morning rush-hour express ! Afternoon rush-hour local ! Afternoon rush-hour express ! Other local ! Other express |- | 1959–1967 | 14/KK 168th Street – Canal Street, "B" stops inbound | 15/J 168th Street – Broad Street, "A" stops inbound | 14/KK Crescent Street, Atlantic Avenue, or Rockaway Parkway – Canal Street | 15/J 168th Street – Broad Street | 15/JJ 168th Street – Broad Street | 10/M Metropolitan Avenue – Chambers Street, rush hour only (west of Myrtle Avenue) |- | 1967–1968 | JJ 168th Street – Canal Street, "B" stops inbound | QJ 168th Street – Brighton Beach, "A" stops inbound | JJ Crescent Street or Atlantic Avenue – Canal Street | QJ 168th Street – Brighton Beach | JJ 168th Street – Broad Street QJ 168th Street – Brighton Beach, middays and early evenings RJ 168th Street – Bay Ridge, rush hour non-peak direction only | M Metropolitan Avenue – Chambers Street, rush hour only (west of Myrtle Avenue) |- | 1968–1974 | KK 168th Street – 57th Street, "B" stops inbound | QJ 168th Street – Brooklyn, "A" stops inbound | KK 168th Street – 57th Street, "B" stops outbound | QJ 168th Street – Brooklyn, "A" stops outbound | QJ 168th Street – Broad Street or Brooklyn | M Metropolitan Avenue – Chambers Street, rush hour and (from 1969) middays and early evenings (west of Myrtle Avenue) |- | 1974–1976 | K Eastern Parkway – 57th Street | J 168th Street – Broad Street, two inbound patterns, one for "A" stops and one for "B" stops | K Eastern Parkway – 57th Street | J 168th Street – Broad Street, two outbound patterns, one for "A" stops and one for "B" stops | J 168th Street – Broad Street | M Metropolitan Avenue – Coney Island, rush hour, middays and early evenings (west of Myrtle Avenue) |}

=== 1977 to present === ====Archer Avenue Line==== The J was truncated to Queens Boulevard just after midnight on September 11, 1977,<ref>{{cite news |title=A Sentimental Journey on the BMT... |first=Lee |last=Dembart |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 9, 1977 |page=61 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> and to 121st Street on April 15, 1985, as portions of the elevated Jamaica Line closed and were demolished. The Q49 shuttle bus replaced service at the closed stations until 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/28786243914/in/album-72157652636594213/ |title=Spring (April) 1985 Subway Map |date=April 1985 |website=Flickr |access-date=October 7, 2018 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |language=en-us}}</ref> On December 1, 1980, AM rush hour skip-stop service was discontinued.<ref>{{cite journal |title=BMT Jamaica Line Skip-Stop Service Began 55 Years Ago |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2014/2014-09-bulletin.pdf |date=September 2014 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=57 |number=9 |pages=6 |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>

The BMT Archer Avenue Line was scheduled to open on December 11, 1988, extending the J east from 121st Street to Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer. The Z designation, along with the present J/Z skip-stop service pattern, would be introduced the following day;<ref>{{cite news |title=Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin |first=Kirk |last=Johnson |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 9, 1988 |page=B1 |access-date=March 20, 2010}}</ref> skip-stop service operated between Sutphin Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue during weekday rush hours; in addition, both lines made express stops between Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn and Canal Street in Manhattan, stopping at Marcy Avenue and Essex Street. All service terminated at Broad Street in Manhattan. Bus service on several Queens bus routes was rerouted to serve Jamaica Center instead of the 169th Street station several blocks away.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/27699872706/ |title=System-Wide Changes In Subway Service Effective Sunday, December 11, 1988 |date=1988 |website=Flickr |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |access-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref> The J/Z skip-stop service was touted, in an attempt to relieve some crowding on the IND Queens Boulevard Line, as being faster to lower Manhattan than E, F, and R service. Because the MTA hoped that Queens passengers would use the J/Z instead of the E, F, and R, every subway car on the J and Z{{'}}s fleet was completely graffiti-free.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/The_New_York_Transit_Authority_in_the_1980s |title=The New York Transit Authority in the 1980s |last=Feinman |first=Mark S. |date=December 8, 2004 |website=www.nycsubway.org |access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref> The first J train along the Archer Avenue Line operated on December 10, arriving at Jamaica Center at 11:42 PM and departing the station at 11:53 PM.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Archer Avenue Subway Opened 20 Years Ago |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2008/2008-12-bulletin.pdf |date=December 2008 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=51 |number=12 |pages=1 |access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref>

One of the goals of the Archer Avenue project was to make Jamaica Line service as attractive as possible, and as a result the TA planned to provide a form of express service. The two options considered to speed up Jamaica Line service were skip-stop service, which would have split Jamaica services into two patterns that served alternate stops, and a zone-express service, which would have split Jamaica services into a short-turn local service and a full-length express services. The zone-express option was dismissed in favor of the skip-stop option because its operation has to be very precisely timed so as to not hinder reliability, because service in the outer zone past the boundary of zone express service at Crescent Street or 111th Street would be too infrequent, and because many stations would lose half their service.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |title=Archer Avenue Corridor Transit Service Proposal |date=August 1988 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department}}</ref>{{Rp|7}} Outer-zone expresses, after Crescent Street would skip stops on the local track until Eastern Parkway, from where it would run on the express track, stopping at Myrtle Avenue before going straight to Essex Street in Manhattan, skipping Marcy Avenue.<ref name=":17">{{cite journal |date=January–February 1988 |title=Archer Opens Dec. 11 Excerpts From TA Plan |journal=Notes from Underground |publisher=Committee For Better Transit |volume=18 |issue=11, 12}}</ref> Outer-zone expresses and inner-zone locals would have each been limited to frequencies of 10 minutes.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|49}}

The TA decided to implement skip-stop service with two services labeled "J" and "Z", with lightly-used stops designated as "J" or "Z" stops, and those with higher ridership being all-stop stations being served by both lines. The all-stop stations were Parsons Boulevard, Sutphin Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Crescent Street, Eastern Parkway, Myrtle Avenue, and Marcy Avenue, and all stops in Manhattan except for Bowery, which was to be served by only the M train. Bowery's low ridership did not justify more than one service to stop at the station; the J only stopped there weekday evenings, weekends during the daytime and overnights when the M did not operate into Manhattan. The J-only stops while skip-stop was operating were 111th Street, 85th Street, Cypress Hills, Cleveland Street, Alabama Avenue, Halsey Street and Kosciusko Street. The Z-only stops were 121st Street, 102nd Street, 75th Street, Norwood Avenue, Van Siclen Avenue, Chauncey Street and Gates Avenue.<ref>{{cite book |title=J/Z Map Correction |date=1988 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority}}</ref> To further speed up service, J and Z trains would skip Flushing Avenue, Lorimer Street and Hewes Street.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|7–8}} Trains on the J/Z ran every five minutes, an improvement over the previous frequency of eight minutes before skip-stop service began operating.<ref name=":12">{{cite news |title=New Subway Line Finally Rolling Through Queens |work=Newsday |date=December 11, 1988 |page=7}}</ref> Skip-stop service ran to Manhattan in the morning between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. and to Jamaica between 4:45 and 5:45 p.m.<ref name=":16">{{cite book |title=Starting Sunday, December 11th, We'll Introduce The Greatest Number of Service Improvements Since 1904 |date=1988 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Archer Avenue Extension Subway Service E F J R Z |date=1988 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority}}</ref>

Weekday midday express service was added with J service continuing to run express in the peak direction between Marcy and Myrtle. Surveys of ridership at local stops found that service could be adequately provided by midday M service.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|48–50}} The running time for skip-stop service from Parsons Boulevard to Broad Street was {{frac|49|1|2}} minutes, compared to {{frac|54|1|2}} minutes for all-local service and 52 minutes for the E.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Archer Avenue Subway Opened 20 Years Ago |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2008/2008-12-bulletin.pdf |date=December 2008 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=51 |number=12 |pages=4 |access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref> It was expected that 2,250 Queens Boulevard riders would switch to the J and Z.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|7–8}} To make J/Z service more attractive, all trains on those lines consisted of refurbished subway cars that were more quiet, graffiti-free, and had improved lighting and new floors. All cars on the J/Z were expected to have air-conditioning by summer 1989.<ref name=":15">{{cite journal |date=1988 |title=Archer Avenue Extension Opens December 11 |journal=Welcome Aboard: Newsletter of the New York City Transit Authority |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=1}}</ref>

Express service was not implemented between Broadway Junction and Myrtle Avenue because local service would have needed to be operated between those points in addition to the J and Z. The two terminals for such a service (57th Street and Broad Street) lacked spare capacity, although it was acknowledged that 57th Street on the IND Sixth Avenue Line could be used as a terminal once Manhattan Bridge subway-track repairs were completed.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|49}}

Queens Borough President Claire Schulman made multiple recommendations about revisions to the service plan for the extension at the MTA's February 1988 board meeting. She recommended that trains should use the express track between Myrtle Avenue and Eastern Parkway to reduce travel times, and that the Chrystie Street Connection be reused for service to the Jamaica Line.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23111116/daily_news/ |title=Schulman Hails Plan for Subway Station |last=Ain |first=Stuart |date=February 29, 1988 |work=New York Daily News}}</ref>

====Post-1990 changes==== On September 30, 1990, weekend J service was cut back from Broad Street to Canal Street,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subwaynut.com/brochures/1990servicechanges.pdf|title=Service Changes September 30, 1990|date=September 30, 1990|website=subwaynut.com|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=May 1, 2016|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026015324/http://www.subwaynut.com/brochures/1990servicechanges.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> but it was extended back to Chambers Street in January 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/glickman/www/submaps.html|title=Archive of NYC Subway Maps|last=Glickman|first=Todd|date=October 6, 1998|website=mit.edu|access-date=July 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1993 |title=January 1994 Subway Map |url=http://www.railfanwindow.com/gallery2/v/NYC-photos/mapsandguides01/Large-Format-Map-Scans/scan6270.png.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231920/http://www.railfanwindow.com/gallery2/v/NYC-photos/mapsandguides01/Large-Format-Map-Scans/scan6270.png.html |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |access-date=September 30, 2018 |website=www.railfanwindow.com |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |language=en-US}}</ref>

From May 1 to September 1, 1999, the Williamsburg Bridge was closed for reconstruction. J trains ran only between Jamaica Center and Myrtle Avenue; Z trains and skip-stop service operated in both directions between Jamaica Center and Eastern Parkway-Broadway Junction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subwaynut.com/brochures/williamsburgbpg.htm |title=No Trains Over The Williamsburg Bridge |date=1999 |website=subwaynut.com |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |access-date=June 6, 2016 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225642/http://www.subwaynut.com/brochures/williamsburgbpg.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Monte |title=Most Straphangers Unfazed By Closing of Bridge Lines |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/04/nyregion/most-straphangers-unfazed-by-closing-of-bridge-lines.html |date=May 4, 1999|newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rutenburg |first=James |title=6-Month Bridgework To Disrupt J, M, Z Lines |url=http://www.fishq.info/archives/news/6-month-bridgework-disrupt-m-z-lines-article-1.825327 |date=April 27, 1999 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=June 6, 2016 |via=fishq.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807222146/http://www.fishq.info/archives/news/6-month-bridgework-disrupt-m-z-lines-article-1.825327 |archive-date=August 7, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During the closure, B39 bus service over the Williamsburg Bridge was free.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/36006890751/in/album-72157652636594213/|title=Williamsburg Bridge Map 1999 |date=1999 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |publisher=New York City Transit |language=en-us |website=Flickr}}</ref> The closure was anticipated to last until October 1999, but regular subway service was restored one month ahead of schedule.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/williamsburg-bridge.shtml |title=NYC DOT – Williamsburg Bridge |website=www.nyc.gov |publisher=New York City Department of Transportation |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> The project cost $130 million, including replacing the tracks support structure, signal system and other equipment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donohue |first=Pete |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/joy-train-riders-flying-high-fixed-up-w-burg-span-article-1.843831 |title=It's J -As In Joy- Train Riders Flying High On Fixed-Up W'Burg Span |date=September 2, 1999 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> On September 1, J trains began stopping at the Bowery station 24 hours. J trains previously skipped Bowery between 6 AM and 8 PM on weekdays when the M was operating into Manhattan. The Z also began stopping at Bowery during its hours of operation for the first time ever on this day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rapidtransitchallenge.com/press/1989.htm |title=Rapid Transit Challenge |website=www.rapidtransitchallenge.com |access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Z and skip-stop services were suspended, and the J was initially cut back from Broad Street to Broadway Junction, but service got restored to as far as Essex Street on the evening of September 12 and made all stops along the route. On September 17, J trains were extended beyond Broad Street via the Montague Street Tunnel during daytime hours and originated and terminated at Bay Ridge–95th Street to replace the R, which got suspended; trains made all stops along the full route. Overnight service was split into two sections, with the northern section operating between Jamaica Center and either Broad Street or Chambers Street,{{efn|The southern terminal for weekday overnight service was Broad Street, and for weekend overnight service was Chambers Street.|name=Overnight southern terminal}} and the southern section operating as a shuttle between 36th and 95th Streets.<ref>{{cite journal |title=World Trade Center Destroyed |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2001/2001-10-bulletin.pdf |date=October 2001 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=44 |number=10 |pages=2-3 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=New IRT and BMT Schedules |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2001/2001-12-bulletin.pdf |date=December 2001 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=44 |number=12 |pages=15 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref> Normal J service was restored on October 28; the Z and skip-stop services were restored on the following day.<ref>{{cite journal |title=New IRT and BMT Schedules |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2000s/2001/2001-12-bulletin.pdf |date=December 2001 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=44 |number=12 |pages=16 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}</ref>

On November 20, 2008, in light of severe budget woes, the MTA announced a slew of potential service cuts; among them was the potential elimination of the Z and skip-stop services. The J would make all stops between Sutphin Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue; weekday peak direction express service between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues would be retained.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Neuman|first1=William|last2=Chan|first2=Sewell|date=November 20, 2008|title=M.T.A. Plans Steep Service Cuts and Fare Increase|url-access=subscription|work=The New York Times|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/mta-plans-steep-service-cuts-and-fare-increase/|access-date=June 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In May 2009, after the New York State Legislature passed legislation to offer financial support to the MTA, this planned service cut was taken off the table.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Neuman|first1=William|last2=Confessore|first2=Nicholas|date=May 4, 2009|title=Bailout Plan for M.T.A. Gains Two Essential Votes|language=en-US|url-access=subscription|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/nyregion/05mta.html|access-date=June 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> However, on December 8, 2009, the MTA announced that a budget shortfall would once again result in service cuts,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Glucksman |first=Randy |title=Commuter and Transit Notes No. 254 -- Metropolitan Transportation Authority |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2010/2010-01-bulletin.pdf |date=January 2010 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=53 |number=1 |pages=8 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> among them being the discontinuation of the Z and skip-stop services; the proposal to discontinue the Z and skip-stop services were withdrawn in March 2010,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Around New York's Transit System -- Service Reduction Plan Modified |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2010/2010-03-bulletin.pdf |date=March 2010 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=53 |number=3 |pages=20 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> but other service cuts that the MTA proposed still took place in June of that year.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Around New York's Transit System |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2010/2010-08-bulletin.pdf |date=August 2010 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=53 |number=8 |pages=20 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Chaisson |first=George |title=New York City Subway Car Update |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2010/2010-09-bulletin.pdf |date=September 2010 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=53 |number=9 |pages=7 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

J and Z trains and skip-stop service was altered after Hurricane Sandy disrupted service around the transit system in 2012. J service was suspended entirely on the evening of October 28, but was restored on the morning of October 31; the Z and skip stop services remained suspended, and the J was initially cut back from Broad Street to Hewes Street and made all stops along the route. Service was restored to as far as Essex Street on November 3.<ref>{{cite journal |title="Superstorm" Sandy Devastates East Coast -- All Rail Lines from Virginia to Boston Shut Down |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2012/2012-12-bulletin.pdf |date=December 2012 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=55 |number=12 |pages=5 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> The Z and skip-stop services resumed on November 19, with both J and Z trains originating and terminating at Chambers Street instead of Broad Street; service to Broad Street was restored on December 4.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Glucksman |first=Randy |title=Commuter and Transit Notes No. 290 - Superstorm Sandy Follow-Up |journal=The Bulletin |url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2010s/2013/2013-01-bulletin.pdf |date=January 2013 |publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association |volume=56 |number=1 |pages=12 |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>

In May 2014, all trains began stopping at Alabama Avenue, presumably for the convenience of transit employees who work at the nearby East New York Yard and East New York Bus Depot.<ref>Compare: * {{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf |title=New York City Subway Map |date=February 2014 |website=mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |access-date=October 9, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611031553/http://web.mta.info/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014}} (Only the J served Alabama Avenue in February 2014) * (The Z now also served Alabama Avenue in May 2014)</ref> In July 2014, the MTA proposed that weekend J service be extended from Chambers Street to Broad Street.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/train-service-upgrade-part-mta-new-financial-plan-article-1.1878079 |title=MTA to Upgrade Weekend Service on J Train, Restore It on LIRR's West Hempstead Branch |last=Donohue |first=Pete |date=July 24, 2014 |newspaper=New York Daily News |access-date=October 23, 2016}}</ref> The service change went into effect on June 14, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/InvestmentProposals2015_2018.htm|title=2015 Service Enhancements|date=2015|work=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/pdf/tjcur.pdf|title=J/Z Subway Timetable: Now Available: Broad St Station Service at All Times|date=June 14, 2015|website=mta.info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905081850/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/pdf/tjcur.pdf|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 7, 2018}}</ref>

From June 26, 2017 to April 27, 2018, J and Z trains ran local between Broadway Junction and Marcy Avenue at all times, supplementing the M, due to the BMT Myrtle Avenue Line connection being closed for reconstruction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/m-line-shut-year-repairs-article-1.2568599|title=M Line to Be Shut Down Next Year for Repairs|last=Rivoli|first=Dan|date=March 17, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.amny.com/transit/m-line-repairs-will-begin-next-summer-the-mta-said-1.11590899|title=MTA: M Line Will Shut Down for Part of Next Year|last=Brown|first=Nicole|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016|newspaper=am New York}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/MyrtleAvenue/index.html|title=Myrtle Avenue Line Infrastructure Projects|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220010108/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/MyrtleAvenue/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2020, Z trains and skip-stop service was temporarily suspended due to lack of ridership and train crew availability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guse |first=Clayton |title=Coronavirus Forces MTA to Implement Big Cuts to NYC's Mass Transit |website=nydailynews.com |date=March 24, 2020 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-mta-cuts-subway-service-20200324-ogyy754bangpdgwrft6pjh3vsy-story.html |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Jose |url=https://thecity.nyc/2020/04/nyc-subways-slowly-get-on-track-as-transit-workers-return.html |title=Subway Service Slowly Gets Back On Track As Transit Workers Return |date=April 28, 2020 |work=The City |access-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429162415/https://thecity.nyc/2020/04/nyc-subways-slowly-get-on-track-as-transit-workers-return.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Full service was restored in June 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bascome |first=Erik |date=June 2, 2020 |title=Full Service on MTA Buses, Subways Set to Return by June 8 |url=https://www.silive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/full-service-on-mta-buses-subways-set-to-return-by-june-8.html |access-date=June 8, 2020 |website=silive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Siff |first=Andrew |date=June 5, 2020 |title=MTA Resumes Regular Weekday Service; Overnight 4-Hour Closure Stays |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-to-resume-regular-weekday-service-when-nyc-enters-phase-1-overnight-4-hour-closure-will-stay/2449009/|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=NBC New York}}</ref> From December 29, 2021,<ref>{{cite web | title=COVID Staffing Crush Forces NYC Subway Suspensions, NJ Transit Cancellations | website=NBC New York | date=December 28, 2021 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/traffic/transit-traffic/staffing-problems-lead-to-rash-of-cancellations-on-nj-transit/3470573/ | access-date=December 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Garcia | first1=Kristine | last2=Cole | first2=Kirstin | title=MTA subway lines suspended due to COVID staff shortages | website=PIX11 | date=December 30, 2021 | url=https://pix11.com/news/coronavirus/mta-suspends-several-subway-lines-due-to-covid-related-staff-shortages/ | access-date=December 30, 2021 | archive-date=December 30, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230173749/https://pix11.com/news/coronavirus/mta-suspends-several-subway-lines-due-to-covid-related-staff-shortages/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> to January 19, 2022, Z trains and skip-stop service was again suspended due to a shortage of crew members exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web | title=4 Major Subway Lines to Resume Regular Service as Omicron Staffing Havoc Ebbs | website=NBC New York | date=January 18, 2022 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/4-major-subway-lines-resume-regular-service-tomorrow-as-omicron-staff-havoc-ebbs/3501086/ | access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Duggan | first=Kevin | title=B and Z subway trains come back Wednesday; W line still out due to crew shortage | website=amNewYork | date=January 18, 2022 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/b-and-z-subway-trains-back/ | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref>

On July 1, 2022, J service was cut back to 121st Street, and Z trains and skip-stop service were suspended due to track replacement on the lower levels of the Jamaica Center and Sutphin Boulevard stations.<ref name="Spectrum News NY1 New York City 2022">{{cite web | title=MTA to alter service to complete track replacement project | website=Spectrum News NY1 New York City | date=June 3, 2022 | url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2022/06/03/mta-to-alter-service-to-complete-track-replacement-project | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Parry 2022">{{cite web | last=Parry | first=Bill | title=MTA track replacement work will shut down J and Z lines in southeast Queens for much of summer – QNS.com | website=QNS.com | date=June 6, 2022 | url=https://qns.com/2022/06/mta-track-replacement-j-z-lines-southeast-queens/ | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Railway Track and Structures 2022">{{cite web | title=MTA to begin final phase of critical track replacement work in Queens next month | website=Railway Track and Structures | date=June 6, 2022 | url=https://www.rtands.com/track-construction/mta-to-begin-final-phase-of-critical-track-replacement-work-in-queens-next-month/ | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=J Schedule Effective July 2, 2022 |url=https://new.mta.info/document/9506 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915194940/https://new.mta.info/document/9506 |archive-date=September 15, 2022}}</ref> Z train and J/Z skip-stop service was restored on September 19, 2022.<ref>{{cite web | title=MTA to Complete Critical Track Replacement Work Along Archer Av in Queens on the J and Z Lines by Monday Morning Rush Hour | website=MTA | date=September 18, 2022 | url=https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-complete-critical-track-replacement-work-along-archer-av-queens-j-and-z-lines | access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>

On February 26, 2023, Jamaica Center-bound J and Z trains skipped 75th Street-Elderts Lane and Woodhaven Boulevard until January 2024 as part of a four-phase station renovation project for both stations, as well as accessibility improvements and elevator installation for the latter. The second phase closed the Manhattan-bound platforms for both stops from early 2024 to mid-2024. Phase 3 closed down the Jamaica Center-bound platforms at Cypress Hills on July 22, 2024, and at 85th Street–Forest Parkway on August 12, 2024, for renovations until early 2025. Phase 4 closed the Manhattan-bound platforms down until July 21st, 2025. During those phases, J and Z trains would still operate skip-stop service between Myrtle Avenue-Broadway and Crescent Street, Brooklyn, but with both trains making all local stops to/from Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport, Queens, except for the affected stops.<ref>{{cite web | title=MTA Announces Upcoming Station Renovations at Cypress Hills, 75 St, and 85 St Stations on the J and Z Line | website=MTA | date=February 28, 2023 | url=https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-announces-upcoming-station-renovations-cypress-hills-75-st-and-85-st-stations-j | access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> Weekend frequencies on the J route were increased in July 2023.<ref name="Izzo 2023 n387">{{cite web | last=Izzo | first=Christina | title=Changes are coming to the G, J and M trains this summer | website=Time Out New York | date=May 8, 2023 | url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/changes-are-coming-to-the-g-j-and-m-trains-this-summer-050823 | access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Simko-Bednarski 2023 e304">{{cite web | last=Simko-Bednarski | first=Evan | title=NYC Transit boosting subway service on a dozen lines this summer | website=New York Daily News | date=May 2, 2023 | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-more-frequent-subway-service-weekend-20230502-mowsr3v2gjhodpvbkcbpfsurf4-story.html | access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref>

From June 28 to September 3, 2024, to accommodate riders displaced by the suspension of the {{NYCS|G}} for signal modernization taking place on that route, peak-direction express service on the J and Z was suspended between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues, with both routes making all stops along this segment.<ref>{{cite web | title=Service changes on the G line in summer 2024 | website=MTA | date=May 28, 2024 | url=https://new.mta.info/article/service-changes-g-line-summer-2024 | access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>

== Route == ===Signage history=== <gallery caption="BMT Numbered services"> R1 BMT 14.gif|Pre-1967 bullet for the BMT 14 service (Current day J & L) R1 BMT 15.gif|Pre-1967 bullet for the BMT 14 service (Current day J) </gallery>

<gallery caption="J/JJ/Z services"> File:JJ Train (1967-1973).svg|1967-1968 JJ bullet File:J Train (1973-1979).svg|1973-1979 J bullet (Former QJ) File:NYCS-bull-trans-Jd.svg|1979-1988 Rush hour J bullet File:NYCS-bull-trans-J.svg|The current J bullet used since 1979 File:NYCS-bull-trans-Z.svg|The current Z bullet used since 1988 File:NYCS-bull-trans-Zd.svg|Diamond Z bullet seen on old strip maps on the 4 train. </gallery>

<gallery caption="K/KK services (Jamaica only)"> File:KK Train (1967-1973).svg|1968-1973 KK bullet File:K Train (1973-1976).svg|1973-1976 K bullet, the K would eventually return in 1985 on 8th Avenue </gallery>

=== Service pattern === The following table shows the lines used by the J and Z, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times: {| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:95%" ! rowspan=3 | Line ! rowspan=3 | From ! rowspan=3 | To ! rowspan=3 | Tracks ! colspan=5 | Times |- ! colspan=4| 20px|J service ! width=40| 20px|Z service |- ! width=40 align=center | middays ! width=40 align=center | evenings ! width=40 align=center | weekends ! width=40 align=center | rush peak ! width=40 align=center | rush peak |- | BMT Archer Avenue Line | Jamaica Center | Sutphin Boulevard | all | rowspan=2 style="background:gray" |   | rowspan=2 style="background:gray" |   | rowspan=2 style="background:gray" |   | colspan=2 style="background:gray" |   |- | rowspan=4 | BMT Jamaica Line | rowspan=2 | 121st Street | rowspan=2 | Myrtle Avenue | local (all) | colspan=2|   |- | local (skip-stop) | rowspan=2 |   |   |   | colspan=2 style="background:gray" |   |- | rowspan=2 | Myrtle Avenue | rowspan=2 | Marcy Avenue | local | style="background:gray" |   | style="background:gray" |   | colspan=2|   |- | express | style="background:gray" rowspan=3 |   |   |   | colspan=2 rowspan=3 style="background:gray" |   |- | colspan=3 align=center | Williamsburg Bridge | rowspan=2 | all | rowspan=2 style="background:gray" |   | rowspan=2 style="background:gray" |   |- | BMT Nassau Street Line | Essex Street | Broad Street |}

=== Stations === thumb|right|To scale J line map thumb|right|To scale Z line map For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.<ref name="timetable"/>

Stations in green and stations in blue denote stops served by the J and Z, respectively, during rush hours in the peak direction. The J makes all stops at all other times. In case of severe winter weather, Z service and skip-stop patterns are suspended.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York City Subway Severe Winter Weather|url=https://www.mta.info/map/9471|publisher=MTA|access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> {{NYCS service legend | alltimes = show | allexceptnights = show | nightsonly = show | nightsweekends = | weekdaysonly = show | allexceptrush = show | allexceptweekdays = | dailyexceptrush = | rushonly = | rushpeak = show | closed = | custom_icon_1 = | custom_text_1 = | custom_icon_2 = | custom_text_2 = }} {| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:90%" summary="Service information for the J and Z trains and their stations, including service times, ADA-accessibility, subway transfers, and non-subway connections." ! width=3% {{CMain|20px|J service}} ! width=3% {{CGuest|20px|Z service}} ! width=28% | Stations ! width=3% | {{Access icon}} ! width=36% | Subway transfers ! width=27% | Connections/Notes |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Queens |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Archer Avenue Line |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} | {{NYCS Archer upper|time=1}} | Q44 Select Bus Service |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport}} {{rint|air|link=JFK Airport}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} | {{NYCS Archer upper|time=1}} | AirTrain JFK LIRR at {{stl|LIRR|Jamaica}} Q44 Select Bus Service |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Jamaica Line |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|121st Street}} | | | Q10 and Q80 buses to JFK Airport |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|111th Street|Jamaica}} | | | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|104th Street|Jamaica}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Woodhaven Boulevard|Jamaica}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} | | Q52/Q53 Select Bus Service |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|85th Street–Forest Parkway}} | | | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|75th Street–Elderts Lane}} | | | |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Brooklyn |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Cypress Hills}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Crescent Street}} | | | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Norwood Avenue}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Cleveland Street}} | | | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Van Siclen Avenue|Jamaica}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Alabama Avenue}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Broadway Junction|Jamaica}} | | {{NYCS Fulton|time=1}} (IND Fulton Street Line) {{NYCS Canarsie|time=1}} (BMT Canarsie Line) | LIRR Atlantic Branch at {{stl|LIRR|East New York}} Some northbound a.m. rush hour trips begin/terminate at this station{{efn|Some northbound trains begin their trips at this station and continue to Jamaica Center during the early a.m. rush hour; some northbound trains from Broad Street end their trips at this station during the late a.m. rush hour.|name=Broadway Junction a.m.}} Some southbound p.m. rush hour trips begin at this station |- | align=center |{{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Chauncey Street}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Halsey Street|Jamaica}} | | | |- | align=center |{{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Gates Avenue}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Kosciuszko Street}} | | | B46 Select Bus Service |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Myrtle Avenue|Jamaica}} | | {{NYCS Jamaica Myrtle|time=1|exclude=JZ}} | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Flushing Avenue|Jamaica}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} | {{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=1|exclude=JZ}} | B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Lorimer Street|Jamaica}} | | {{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=1|exclude=JZ}} | |- | align=center | {{NYCS SSI|allexceptrush}} | | {{stl|NYCS|Hewes Street}} | | {{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=1|exclude=JZ}} | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Marcy Avenue}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} | {{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=1|exclude=JZ}} | B44 Select Bus Service {{Ferry icon}} '''NYC Ferry''': East River Route (at South Tenth Street west of Kent Avenue) |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Manhattan |- | style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=6 | Nassau Street Line |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Essex Street}} | | {{NYCS Jamaica west local|time=1|exclude=JZ}} {{NYCS Sixth Rutgers|time=1}} (IND Sixth Avenue Line at {{stl|NYCS|Delancey Street}}) | M14A Select Bus Service Northern terminal for severe weather trips.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York City Subway Severe Winter Weather|url=https://www.mta.info/map/9471|publisher=MTA|access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Bowery}} | | | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Canal Street|Nassau}} | align=center | 20px|alt=Elevator access to mezzanine only |{{NYCS Lexington local|time=1}} (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) {{NYCS Broadway|time=1}} (BMT Broadway Line) | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Chambers Street|Nassau}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} |{{NYCS Lexington|time=1}} (IRT Lexington Avenue Line at {{stl|NYCS|Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall}}) | |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Fulton Street|Nassau}} | align=center | {{Access icon}} |{{NYCS Broadway-Seventh Brooklyn|time=1}} (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) {{NYCS Lexington south|time=1}} (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) {{NYCS Eighth Cranberry|time=1}} (IND Eighth Avenue Line) | Connection to {{NYCS Broadway south|time=1}} (BMT Broadway Line) at {{stl|NYCS|Cortlandt Street}} via Dey Street Passageway PATH at {{stl|PATH|World Trade Center}} |- | align=center {{CMain|{{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}}} | align=center {{CGuest|{{NYCS SSI|rushpeak}}}} | {{stl|NYCS|Broad Street}} | | | M15 Select Bus Service Staten Island Ferry at Whitehall Terminal |}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category multi|J (New York City Subway service)|Z (New York City Subway service)}} * [http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/jline.htm MTA NYC Transit – J Nassau Street Express] * [http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/zline.htm MTA NYC Transit – Z Nassau Street Express] * {{NYCS const|traintime|J}} * {{NYCS const|traintime|Z}} * {{NYCS const|timetable|J}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:J Z (New York City Subway service)}} # Category:New York City Subway services Category:Railway services introduced in 1967