Editing IND Queens Boulevard Line (section)

==== Archer Avenue changes ====
Originally, the [[G (New York City Subway service)|G]] and [[N (New York City Subway service)|N]] local trains were planned to serve the upper level of the new Archer Avenue Line extension,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/GP36Chris/Subway/roll2.jpg|title=R46 Subway Car Rollsign|website=Photobucket|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=September 8, 2019|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915104804/http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/GP36Chris/Subway/roll2.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/GP36Chris/Subway/roll3.jpg|title=R46 Subway Car Rollsign|website=Photobucket|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=September 8, 2019|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915113859/http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/GP36Chris/Subway/roll3.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indsecondsystem.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/0/0/10005869/img-9892.jpg|title=A view of the western car dropoff/pickup area. A sign outlining the proposed services following the opening of the Archer Avenue Subway can be seen - N trains, which served the Queens Boulevard Line until 1987, would have run to Jamaica Center, along with the G, which served the Queens Boulevard Line until 2010. In addition, a sealed passage to the northwestern of Union Turnpike upper level and Queens Boulevard can be made out by the arched ceiling to the right of the subway sign.|date=March 8, 2020|website=indsecondsystem.weebly.com|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313105913/http://indsecondsystem.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/0/0/10005869/img-9892.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> while the [[E (New York City Subway service)|E]] and [[F (New York City Subway service)|F]] express trains would have remained on the Queens Boulevard mainline towards [[Jamaica–179th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|179th Street]]. The N train was to have been extended from 71st Avenue to Jamaica Center during weekdays, and, when it terminated at 57th Street or 71st Avenue, during evenings and weekends, the G would have been extended to Jamaica Center, and during late nights, a G train shuttle would have run between Jamaica Center and [[Briarwood (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Van Wyck Boulevard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blake.prohosting.com/~tptsm/rollsign/r4446/r46jamaica/14.png|title=R46 Jamaica Image 14}}{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref>

On December 11, 1988, the [[Archer Avenue Lines]] opened, utilizing existing provisions east of the Briarwood station. The E was rerouted to its current terminus at [[Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer (Archer Avenue Lines)|Jamaica Center]].<ref name="QnsOptionsStudyEIS-1990" /><ref name="NYTimes-NYCS-BigChanges-1988" /> Its opening was expected to reroute 17,500 riders from Hillside Avenue to Archer Avenue. Two service plans were identified prior to the February 25, 1988 public hearing. The first would have split rush-hour E service between the two branches, with late night service to 179th Street provided by the R, while the second would have had all E trains run via Archer Avenue and would have extended R locals to 179th Street.<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><ref name=":12" />{{Rp|9–10}} A modified version of the second plan was decided upon. When the Archer Avenue Line opened, the E ran to Jamaica Center via the Queens Boulevard Line's express tracks.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/09/nyregion/big-changes-for-subways-are-to-begin.html|title=Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin|last=Johnson|first=Kirk|date=December 9, 1988|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=June 6, 2016|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308122331/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/09/nyregion/big-changes-for-subways-are-to-begin.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The R was extended to 179th Street to serve local stations east of Continental Avenue, replacing local E service to 179th Street, allowing F trains to continue running express to 179th Street. F trains no longer stopped at 169th Street between 10 a.m. and 3:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref>{{Cite news|title=New Subway Line Finally Rolling Through Queens|last=Polsky|first=Carol|date=December 11, 1988|work=Newsday}}</ref><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> During the morning rush hour, some R trains went into service at Continental Avenue, because local ridership from 179th Street during rush hours did not warrant it. All R trains went to 179th Street during the afternoon rush to avoid taking loaded R trains out of service at Continental.<ref name=":12" />{{Rp|9–10}}

The change in the plan was the operation of some E trains from 179th Street as expresses during the morning rush hour to provide an appropriate level of E service to Archer during the morning rush, to maintain the same level of service to 179th Street while providing express service, and to provide greater choice for riders at the Parsons Boulevard and 179th Street stations on Hillside Avenue. It was decided not to divert some E trains to 179th Street during the afternoon rush hour so that Queens-bound riders would not be confused about where their E train was headed.<ref name=":12" />{{Rp|9–10}}

It was decided to serve Archer with the E as opposed to the F to minimize disruption to passengers who continued to use Hillside Avenue, to maximize Jamaica Avenue ridership and the length of the peak ridership period, which is longer on the F. It was found that most riders using buses diverted to Archer used the E, while passengers on buses to 179th used the F. Having E trains run local between Continental Avenue and Van Wyck Boulevard was dismissed in order to provide 24-hour express service to the Archer Avenue Line.<ref name=":12" />{{Rp|55}}

Riders at local stations east of 71st Avenue (169th Street, Sutphin Boulevard, Van Wyck Boulevard and 75th Avenue stations) were angered at losing direct Queens Boulevard Express service in 1988. Local elected officials pressured the MTA to eliminate all-local service at these stations.<ref name="Flocal">{{cite news |last1=Henican |first1=Ellis |title=Locals Sidetrack the F Train |work=Newsday |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79722596/newsday/ 4], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79722610/ 37]|date=July 5, 1992}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC%2FQUEENS_FILES%2F03.012.0231.030137.6.PDF|title=Service Change Monitoring Report Six Month Evaluation of F/R Queens Boulevard Line Route Restructure|date=April 1993|website=www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604110938/http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC%2FQUEENS_FILES%2F03.012.0231.030137.6.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 30, 1990 the R was cut back to 71st–Continental Avenue outside of rush hours. Late night service to 179th Street was replaced by G service, while F trains began running local east of 71st Avenue during middays, evenings, and weekends.<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=live}}</ref>

In response, the MTA considered three options including leaving service as is, having E trains run local east of 71st Avenue along with R service, and having F trains run local east of 71st Avenue replacing R service.  Keeping service as is would have kept the reliability improvement that came with the relocation of the merge between E and F service from 75th Avenue to Van Wyck Boulevard, ensured maximum service capacity, and would have benefited the broad majority of riders on Queens Boulevard in terms of time savings and reliability. The second option would have decreased capacity by eight percent, or two trains per hour, increased travel times for most riders from Eastern Queens by 1–2 minutes, worsened reliability on the E and F, and introduced two merges-one with the R at Van Wyck Boulevard and one with the F at 75th Avenue. The third option was expected to help 13,880 people at former local stops with the introduction of direct express service, while lengthening trips by three minutes for 30,010 riders at Parsons Boulevard and 179th Street. In addition, it would decrease capacity by eight percent, or two trains per hour, reduce the reliability of E and F service, and possibly require more F service and less E service due to increases loads on the F. The third option was chosen to be tested in October or November 1992, and was expected to save the NYCTA $50,000 a year. It was also expected to slightly reduce ridership and revenue due to increased travel times for Eastern Queens riders.<ref name="Flocal"/><ref name="VanWyck">{{Cite web|url=http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC%2FQUEENS_FILES%2F03.012.0231.030147.3.PDF|title=Van Wyck Blvd Station|date=May 1992|website=www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806175612/http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC%2FQUEENS_FILES%2F03.012.0231.030147.3.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 26, 1992, R trains were cut back to 71st Avenue at all times. In its place, the F ran local between 71st Avenue and 179th Street at all times, which eliminated express service along Hillside Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/30660280045/|title=October 1992 New York City Subway Map|date=October 1992|website=Flickr|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=October 30, 2016|archive-date=January 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105070323/https://www.flickr.com/photos/127872292@N06/30660280045/|url-status=live}}</ref> This change was implemented for six months on an experimental basis at the request of passengers using the 169th Street, Sutphin Boulevard, Van Wyck Boulevard and 75th Avenue stations, which had lost direct Queens Boulevard Express service in 1988.<ref name=":5" />

After the six months, the change was kept even though 77% of passengers had benefitted from the pre-October 1992 service plan because there was minimal negative passenger reaction and the intensity of the request. The change increased travel time along the F by 3.5 minutes, and reduced travel time for passengers at local stations by one to two minutes.<ref name=":5" /> In December 1993, the NYCTA agreed to extend the pilot change for six more months.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bazzi|first=Mohamad|date=December 29, 1993|title=F Train To Continue Stops In Eastern Queens|work=Newsday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79722444/|access-date=June 17, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007135208/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79722444/newsday/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 1988 and 1990, following the opening of the Archer Avenue extension, ridership decreased by 12 percent at 179th Street, by 60 percent at 169th Street, by 47 percent at Parsons Boulevard, by 70 percent at Sutphin Boulevard, and by 28 percent at Van Wyck Boulevard.<ref name="VanWyck"/>