Hochul seeking commuter input for a redesigned Jamaica Station

Long Island Rail Road commuters now have an opportunity to weigh in on what they’d like to see in a reimagined Jamaica station.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday the launch of a "customer engagement" effort as part of her proposed $50 million redesign of the Queens transit hub, which serves as the main transfer point for LIRR riders, with connections to buses, subways and the JFK AirTrain.

Starting Friday, customers can take an online survey with several questions about their experiences using Jamaica and what improvements they’d like to see at the station, which serves 200,000 daily riders.

"We know that Jamaica Station can be so much more than it is today, and by advancing this customer survey, we’ll have the insights of the riders who use it to help guide a long overdue redesign that transforms the customer experience and delivers Southeast Queens an integrated, best-in-class station for all who use it," Hochul said in a statement.

QR codes linking to the survey will be posted throughout Jamaica station, along with staffed tables with information about the project. A poster tells customers that the survey "will help us identify areas for improvement and inform future planning and upgrades."

Hochul’s office said the survey, which will be available through May 8, focuses on "ticketing, wayfinding, transfer experience between agencies, and concessions."

Survey questions ask customers how satisfied they are with a number of topics relating to their experiences at Jamaica, including waits for LIRR transfers, availability of food and drink options, cleanliness, ease of travel from one mode of transportation to another and "safety from crime or harassment."

Not included in the survey are any questions relating to customer comforts, including availability of seating and shelter from the elements. Several LIRR riders and advocates interviewed by Newsday in January said they hoped a redesign of the 113-year-old outdoor station would include more enclosed spaces.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates Jamaica, is "excited to get started" on the project, said MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, who believes gathering customer at the beginning of the effort is a "no-brainer."

"Their lived experience can tell us what works and what is needed for travel through Jamaica Station," Lieber said in a statement.

It’s been nearly a quarter-century since Jamaica station underwent meaningful upgrades as part of the opening of the adjacent AirTrain building in 2003. LIRR officials in recent years have sought to make some improvements, including with the recent elimination of an airport-style people mover that was rarely in service, and additional digital signage.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.