Ditmars Boulevard Astoria (on 31^st Street between Ditmars Boulevard and 23^rd Avenue) opened 7/19/1917 and has two tracks and an island platform. Patriotic art is found outside the system under the Hellgate Viaduct which passes over the station perpendicularly. Canopy covers much of the station, even under the Hellgate Viaduct. The canopy is wood with transite and has a wood mezzanine. The benches are enclosed on three sides with windscreen Light fixtures still have their diffuser covers. At first appearance it seems to be in great condition but closer observation revealed areas needing TLC. The unusual Mezzanine has twin fare controls with separate North and South sets of turnstiles .The line curves and is over 31^st street.

Astoria Boulevard/ Hoyt Avenue (on 31^st Street with exits to Hoyt Avenue North and South and Astoria Boulevard North and South. Hoyt Avenue is the side by the RFK (Robert F Kennedy) Triborough Bridge opened 7/19/1917 and has three tracks and two island platforms with wooden canopies with transite and wood mezzanines. The southbound platform bears the tertiary name of Columbus Square. The Northbound platform’s benches are surrounded by low windscreen on three sides. The southbound platform has an enclosed waiting area. This station affords a view of the Hellgate Bridge and viaduct to the north and Triborough Bridge to the west and Grand Central Parkway underneath. The bridge and Grand Central Parkway forced a change in the station. The overpass to the far north exit was an addition because of the bridge’s construction in 1936. The parkway forced relocation of the Hoyt Avenue/ Astoria Boulevard North exit stairways since the parkway was too wide for the original stairways. The southern stairways are original. The west exit to the Mezzanine and crossunder needs maintenance- metal patches were observed In the canopy over the stairs. The Mezzanine has an unusual configuration with separate entries with crossunders from both North and South stairs from the platforms.

30^th Avenue / Grand Avenue (on 31^st Street at 30^th Avenue) opened 7/19/1917 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with wooden canopies with transite and wood mezzanines. The south end of both platforms are narrowed due to windscreens being added. The exit is near the north end. There are dual fare control areas and at first appearance give the impression of no crossunder, but there is a crossunder behind the booth

Broadway (on 31^st Street at Broadway) opened 7/19/1917 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with wooden canopies with transite and wood mezzanines. There is no windscreen on the north bound platform however southbound does have windscreen. The Mezzanine is configured like 30^th avenue .Exit is north of center.

36^th Avenue Washington Avenue (on 31^st Street at 36^th Avenue) opened 7/19/1917 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with wooden canopies with transite and wood mezzanines. the south end has no windscreen on the northbound platform but the north end has windscreen as does the southbound platform Exit is near the south end and there is a crossunder.

39^th Avenue Beebe Avenue (on 31^st Street at 39^th Avenue) opened 7/19/1917 and has three tracks and two wall platforms with wooden canopies with transite and wood mezzanines. Windscreen is at both ends replacing the earlier low railings. The south end has a nice view of the Citigroup complex. There is a crossunder.

Queensboro Plaza (Bridge Plaza North and South between Crescent and 27^th Streets, near Queensboro Bridge entrance to lower level) IRT section opened 11/5/1916, BMT section opened 1917, north Platforms demolished in late 1949, Last renovated in 2003.

Before  the current renovation , the tiles showed evidence of a 1950’s or early 60’s retouch, along with 1950’s exit slam gates. Over the years since the 1949 downsizing, the station fell into disrepair, broken glass on the lower level platform, and leaking platform canopy on the upper level were prime examples. After the 2002 in house renovation, the glass was replaced, the mezzanine was redone, and even new canopies on both overpass exits (one on the north side, leading to couple of stores on the 2^nd floor of a private building, the south side was only stairs to street.) were finally installed to protect customers from the rain and other elements. There are 4 stairs from lower to upper level and 4 stairs from lower level to mezzanine. Access from mezzanine to either platform is only available from the 2 western stairs in front of the S/A booth. The 2 eastern stairs from lower level to mezzanine are exit and are only closest to the north bridge and arcade stores. The platforms are not aligned together; the Upper level is about 150 feet west of the lower level. Artwork: "Columns" by Sydney Cash (2000), uses silk-screened glass panels, instead of ordinary glass, installed on both sides of the lower level. Most people who look at the glass design may not really notice that it is artwork. Just inside fare control, are the newest next train indicators, one for the #7 and the other for the N/W lines. During rush hours when all 3 lines have frequent service, the buzzers are constantly going off without any chance of letting up

Lexington Avenue/59^th Street is discussed on the complexes page

5^th Avenue 59^th Street (5^th Ave at 60^th Street) Opened 8/1/1920:  In house renovation, 2 tracks, 2 side platforms, and 2 mezzanine areas.  The renovation not only finally gets rid of the 60’s refrigerator tile, but preserves the original station name tablets.  Most of the local stations along the Broadway line within the past 10 years, were renovated in this manner, and shows how a mix of nostalgia with contemporary design shows a true winner in station design.  Full time side at north end by 60^th Street has 3 street stairs, one carved into the outer perimeter of Central Park, other 2 staircases are across 5^th Ave.  Replicas of BMT directional mosaics “QUEENS TRAINS” and “BROOKLYN TRAINS” are found on full time side.  Part time side at Central Park South, just by Plaza Hotel, has ghost booth (closed in 2003), and 3 street stairs as well.  Each mezzanine has 1 stair to each platform.  Mosaics “5” “Fifth Ave” and the directional signs on each platform, are fully preserved with new tiles encircling around them.  Artwork:  “Urban Oasis” by Ann Schaumburger (1997), uses glass mosaic murals to depict a family of penguins, and reminds us of our childhood days when we visited the nearby Central Park Zoo. (I sure do remember being inside the mouth of a whale statue at the zoo years ago!)  

57^th Street 7^th Avenue Opened 7/10/1919:  Express stop, 4 tracks, 2 island platforms, 2 mezzanines (no full length mezzanine was ever constructed), it was renovated in-house in 1999.  This station sits outside Carnegie Hall, and has names of legendary artists and actors/actresses who performed in any capacity at the landmark building upstairs, one name and the year of appearance at Carnegie Hall, is shown on each tile.  Full time mezzanine is at 57^th Street, Part time mezzanine is at 55^th Street and is closed nightly and Sunday until 2 PM.  Each mezzanine has 4 street stairs.  The “57” mosaics on both track walls is preserved and not covered.  An active tower is at the south end of the southbound platform.  Artwork (Untitled) by Josh Scharf (1993) uses porcelain enamel to draw various artists who performed at Carnegie Hall. 

49^th Street (49^th Street and 7^th Ave) Opened 7/10/1919:  Of all the renovation jobs that were done in the past 35 years, this station is clearly the best.  Despite the appearance of red brick throughout all of the walls on both sides, the renovation took in the early 1970’s.  Local station, 4 tracks, 2 side platforms, and 2 fare control areas on each side.  Since all 4 fare controls are at platform level, there is no crossover allowed.  Full time booth is on the downtown side on 49^th Street (at the north end), and feature 2 street stairs for each side.  The North bound side is wheelchair accessible only, an elevator was constructed in conjunction with a new office tower at the Northeast corner of West 49^th Street and 7^th Ave, therefore the north staircase was reconstructed to conform to the building’s design.  Behind the elevator and rebuilt staircase is an out of system underground passageway to Rockefeller Center and the 47-50^th Street station of the IND B/D/F/Orange M, and former V Sixth Ave lines.  Of the 4 street entrances, only the S/W corner (to Brooklyn-bound platform) retains the 1970’s red brick appearance.  All of the other entrances, including the 47^th Street Part time exits, were reconstructed over the past 15 years.  Part time sides are at 47^th Street and 7^th Ave, 1 street stairs on N/B side and HEET only access on Sundays.  False brick tiles were added sometime after the renovation, these indicate a station facility inside.  The color of the added tiles is slightly different from the brick tile used in the original renovation.  S/B side at 47^th Street has 2 street stairs and HEET access on nights and weekends.  Other times not listed, both booths at the 47^th Street P/T side, are open.  The exit to Broadway and West 47^th Street, through a small passageway is an addition and not part of the original station, or the renovation.  

42^nd Street is discussed on the complexes page 

34^th Street Herald Square is discussed on the complexes page 

28^th Street (28^th Street and Broadway)  Opened 4/14/1918:  Local stop, 2 tracks on 2 side platforms, there may have been a crossunder at this station outside fare control, there is no evidence .  Renovated in 2001 by NYCT's in-house forces, the station restores the "28" mosaics and station name tablets to its original BRT splendor.  Each mezzanine at platform level has 2 street stairs, and false walls at both side at the north end of each platform show the platform extended about 10 feet.  In the next 4 stations from here to Prince Street, there is a mini-IND style tile band running at the bottom of the platform wall (instead on the top where most IND stations are like that.), the color for this band is brown with blue borders.