The rebuilt complex was completed on December 17, 2003, providing a rail link from the Howard Beach station to JFK Airport.

[2] On May 8, 1950, a fire broke out between The Raunt and Broad Channel stations, destroying the trestle over Jamaica Bay, cutting service between Hamilton Beach and the Rockaways.

[6][7][11][12] In June 1978, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced plans for an "experimental" subway-bus service between Manhattan and JFK Airport, terminating at the Howard Beach subway station where passengers could transfer to a free shuttle bus to the airport.

The service ran express on the IND Sixth Avenue Line to West Fourth Street–Washington Square, where it switched to the IND Eighth Avenue Line and ran express to Jay Street–Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn.

However, the premium service lost its allure as the rest of the subway system was improved, with reduced crime and new graffiti-free trains.

The project was designed by STV Group and financed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

[31] The subway station is served by the A train at all times[32] and is between Broad Channel to the south and Aqueduct–North Conduit Avenue to the north.

[36] The station's mezzanine is located in a modern, temperature-controlled, glass-enclosed building above the subway platforms and tracks,[20][22] measuring 90 feet (27 m) across,[15] with a large stainless steel sign on either side reading "Howard Beach JFK.

"[37] The mezzanine building contains a small token booth and three turnstile banks between the subway, the AirTrain JFK, and the unpaid area.

[38]: 54  The two-track line then crosses Jamaica Bay to Broad Channel, which is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the south.

[39][40] North of the station, the line ascends on an embankment to crossover Belt Parkway and Conduit Avenue.

Both platforms have concrete windscreens on either end and steel canopies at the portions underneath the center station building.

Outside the subway's and AirTrain's fare control, two elevators lead from the station building to street level.

[45] The Brooklyn-bound platform has a set of emergency doors leading to the parking lot just north of the AirTrain JFK station; they are normally locked, but were in use from December 2012 to May 2013 as a connection to a temporary shuttle bus service instituted after Hurricane Sandy.

The exit on the northbound platform is exit-only, and two emergency gates lead to the parking lot for the Howard Beach–JFK Airport complex.