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 East and West sets of turnstiles which seem redundant due to the island platform. The East fare control exits to the second floor of the Garry Building/ 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.

This station has a lot of history in it; it is a 100% pure dual contracts station as the only station in the entire NYC subway system to have both IRT #7 Flushing Line and BMT N and W trains operating on the same platforms. Because of the width of IRT cars being smaller than BMT/IND cars, the N and W trains are prohibited from switching over to the Flushing Line from Manhattan, even in emergency situations. The current layout is 2 tracks on each island platform, with 2 levels. The #7 line always uses the south tracks, while the N/W trains use the north tracks on both levels. The lower level is for Manhattan-bound trains, while the Upper level is for Flushing/Astoria (outbound) trains. Recently, the station was renovated by NYCT’s in-house Maintenance of Way forces, as opposed of having an outside contractor perform the job. This site endorses in-house jobs as a means of saving money, using skilled workers already employed by NYCT, and in most cases, the stations are completed on or ahead of the targeted completion date. When the station was fully completed in 1917, there were actually 8 tracks, and 4 island platforms. Standing on the upper level, closest to the Queensboro Bridge side, you can see the skeletal remains of the 2 north platforms that were side-by-side in the same layout as the current and surviving south platforms, it was abandoned in 1949 and all the BMT operations were shifted to the current south platform. The original layout was to use the south platform and 4 tracks for IRT and connections to the 2^nd Avenue el.. IRT trains ran via. either the Steinway Tube (today’s #7 line), or over the Queensboro Bridge, turn at 2^nd Ave/59^th St, where it connected with the southbound 2^nd Ave el. . Either track had double X crossovers so there was plenty of operational flexibility. At the far west end of the Upper Level, where the #7 curves into the station, you can see the skeletal girders sticking out and pointing to the Upper Level roadway of the bridge. The abandoned north platform was used for primarily BMT Broadway trains and 8 track configurations looked like this (upper level/lower level as it ran):

From north to south: BMT North Platform, Track #1: Astoria/60^th St tube BMT North Platform Track #2 Corona/60^th St tube. IRT south platform: Track #1 2^nd Ave el /Corona, Track #2 Steinway/Corona.

There were double crossovers to the east that allowed trains to use either Astoria or Corona line (the Main St extension was built later on.) Looking also to the east of the station, more skeletal remains of tracks than ran from Astoria to Corona directly, from Astoria, the tracks ran on the outer ends of the current Astoria line, depress significantly, and curve over to the Corona/Flushing line where it would elevate and join the current IRT line. You can see more of these abandoned tracks if you stand on street. Because of the platform layouts, there was most likely a mezzanine, twice the size as the current mezzanine. The 2^nd Ave el. was abandoned in 1942 and presented a problem at Queensboro Plaza, where can trains go now, since at least 2 tracks are no longer in use? It was later determined to combine the BMT and IRT tracks in one set of platforms. In 1949, the north platforms were abandoned and the mezzanine was cut in half and renovated.

Before I saw the current renovation taking place, the tiles show 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.  F/T 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 F/T side.  P/T 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.  F/T mezzanine is at 57^th Street, P/T 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.  F/T booths are on both sides on 49^th Street (at the north end), and feature 2 street stairs for each side.  The N/B side is wheelchair accessible only, an elevator was constructed in conjunction with a new office tower at the N/E 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 P/T exits, were reconstructed over the past 15 years.  P/T 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 more evidence now.  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. 

"Mark Hadjipateras .City Dwellers (for Costas and Maro), 2002. Glass mosaic on platform walls.The Toy Center and the Flatiron Building are located near the subway station at 28th Street and Broadway, as are the flower, fur, and garment districts. Each of these areas inspired artist Mark Hadjipateras, whose glass mosaics are rendered in a playful cartoon-like style. City Dwellers animates the walls of the station with a series of robot-like creatures. The figures are joyous and fanciful, but closer examination reveals universal symbols and forms that reflect the neighborhood and its history - technology, toys, and commerce. These inventions invite riders to guess at their meanings; while they may seem familiar, the artist holds the key. In his proposal, Hadjipateras cited some of his plentiful sources: plants and flowers, patterns based on national flags, Greek ethnic garb, a family, New York taxis, radio broadcast waves, etc. Filtered through the artist's sensibility, the result is a unique and compelling station environment."

23^rd Street (23^rd Street and Broadway/5^th Ave "Madison Square") opened 4/14/1918:    Local stop with 4 tracks and 2 side platforms.  Renovated and restored to the 1918 BRT splendor by NYCT in-house in 2001.  If you noticed why the platform level mezzanines are much larger than most stations, it's because when the station opened in 1918, it served Madison Square Garden II (named after the intersection), one block to the east, the fare control had to be large enough to accommodate crowds there.  (The first two MSG venues were located on Madison Ave near East 24th Street.).  There is a sealed crossunder inside fare control, it was closed for safety reasons.  There are 4 street stairs on the N/B side and 2 street stairs on the S/B side.  Each side also has HEET access to East 22^nd St and Broadway.  The historic Flatiron building, the city's first skyscraper building, is outside the S/B exits.  Tile band is beige, while the artwork features many hats from the 19^th  and 20^th centuries.  Neighborhood maps  show  this area as the  Ladies Mile where at one time large manufacturing bases of hat producing factories were concentrated in this area. 

14^th Street Union Square is discussed on the complexes page 

8^th Street (8^th street and Broadway) opened 4/14/1918:  Local stop, 4 tracks on 2 side platforms.  Platform level mezzanines are at 8th Street with 2 street stairs on N/B side and 4 street stairs on S/B side.  Additional HEET access and ghost booths at south end of this station.  Brown stripe on tile band and artwork features people (a man wearing an I Love NY t-shirt, for example) and places around Greenwich Village, East Village, NY University and Washington Square Park.  

".Timothy Snell. Broadway Diary, 2002. Glass mosaic on platform walls. Commenting on his work, artist Timothy Snell says, "The mosaic is composed of 40 'portholes' that depict scenes and historic sites of the neighborhood (Grace Church, Washington Arch, Cooper Union, Astor Place, the vista of Broadway). ... The loose gestural rendering and free use of color with simplified imagery injects a light moment in the hectic schedule of the commuter passing through the station. ... Spreading the elements around the station in an architectural format ... integrates the artwork with the space ... This provides moments of diversion at various locations for people waiting and small surprises for repeat travelers in transit through this station. The repeat of elements like the cyclist through a series of panels in a loose use of line and color was a device to add motion and allow more abstract considerations to enter into the work with the hook of recognizable subject matter." 

Prince Street  (Prince Street and Broadway) Opened 4/14/1918:  Local stop, 4 tracks and 2 side platforms.  There is only one fare control to each side and the tile band is green with blue borders.  Artwork: "Carrying On", by Janet Zweig (2004), uses water jet-cut steel, marble, and slate to create a mural along then entire length of both platforms, for a total of 1,200' in length.  The 194 different frames in this frieze detail, contain images of New Yorkers from all walks of life.  As the title suggests, almost all of the images involve "carrying something", a shopping cart, purse, bags, etc.  This is something to remind ourselves that even with the aftermath of 9/11, we always carry on with our lives and go about our business.   

Canal Street is discussed on the complexes page                                                                 

City Hall (Broadway at east side of City Hall Park, by Murray Street)  Opened 4/14/1918:  Noteworthy for being only one of 2 single island platform stations to have the fare control area on the same level as the platform, the other station is 110th Street/Central Park North on the IRT 2/3 lines.  You can double back in the opposite direction, as long at you go around the fare control area.  The BMT mosaic is (you guessed it), City Hall on the platform walls, along with platform extensions on the south end.  There is a ghost booth and sealed entrance on the south end, it led to the Woolworth building.  There are 3 street stairs, only one is open during late night hours.  Facing the S/B side are 2 staircases to the disused Lower level platform, which has 3 tracks and 2 island platforms.  The staircases only lead to the west platform (due south) and no staircases were ever built on the east platform, it was originally planned by the BRT as a terminal for express trains from Uptown here.  This area is only used for storing W and some R trains.  The lower level tunnel continues south of this station, no track here, to an unknown area.  Back on the active upper level, a master tower that controls train movements up and down the entire BMT Broadway line in Manhattan, is at the north end.   

Cortlandt Street (Cortlandt Street and Church Street) opened 4/14/1918:  2 tracks on 2 side platforms.  This station has connections to the PATH World Trade Center Station, and is a survivor of the 9/11 attack of the Twin Towers (which were directly upstairs from this station.)  It was renovated in 1998 by NYCT's in house forces and actually restores the original look of the station, including preservation of all directional name tablets on both sides.  The presence of the restored "To Hudson Tubes" and "to Downtown/Hudson Tubes", proves that NYCT is committed to preserve the original components of future station renovations whenever possible.  The Hudson Tubes was the predecessor to today's PATH system, and operated a terminal station underneath the Hudson Terminal building near the same location at the current WTC station. Current layout has 4 fare control areas, of which 2 are on each side.  The F/T areas are at Dey Street at the north end with an underpass outside fare control that also leads to a lower level with artwork.  The artwork is titled "Trade, Treasures and Travel (1997) by Marguie Hught, she uses ceramic to display several wall sized images,   The S/B area has direct indoor access to PATH World Trade Center, as well as the World Trade Center E station.  (An extra fare is required to use either service, use Times Square for transfers between the E and R/W trains instead.).  The S/B platform is also ADA accessible via. ramp from PATH WTC station and PATH elevator from street level, there is no disabled access to the N/B platform in any form.    The P/T areas are to the south end at Cortlandt Street, the N/B side has 1 street stair and exit to an adjacent office building, while the S/B side has only 1 street stair, ghost both (removed in 2003), and 24/7 HEET access.  The P/T booth on the N/B side is in danger of closing as well. 

As of this writing (01/30/2011) the downtown side of the station is again "temporarily" closed due to construction at the WTC site and due to work on the Fulton Street  Transit Center under construction at this time.

Rector Street (Rector Street and Trinity Place) opened 4/14/1918:  2 tracks on 2 side platforms, no crossunder or crossover here.  The station suffers from a lack of identity, as it is now the only BMT station in Manhattan to have the dreaded 60's refrigerator tile, it is blue.  All the other BMT local stations in Manhattan are either renovated or restored stations  F/T side on both sides at Rector Street, N/B side has 3 street stairs and S/B side has 4 street stairs.  The staircases themselves look skeletal, it appears that much of the Dual Contracts footprints were removed but never replaced, like the shell for instance.  Another exit only staircase is on the S/B side, about midway through this station.  On the N/N side, a newly constructed HEET only entrance/exit is at the far south end and leads to Morris and Greenwich Streets.  Standing on the S/B platform, to the left of fare control, you can see the remains on the original BMT mosaics and where the platform originally started, along with the original station name tablet exposed, this area is not part of the station that is publicly accessible. There is an original Rector Street at the far north end of the public space within the uptown platform along with an odd looking blue tile wall. The mosaic on both fare control areas is "R" for Rector St, and serves Trinity Church .The original Columbia University was founded in the same location as Trinity Church before the relocation uptown.

is discussed on the complexes page