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Jamaica Station Celebrates 100th Anniversary

By Gustavo Solis | October 23, 2013 3:32pm
 Jamaica Station celebrated it's 100th birthday Wednesday
Happy birthday to Jamaica Station
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JAMAICA — Officials and community leaders marked the 100th anniversary of Jamaica Station Wednesday with a celebration of the structure's place in the city's development and future.

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, LIRR President Helena Williams and representatives from the MTA and Jamaica gathered to celebrate the centennial at the transit hub on 94th Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard.

The hub, which serves 150,000 commuters a day, was built in 1913 and did away with street level crossings for the first time.

"It is a very exciting time for us," Williams said to a crowd of about 100 people.

Jamaica Station, where 10 of the railroad's 11 lines meet, has "contributed to the economic growth of the area," Marshall said.

For the anniversary, the station's waiting room and ticket office were upgraded and repainting was done to match the railroad's original colors of red and blue.

Speakers looked ahead to the next 100 years, mentioning projects that will further develop Jamaica Station and the neighborhood. 

Among them are East Side Access, which will bring trains to Grand Central Station for the first time and other maintenance, such as realigning track.