Between here and Crescent Street, the remains of a former connection to the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Avenue Branch one block to the south of the BMT Jamaica Line can be seen at Chestnut Street. In the 1890s, the railroad wanted access to Manhattan while the Brooklyn Rapid Transit company wanted access to The Rockaways. Due to the close proximity of the two lines, the companies cooperated on a connection beginning in 1898. The LIRR ran service to Broadway Ferry while BRT ran service to the Rockaways via Woodhaven Junction. When the Williamsburg Bridge opened, LIRR service was extended to Essex Street and later Chambers Street. This was the LIRR's first direct access to Manhattan.