It is lightly used compared to other stations in the city, with 2,408 daily riders in 2023;[3] many residents opt for the subway because of its more frequent service, cheaper fares, and direct express trains to Midtown Manhattan.

The LIRR had said that it anticipated a loss of annual revenue between $750,000 and $1 million with the opening of the extension of the Independent Subway System's Queens Boulevard Line to Jamaica.

[8] The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), in its 2010–2014 capital program, proposed lengthening the four-car-long platforms at Forest Hills and Kew Gardens to allow additional train cars to board at the station.

[9]: 58, 186 [a] On July 26, 2018, it was announced that the LIRR planned to extend the platforms at Kew Gardens and Forest Hills by 200 feet (61 m) to accommodate six-car trains.

[11][12] As part of improvements included in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2020–2024 capital plan, the station will undergo renovations to make it fully accessible.

[14]: 10  The MTA board awarded contracts for the accessibility upgrades in December 2023,[15][16] but work on the project was paused in mid-2024 due to the postponement of congestion pricing in New York City, which would have helped fund the renovations.