J Train Tracks Get Makeover In Queens

The J tracks in Woodhaven

The Jamaica Avenue J is about to get a makeover that will hopefully make residents of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, Queens slightly less bummed out when they're walking to the subway. MTA officials told City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley this week that that part of the span will be repaired and painted forest green next year, according to the Daily News. Currently the underside of the tracks are covered in chipped paint, dirt and grease—decades worth of it, at that.

The project will take 30 months, and cost almost $30MM (here's the before shot of Richmond Hill's span). One resident told the paper, "We take care of our properties. They should have done this 10 years ago," and added with skepticism, "We've been promised this before."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on June 18, 2010 10:43 AM

Comments [rss]

r1b2

C'mon, it's Richmond Hill, it's supposed to look crappy.

Mr. Know-It-All

Now if they could only fix it so the Jamaica Center subway station J/Z train platform didn't smell like an open sewer.

silver

And its only 20 years old, basically brand new in the subway system. Thats what happens when lowest [only] bidder wins.

whitecastlerock

30 months at a cool 1 million per month to scrape, sand, and paint-obscene

Politburo

To scrape and sand lead paint.

Do you have any information to indicate that the cost is unreasonable?

whitecastlerock

Do you have anything to say that it is reasonable? What we do have here is an agency that historically has wasted millions on projects that go nowhere and run well over budget. Is it unreasonable for me to think that scraping, sanding, priming, and painting some tracks should take 3 years? is it unreasonable for me to call this unreasonable? Why should you care what i think?

ides_of_march

It's a pity the elevated tracks aren't all like between Rawson ST and Bliss St on the 7 Line. The cement archways, stained glass, and much quieter.