Findings updated: 12/2/2015
There is sufficient capacity on trains that serve or go past SE Queens LIRR stations to make Freedom Ticket successful.
 
There are more than 20,000 peak hour seats currently available on these LIRR trains. 
 
The SE Queens Freedom Ticket Proof of Concept can help commuters save travel time and money, and fill non-revenue producing seats.
The NYCTRC analyzed:
  • LIRR ridership data to better understand commuting conditions in SE Queens
  • Primary direction peak hour ridership between
    • SE Queens LIRR stations and Jamaica
    • Penn Station and Jamaica
    • Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica
  • We looked at the branches that serve and pass through SE Queens:
    • Babylon, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, Hempstead, and West Hempstead
  • Between Jamaica, Penn Station, and Atlantic Terminal we also included:
    • Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Montauk, Huntington, and Ronkonkoma branches
We excluded:
  • The Montauk, Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, and Huntington branches between SE Queens and Jamaica
    • These branches travel the farthest on Long Island
    • They do not currently serve SE Queens stations
    • Riders who take these branches already endure long travel times, which we did not want to increase by adding city station stops
  • The Port Washington branch
    • Does not make connections at Jamaica
    • Does not serve riders from SE Queens

Peak Hours

Peak hours are defined as the periods of time that trains arrive at Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal in the morning: between 6-10 AM, and leave from Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal in the evening: between 4-8 PM. ​​

Capacity Note

The LIRR will increase seat capacity by 40% when it opens its ESA terminal in 2023.

SE Queens & Jamaica

Jamaica & Penn Station

Jamaica & Atlantic Terminal