View source for Rockaway Park Shuttle

{{short description|New York City Subway shuttle service}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NYCS service
| name = Rockaway Park Shuttle
| service = S
| image1 = R179 Shuttle Train at Broad Channel.jpg
| caption1 = Rockaway Park Shuttle train of [[R179 (New York City Subway car)|R179]]s terminated at [[Broad Channel station|Broad Channel]].
| shuttle = Rockaway
| north term = [[Broad Channel station|Broad Channel]] ([[Rockaway Boulevard station|Rockaway Boulevard]] on summer weekends)
| south term = [[Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street]]
| stations = 5 (9 on summer weekends)
| depot = [[Pitkin Yard]]
| started = {{start date and age|1956|06|28}}
| map = {{switcher
|{{maplink-road|from=Rockaway Park Shuttle.map}}
|Show interactive map
|{{A (New York City Subway service)|shuttle=y}}
|Show route diagram
}}
| map_state = collapsed
| note =
| length = 300-foot trainsets (5 R179/R211A cars; 10 car, 600-foot sets on summer weekends)}}

The '''Rockaway Park Shuttle'''<ref name="timetable">{{NYCS const|timetable|h}}</ref> is a [[New York City Subway]] [[S (New York City Subway service)|shuttle]] train that operates in [[Queens]]. It is the latest iteration of the Rockaway Shuttle services that have been running on the [[Rockaway, Queens|Rockaway]] peninsula since 1956. This shuttle train provides service to the central part of the peninsula, running between [[Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street]] to the west and [[Broad Channel station|Broad Channel]] to the east, where it connects with the {{NYCS|A}} train. The fully above-ground route operates on trackage that was originally part of the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Rockaway Beach Branch]] until the mid-1950s. In the summertime on weekends during the day, to eliminate an additional transfer and thus ease beach access, the Rockaway Park Shuttle is typically extended four stations north of Broad Channel to [[Rockaway Boulevard station|Rockaway Boulevard]], the easternmost station shared by Rockaway-bound and [[Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard station|Lefferts Boulevard]]-bound A trains.

Like the other two shuttles, [[42nd Street Shuttle|42nd Street]] in [[Manhattan]] and [[Franklin Avenue Shuttle|Franklin Avenue]] in [[Brooklyn]], it is marked with the letter "S" and its route bullet is colored {{NYCS const|color|darkgray}} on route signs, station signs, rolling stock, and the official subway map. The internal designator for this service is '''H''', though the MTA does not show this on any maps, train rollsigns, or schedules; the designation '''S<sup>R</sup>''' is also sometimes used on public documents.<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>

Prior to 1993, the Rockaway Park Shuttle used multiple different designations, including the E, CC, and H, which had an emblem colored {{NYCS const|color|blue}}. The H formerly ran north to [[Euclid Avenue (IND Fulton Street Line)|Euclid Avenue]] in [[Brooklyn]] via the [[IND Fulton Street Line]], as well as to [[Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)|Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue]] to the east. In 2012–13, after [[Hurricane Sandy]] destroyed the IND Rockaway Line's connection to the rest of the system, the {{NYCS const|color|blue}} H shuttle provided service from Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue to [[Beach 90th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Beach 90th Street]].

== Service history ==

=== 1950s to 1980s ===
[[File:Howard Beach–JFK td (2025-08-24) 051d.jpg|thumb|left|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street-bound [[R211 (New York City Subway car)|R211]] Rockaway Park Shuttle train arriving at [[Howard Beach–JFK Airport station|Howard Beach–JFK Airport]]]]

[[File:Subway Goes To Rockaway.gif|thumb|left|A sign announcing Rockaway Line services effective June 28, 1956, when Rockaway Line subway service began]]
The Rockaway Shuttle started operating on June 28, 1956. During its early years, it essentially provided non-rush hour and weekend service between [[Euclid Avenue (IND Fulton Street Line)|Euclid Avenue]] and either [[Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)|Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue]] or [[Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street]]. At first, the route did not have an official assigned letter code on maps, although sometimes trains displayed either the {{NYCS|A}} or {{NYCS|E}} route on their [[rollsign]] boxes.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

<div class="thumb tleft">
{| style="width:80px;"
|[[File:HH Train (1967-1972).svg]]
|-
|<div class="thumbcaption">1967–1972 bullet</div>
|}
</div>

Beginning on February 1, 1962, the Rockaway Shuttle was officially lettered on maps and trains as HH (which had last been used for the [[Court Street Shuttle]], discontinued 16 years earlier) to make it easier to distinguish E trains from shuttle trains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC/WAGNER_FILES/06.023.0000.141.1634.PDF#undefined|title=For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 30, 1962 #228|date=January 30, 1962|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=February 1962|title=Route Signs On Rockaway Trains or "HH" Line Is Born Again|url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1962/1962-01-bulletin.pdf|journal=New York Division Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|volume=5|issue=1|pages=2}}</ref> From November 26, 1967, to September 10, 1972, it was colored red, with daytime non-rush hour and weekend service usually available between Rockaway Park and Euclid Avenue or [[Broad Channel (IND Rockaway Line)|Broad Channel]], plus some weekday mid-afternoon service provided between Far Rockaway and Euclid Avenue.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

During the late night-early morning hours, service operating to and from [[Euclid Avenue (IND Fulton Street Line)|Euclid Avenue]] on the [[IND Fulton Street Line]] in [[Brooklyn]] was extended between roughly midnight and 6:00&nbsp;a.m., which were the hours when the {{NYCS|A}} did not run to and from [[Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)|Far Rockaway]]. At those times, the HH would operate from Euclid Avenue to Rockaway Park, then to Far Rockaway via [[Hammels Wye]], and finally back to Euclid Avenue, thus earning this ''[[Night bus service|night owl]]'' service the unofficial nickname of ''Rockaway Round-Robin''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2016}}

<div class="thumb tleft">
{|width="80"
|[[File:E Train (1967-1979).svg]]
|-
|colspan="2"|<div class="thumbcaption">1972–1976 bullet, as the E</div>
|}
</div>

Between September 11, 1972, and August 29, 1976, the shuttle's identifier was known as the {{NYCS|E}} (colored aqua blue), although during rush hours this train was extended all the way to [[Jamaica–179th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Jamaica–179th Street]] on the [[IND Queens Boulevard Line]] in [[Queens]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Subway Schedules In Queens Changing Amid Some Protest|url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C1EF73F551A7493C0A9178AD85F478785F9|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|date = January 2, 1973|page = 46|access-date = March 20, 2010}}</ref> Afterward, the designation {{NYCS|CC}} (colored green) was used for the shuttle, running to Broad Channel, although during rush hours this train was extended all the way to [[Bedford Park Boulevard (IND Concourse Line)|Bedford Park Boulevard]] on the [[IND Concourse Line]] in the [[Bronx]].<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=August 1976|website=Flickr|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=October 23, 2016}}</ref> In 1979, the MTA released a new [[New York City Subway nomenclature#Colors and trunk lines|coloring scheme]] for subway routes based on trunk line; CC service was assigned the color blue, because in Manhattan it used the [[IND Eighth Avenue Line]].<ref name="Hertz-Gothamist">{{cite web | first=Dave | last=Hogarty | url=http://gothamist.com/2007/08/03/michael_hertz_d.php | title=Michael Hertz, Designer of the NYC Subway Map | work=[[Gothamist]] | date=August 3, 2007 | access-date=July 4, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818012400/http://gothamist.com/2007/08/03/michael_hertz_d.php | archive-date=August 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="color">{{Cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/take-the-tomato-to-the-sunflower/|title=Take the Tomato 2 Stops to the Sunflower|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=May 10, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>

<div class="thumb tright">
{| style="width:80px;"
|[[File:CC Train (1967-1979).svg]]<br>[[File:CC Train (1979-1985).svg]]
|-
|<div class="thumbcaption">CC bullets from 1976–1979 and 1979–1985 (respectively)</div>
|}
</div>

On May 6, 1985, the shuttle's identifier was changed to H (still colored blue) instead of reverting to HH, as the New York City Subway system had abolished two-letter designations by then.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/27733842265/|title=Hey, What's a "K" Train? 1985 Brochure|website=Flickr|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref>

=== 1990s changes ===

In January 1991, a reduction of service along the Central Park West corridor to remove excess capacity was proposed. As a result of the initial plan to make {{NYCS|A}} service local in Manhattan and Brooklyn (before it was amended to reroute the A via Sixth Avenue), H service would be expanded. This change was necessitated because all Central Park West express service would operate via Sixth Avenue, leaving no express service along Eighth Avenue south of [[59th Street–Columbus Circle (IND Eighth Avenue Line)|59th Street–Columbus Circle]]; daytime service would operate between [[34th Street–Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station]] and either [[Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard (IND Fulton Street Line)|Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard]] or [[Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)|Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue]] in Queens, making express stops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and local stops in Queens. Additional rush hour trains to and from [[Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street]] would have provided limited service. Late night service would initially be replaced by A trains before the service plan was amended for late night service to be replaced by {{NYCS|C}} trains instead. This service change would have been implemented in October 1991, pending approval from the MTA board.<ref>{{cite web |title=1991 Service Capacity Plan |url=http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC/QUEENS_FILES/03.012.0231.030147.2.PDF#undefined |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |access-date=September 18, 2024 |pages=197–200 |date=January 4, 1991}}</ref>

In 1991, at a series of meetings, the NYCTA presented proposed changes to A, C, and H service that would shorten the length of the C, simplify the service pattern during late nights to most efficiently serve the majority of riders, provide direct express service to Rockaway Park during rush hours in the peak direction, and provide shuttle connections during non-peak periods between Rockaway Park and through A train service. The service pattern devised was designed to improve operations by reducing route length and complexity, making service more attractive, simplifying confusing service patterns, and reducing transfers for passengers traveling during late nights. At the time, A service ran to [[Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard station|Lefferts Boulevard]] and [[Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue station|Far Rockaway]] during the day while the C ran to [[Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street station|Rockaway Park]] during rush hours. During late nights, A service ran to Lefferts Boulevard, while service to both branches in the Rockaways was provided by the round-robin H shuttle service to Euclid Avenue.<ref name="1992changes">* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961867/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.1 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022119/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961867/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472938187/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.2 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022113/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472938187/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472816041/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.3 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022143/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472816041/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961612/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.4 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022123/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961612/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815731/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.5}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961237/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.6 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022653/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961237/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961112/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.7 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022557/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961112/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815331/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.8 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022704/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815331/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815186/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.9 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402231827/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815186/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815031/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.10 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022655/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472815031/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961382/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.11 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022656/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472961382/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472960412/in/album-72157710272372761/ |title=Transit Authority Committee Agenda April 1992 |date=April 16, 1992 |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |pages=E.12 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102022656/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/48472960412/in/album-72157710272372761/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As part of the changes proposed, round-robin shuttle service would be discontinued; late-night A service would operate from Manhattan to Far Rockaway; and service to Lefferts Boulevard and Rockaway Park would be provided by separate shuttle services with timed transfers to through A service. Rush hour local C service to Rockaway Park would be replaced by through A express service. In addition, H service to Rockaway Park would be replaced by the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which would run between Broad Channel and Rockaway Park, and C service would be truncated to Euclid Avenue.<ref name="1992changes" /> In April 1992, the MTA Board approved the proposed change to service in the Rockaways, which were expected to encourage ridership growth in the long term, and reduced NYCTA's annual operating budget by $20,000.<ref name="1992changes" /> The changes took effect on October 23, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 1992 |title=October 1992 New York City Subway Map |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/30660280045 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204235654/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/30660280045 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |access-date=October 7, 2018 |work=Flickr |publisher=New York City Transit Authority |language=en-us}}</ref><div class="thumb tright">
{| style="width:80px;"
|[[File:NYCS-bull-trans-H-Std.svg|75px]]
|-
|<div class="thumbcaption">1985–1993 and 2012–2013 bullet</div>
|}
</div>

=== 2000s to present ===
<div class="thumb tright">
{| style="width:80px;"
|[[File:NYCS-bull-trans-SR-Std.svg|75px]]
|-
|<div class="thumbcaption">Alternate S<sup>R</sup> bullet</div>
|}
</div>

Formerly, some maps and trains<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?134078|work=nycsubway.org|first=Christopher|last=Henderson|title=Image 134078|access-date=February 16, 2020|date=May 30, 2012}}</ref> had shown the current S service in blue. Since May 2004, the official system map shows the Rockaway Park Shuttle as carrying a grey bullet. Recent prints, however, depicted the service itself in blue, but has been changed back to grey, as of January 2013.<ref>{{NYCS const|map}}</ref> In order to distinguish it from the other shuttles, NYCT Rapid Transit operations still refers to it internally as the H.

{{anchor|Hurricane Sandy}} The Rockaway Park Shuttle was suspended following the aftermath of [[Effects of Hurricane Sandy in New York#Transportation|Hurricane Sandy]], due to track being washed out between Broad Channel and [[Howard Beach–JFK Airport (IND Rockaway Line)|Howard Beach]]. On November 20, 2012, a free shuttle designated as H replaced the Rockaway portion of the A service between [[Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)|Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue]] and [[Beach 90th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Beach 90th Street]] via the Hammels Wye. Additionally, the remainder of the Rockaway Line from Beach 90th Street to [[Rockaway Park – Beach 116th Street (IND Rockaway Line)|Rockaway Park]] was damaged and awaited repair.  With the emergency implementation of this service, the H rollsign designation returned to public usage for the first time since 1993.<ref name="Flegenheimer 2012">{{cite web | last=Flegenheimer | first=Matt | title=Shuttle Train Points to Progress in the Rockaways | website=The New York Times | date=December 2, 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/nyregion/shuttle-train-points-to-progress-in-the-rockaways.html | access-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref> Despite the service's free status, few riders used the signed H service,<ref name="Flegenheimer 2012"/> partly due to the extremely low ridership at Rockaway stations to begin with; this ridership had been lowered further since Hurricane Sandy.<ref>{{cite web | title=mta.info – Facts and Figures | website=mta.info |url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/ridership_sub_annual.htm | access-date=July 16, 2016 | archive-date=May 28, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528152626/http://www.mta.info/nyct/facts/ridership/ridership_sub_annual.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, the service did not run during late nights, and the service was only connected to the rest of the subway via a shuttle bus to Howard Beach.<ref name="Flegenheimer 2012"/> On May 30, 2013, full service to the Rockaways was restored, and the free H service was discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MTAInsider/status/270625005337993216|title=MTA on Twitter|work=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MTA – News – A Train Service Restored to Rockaways |url=http://www.mta.info/train-service-restored-rockaways |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607192013/http://new.mta.info/train-service-restored-rockaways |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |work=mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref>

In late May 2016, the MTA announced that the Rockaway Park Shuttle would be extended from Broad Channel to [[Rockaway Boulevard (IND Fulton Street Line)|Rockaway Boulevard]] on weekends from mid-June until [[Labor Day]] 2016.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 26, 2016 |title=MTA – News – MTA Adds Service to Area Beaches to Kick Off the Summer Season |url=http://www.mta.info/news/2016/05/26/mta-adds-service-area-beaches-kick-summer-season |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527224853/http://mta.info/news/2016/05/26/mta-adds-service-area-beaches-kick-summer-season |archive-date=May 27, 2016 |access-date=December 17, 2016 |website=mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="The Forum Newsgroup 2016">{{cite web | title=MTA Extends Rockaway Park Shuttle to Accommodate Beachgoers | website=The Forum Newsgroup | date=June 3, 2016 | url=http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2016/06/03/mta-extends-rockaway-park-shuttle-to-accommodate-beachgoers/ | access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref> This allowed passengers on both [[Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard (IND Fulton Street Line)|Lefferts Boulevard]] and Far Rockaway-bound trains to transfer to the shuttle, and for shuttle passengers to transfer to more frequent A train service at Rockaway Boulevard. This summer weekend extension was implemented again starting in 2017 between Memorial and Labor Days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2017 |title=A S Customers It's Easier to Reach Rockaway Beach |url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/AS_Customers.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531010040/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/AS_Customers.htm |archive-date=May 31, 2017 |access-date=July 2, 2017 |website=web.mta.info |language=en}}</ref> However, the extension for 2018 ended on July 1 and was replaced by rerouted A trains to Rockaway Park due to construction on Hammels Wye.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/AS_Customers.htm|title=A S Customers Rockaway Beach 2018 Weekend Service}}</ref> In 2019, the summer extension was reinstated for the whole season,<ref name="Alexa 2019">{{cite web | last=Alexa | first=Alexandra | title=Extended Rockaway shuttle and LIRR service will make getting to the beach easier this summer | website=6sqft | date=May 30, 2019 | url=https://www.6sqft.com/extended-rockaway-shuttle-and-lirr-service-will-make-getting-to-the-beach-easier-this-summer/ | access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=It's Easier to Reach Rockaway Beach on Weekends |url=https://new.mta.info/rockawaysweekend19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703214017/https://new.mta.info/rockawaysweekend19 |archive-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref> while in 2020, the summer extension was reinstated in July. Since then, the seasonal extension has occurred on an annual basis.<ref>{{cite web | title=How to get to Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk on public transit | website=MTA | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://new.mta.info/guides/beaches/rockaways | access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref>

From April 9 to May 18, 2018, and again from July 2 to September 3, 2018, the shuttle ran between Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street and Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue due to a planned two-phase program of flood mitigation work along the Hammels Wye.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 8, 2018 |title=Train Change: A/ Shuttle Service to Be Impacted Starting in April |url=http://rockawaytimes.com/index.php/columns/3602-train-change-a-shuttle-service-to-be-impacted-starting-in-april |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204153/http://rockawaytimes.com/index.php/columns/3602-train-change-a-shuttle-service-to-be-impacted-starting-in-april |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |access-date=March 30, 2018 |website=THE ROCKAWAY TIMES – First and Free}}</ref> To allow for repairs on the South Channel Bridge, for 17 weeks starting on January 17, 2025, the Rockaway Park Shuttle ran fare free, using the same pattern;<ref>{{cite web |last=Schilling |first=John |date=September 13, 2024 |title=MTA Previews 17-Week A Train Service Shutdown During CB14 Meeting |url=https://www.rockawave.com/articles/mta-previews-17-week-a-train-service-shutdown-during-cb14-meeting/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=The Wave - Rockaway&#039;s Newspaper since 1893}}</ref><ref name="McFadden2024">{{cite web |last=McFadden |first=Katie |date=September 16, 2024 |title=A Train Shutdown Tops September CB14 Meeting |url=https://www.rockawaytimes.com/a-train-shutdown-tops-september-cb14-meeting/ |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=THE ROCKAWAY TIMES – First and Free}}</ref> regular service resumed on May 19, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | title=A train service to Rockaways resumes after 4 month shutdown for repairs | website=CBS New York | last=Duddridge | first=Natalie | date=May 19, 2025 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/rockaways-a-train-resumes-service-new-york/ | access-date=May 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Simko-Bednarski | first=Evan | title=Rockaways, Queens subway service begins again on A train | website=New York Daily News | date=May 19, 2025 | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/05/19/rockaways-queens-subway-service-begins-again-on-a-train/ | access-date=May 20, 2025}}</ref>

== Stations ==
[[File:Rockaway Park Shuttle metropolitana di New York.png|thumb|right|To scale line map]]
For a more detailed station listing, see [[IND Rockaway Line]].<ref name="timetable"/><ref>{{NYCS const|serviceguide}}</ref>

{{NYCS service legend
| alltimes = show
| allexceptnights =
| nightsonly =
| nightsweekends =
| weekdaysonly =
| allexceptrush =
| allexceptweekdays =
| dailyexceptrush =
| rushonly =
| rushpeak =
| closed =
| custom_icon_1 = 
| custom_text_1 = 
| custom_icon_2 =
| custom_text_2 =
}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:90%; width:68%" summary="Service information for the Rockaway Park Shuttle and its stations, including service times, ADA-accessibility, subway transfers, and non-subway connections."
! width=3% | [[File:NYCS-bull-trans-S-Std.svg|20px|Rockaway Park Shuttle service]]
! width=28% | Stations
! width=3% | {{Access icon}}
! width=36% | Subway transfers
! width=30% | Connections/Other Notes
|-
| style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center" colspan=5 | [[IND Rockaway Line|Rockaway Line]]
|-
| align=center | {{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}
| {{stl|NYCS|Broad Channel}}
| align=center | 
| {{NYCS Rockaway south|time=show|exclude=S}}
| [[Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards buses|Q52/Q53 Select Bus Service]]
|-
| align=center | {{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}
| {{stl|NYCS|Beach 90th Street}}
|
| {{NYCS Rockaway Park|time=show|exclude=S}}
| [[Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards buses|Q52 Select Bus Service]]<br>
|-
| align=center | {{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}
| {{stl|NYCS|Beach 98th Street}}
|
| {{NYCS Rockaway Park|time=show|exclude=S}}
| [[Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards buses|Q53 Select Bus Service]]
|-
| align=center | {{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}
| {{stl|NYCS|Beach 105th Street}}
|
| {{NYCS Rockaway Park|time=show|exclude=S}}
|
|-
| align=center | {{NYCS SSI|alltimes}}
| {{stl|NYCS|Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street}}
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
| {{NYCS Rockaway Park|time=show|exclude=S}}
| [[Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards buses|Q53 Select Bus Service]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category multi|H (New York City Subway service)|Rockaway Park Shuttle}}
* [http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/sline.htm#rockaway MTA NYC Transit – Rockaway Park Shuttle]
* {{NYCS const|traintime|S}}
* {{NYCS const|timetable|H}}
* Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lBGl1LS5olY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151217183313/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBGl1LS5olY Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBGl1LS5olY|title=Backfanning on the Rockaway Park Shuttle|author=thesubwaynut2|publisher=Youtube|date=August 16, 2014|access-date=August 16, 2014}}{{cbignore}}

{{NYCS navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rockaway Park Shuttle}}
[[Category:Independent Subway System|#]]
[[Category:New York City Subway services|Rockaway Park Shuttle]]