Rockaway Blvd (A, Shuttle to Lefferts Blvd, Rockaway Park Shuttle Summer Weekends)

Rockaway Blvd is the last stop before the A train's branches split. Just east of the station the center track spits into two and becomes the two mainline tracks for the Rockaway branch. Each track has switches from their respective local tracks before the Rockaway Branch tracks dive underneath the Lefferts-Blvd bound track and curve right onto the concrete viaduct that was originally built for the Long Island Rail Road to continue off to the Rockaways. Lefferts Blvd-bound trains take the two outside tracks and run up a bit of an incline (not only does the Lefferts Blvd-bound track have to rise to allow the Rockaways tracks to go under it, the entire elevated line has to rise up to allow the still-intact viaduct of the former LIRR Rockaway branch to pass underneath) to continue on the Liberty Avenue elevated to reach Lefferts Blvd.

The Station itself is like all the other Liberty Avenue elevated stations although the Queens-bound platform usually has a crowd of people on it wanting to switch between Lefferts and Rockaways-bound trains. There are two exits with mezzanine areas and single staircases down from each side platform, and single staircases down to each side of Liberty Avenue after fare control in the mezzanine area.

The full time entrance with the 24-hour token booth is at the eastern end of the platforms and leads to Woodhaven Blvd/Cross Bay Blvd (the boulevard changes names when it crosses Liberty Avenue) and is near 94 Street. The streetstairs are at the NW and SW corners of Woodhaven Blvd/Cross Bay Blvd and Liberty Avenue.

The other exit at the eastern end of the station leads to 96 St and Rockaway Blvd (as well as Liberty Avenue, Rockaway Blvd is an oddity in the grid and runs diagonally), and only has high entrance turnstiles. Two streetstairs lead down to each side of Liberty Avenue just east of this complex angled intersection.

Starting in the Summer of 2016, the station has been the terminus of extended Rockaway Park Shuttle trains on Summer Weekends and Holidays (Memorial, July 4, and Labor Day) to allow beach goes to take either Lefferts Blvd or Far Rockaway-bound A trains and have additional service. These trains slow down regular A train service at the station, because shuttle trains from Rockaway Park enter the station on the Manhattan-bound platform, discharge their passengers, and then head down the regular track to bypass 88 Street, before reaching the crossover onto the middle track (which at this location becomes a yard lead to Euclid Avenue) and terminate on the middle track inside the 80 Street station before switching onto the Rockaway-bound track, skipping 88 Street on that track and entering service at Rockaway Blvd.
Photos 1: March 30, 2005; 3-21: December 29, 2008; 22-27: September 30, 2005; 28-31: September 13, 2013; 32-42: October 11, 2014; 43-63: September 4, 2023;

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Looking underneath the Liberty Avenue elevated structure near Rockaway Blvd, the concrete viaduct that has now been abandoned of the LIRR Rockaway Branch is just ahead, with the curving elevated structure of the subway joining the ROW visible in the background .

Passengers remain on the platform at Rockaway Blvd to wait for a Lefferts Blvd-bound A train as a Far Rockaway-bound R38 train leaves the station.

A Far Rockaway-bound A train of R38s continues to leave Rockaway Blvd, the R38s days in service are extremely numbered because the arrival of R160s are dumping them into the sea.

A Far Rockaway-bound A train of R38s has left leave Rockaway Blvd, to curve down to the Rockaway branch.

A Far Rockaway-bound A train of R38s continues to curve down to the line to the Rockaways.

Two R38 A trains pass one another just beyond Rockaway Blvd on the tracks that curve onto the viaduct that leads out to the Rockaways.

R38 #3978 leads a Manhattan-bound A train up from the Rockaway branch and onto the Main line Liberty Avenue el.

R38 #3978 switches onto the local track from the Rockaway Branch.

R38 #3978 leads a Manhattan-bound A train into Rockaway Blvd.

R38 #3978 enters Rockaway Blvd.

A platform sign on the simple windscreen at Rockaway Blvd.

Looking down the Queens-bound platform at Rockaway Blvd.

The Rockaway Blvd station is on a curve. Here a Manhattan-bound R38 A train curves out of the station into the sunset.

Looking down the simple two side platforms Rockaway Blvd Station.

The mezzanine area for the exit to 96 St and Rockaway Blvd, it no longer is staffed and just has high exit gates.

Another view of the simple mezzanine area for the 96 St exit at Rockaway Blvd, there is also a simple old fashioned green wooden bench. The doors have been removed from the four exits of the mezzanine level station house since it is no longer staffed

Another view of the unstaffed mezzanine to 96 St at Rockaway Blvd.

Streetside outside the 96 St station house at Rockaway Blvd. A High Exit Turnstile allows passengers exiting the system not to enter the station house area with its High Entrance Turnstile.

A staircase from street level up to the 96 Street mezzanine and the Rockaway Blvd subway station.

A view from street level of the Rockaway Branch curving under and off of the Liberty Avenue el.

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