BMT Broadway Line
Encyclopedia
The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit
line of the B Division
of the New York City Subway
in Manhattan
, New York City
, United States
. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks. The line is often referred to as the " and ", since those were the only services on the line during the long years that the Manhattan Bridge south tracks were closed for rebuilding. The Broadway Line was built to give the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (later the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation) access to Midtown Manhattan
.
The line is named for its location under Broadway between Vesey Street and Seventh Avenue
(Times Square
). It also passes under Vesey Street, Whitehall Street, Trinity Place
, and Church Street
in Lower Manhattan
, and Seventh Avenue, 59th Street
, and 60th Street in Midtown. The local tracks stretch the entire length between the two East River
tunnels: the Montague Street Tunnel
to the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
in Brooklyn
and the 60th Street Tunnel
to the BMT Astoria Line
and 60th Street Tunnel Connection in Queens
. Center express tracks exist between Canal Street and 57th Street, turning off at Canal Street to feed the south tracks on the Manhattan Bridge, and continuing north and east under Central Park
as the BMT 63rd Street Line
(presently unused, but planned to connect with the Second Avenue Subway
). The Broadway Line was the only Manhattan outlet north of Delancey Street for the BMT's Brooklyn lines until 1967, when most BMT Brighton Line
and BMT West End Line
trains were moved to the IND Sixth Avenue Line
via the new Chrystie Street Connection
.
from Queens. It runs west as a two-track subway
line under 60th Street (east of Fifth Avenue) and 59th Street (west of Fifth Avenue), with stations at Lexington Avenue / 59th Street and Fifth Avenue / 59th Street. It then turns south to Seventh Avenue
into the local tracks at 57th Street – Seventh Avenue. This segment of the line carries the services from the BMT Astoria Line
and the service from the IND Queens Boulevard Line
.
At the 57th Street station, the line joins two express tracks that enter the station from the north via the BMT 63rd Street Line
. There is no scheduled BMT service on the 63rd Street Line at present. The BMT 63rd Street Line will carry the service across 63rd Street and up the proposed Second Avenue Line
. The express tracks at 57th Street are currently used as terminal tracks for the train on late nights and weekends.
The BMT Broadway Line proceeds as a four-track subway down Seventh Avenue to its intersection with Broadway
, and then continues down Broadway to a point north of Canal Street
, where the express tracks carrying the services descend and turn sharply east into the Canal Street (formerly Broadway) station of the BMT Broadway – Manhattan Bridge Line.
Immediately after Canal Street, the express tracks resume again (originally they had been intended to run through) and serve as storage and turning tracks, bypassing the Canal Street local station and ending in the disused lower level of City Hall
. The local tracks continue south as a two-track subway to Whitehall Street – South Ferry station. Whitehall Street – South Ferry is a three track, two-platform station, with the center track set up as a terminal track, formerly used as the south terminal for now defunct service. Now, the center track is currently only used during service disruptions. A pair of bellmouths exists here, allowing for a connection to a never-built East River tunnel south of the Montague Street Tunnel
. It has been proposed to use this as part of the Lower Manhattan – Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project, connecting to the Court Street station (New York Transit Museum
) in Brooklyn.
The BMT Broadway Line then curves east carrying the trains to a trailing junction with the BMT Nassau Street Line
( trains) and enters the Montague Street Tunnel
to Brooklyn
.
adopted plans for what was known as the Broadway–Lexington Avenue route on December 31, 1907. This route began at the Battery
and ran under Greenwich Street, Vesey Street, Broadway to Ninth Street, private property to Irving Place, and Irving Place and Lexington Avenue to the Harlem River
. After crossing under the Harlem River into the Bronx
, the route split at Park Avenue and 138th Street, with one branch continuing north to and along Jerome Avenue
to Woodlawn Cemetery
, and the other heading east and northeast along 138th Street, Southern Boulevard, and Westchester Avenue to Pelham Bay Park
. In early 1908, the Tri-borough plan was formed, combining this route, the under-construction Centre Street Loop Subway in Manhattan and Fourth Avenue Subway in Brooklyn
, a Canal Street Subway from the Fourth Avenue Subway via the Manhattan Bridge
to the Hudson River
, and several other lines in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company submitted a proposal to the Commission, dated March 2, 1911, to operate the Tri-borough system (but under Church Street
instead of Greenwich Street), as well as a branch along Broadway, Seventh Avenue
, and 59th Street
from Ninth Street north and east to the Queensboro Bridge
; the Canal Street Subway was to merge with the Broadway Line instead of continuing to the Hudson River. The city, the BRT, and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
(which operated the first subway and four elevated lines in Manhattan) came to an agreement, and sent a report to the Board of Estimate on June 5, 1911. The line along Broadway to 59th Street was assigned to the BRT, while the IRT obtained the Lexington Avenue line
, connecting with its existing route at Grand Central – 42nd Street. Construction began on Lexington Avenue on July 31, and on Broadway the next year. The Dual Contracts, two operating contracts between the city and the BMT and IRT, were adopted on March 4, 1913.
Because of the complicated history, the Broadway Line includes several remnants of earlier plans. The line was built as four tracks south to City Hall
, where the local tracks were to end at the upper level, and the express tracks were to use the lower level, curving through Vesey Street into Church Street. However, the final plan had the express tracks splitting at Canal Street
and passing under the northbound local track to the Manhattan Bridge
. The tunnel south of City Hall was rebuilt to bring the upper local tracks down to the lower level north of Vesey Street, and the lower level at City Hall was never used for passenger service.
Unused construction is also present near the west end of the Queensboro Bridge. The original plan there was to build two one-track tunnels under 59th and 60th Streets, rising onto the bridge to Queens
. However, plans were changed in 1915 to place both tracks under 60th Street and cross the East River
in the 60th Street Tunnel
, in part due to heavy vehicular traffic over the bridge. A piece of the 59th Street tunnel had already been built, concurrent with the construction of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line
, and became a walkway connecting the two side platform
s of the IRT's 59th Street station.
Another unused provision existed for many years north of 57th Street, where the two express tracks ended before being connected to the BMT 63rd Street Line
in 1989. Plans were made, but never carried through, to build a line northwest through Central Park
and under Eighth Avenue
through the Upper West Side to Inwood
, along the route later built as the IND Eighth Avenue Line
.
A short portion of the line, coming off the north side of the Manhattan Bridge through Canal Street to 14th Street – Union Square, opened on September 4, 1917. An extension north to Times Square – 42nd Street and south to Rector Street
was completed on January 5, 1918. Further portions were opened south to Whitehall Street – South Ferry on September 20, 1918, north to 57th Street on July 10, 1919, and east to Lexington Avenue / 59th Street on September 1, 1919. Both East River tunnels - the 60th Street Tunnel to Queensboro Plaza and the Montague Street Tunnel
to DeKalb Avenue - opened on August 1, 1920, completing the Broadway Line.
.
The current set of three services — trains — have used the line since July 22, 2001, when the south tracks on the Manhattan Bridge reopened, but until February 22, 2004, when the north tracks reopened, the was local and the now defunct was express.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line of the B Division
B Division (New York City Subway)
The B Division is a division of the New York City Subway, consisting of the lines operated with services designated by letters , in addition to the Franklin Avenue Shuttle and Rockaway Park Shuttle...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks. The line is often referred to as the " and ", since those were the only services on the line during the long years that the Manhattan Bridge south tracks were closed for rebuilding. The Broadway Line was built to give the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (later the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation) access to Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
.
The line is named for its location under Broadway between Vesey Street and Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
(Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
). It also passes under Vesey Street, Whitehall Street, Trinity Place
Trinity Place
Trinity Place is a north-south thoroughfare in Lower Manhattan in New York City. It passes the rear of Trinity Church, a historic gothic-style cathedral on Broadway at Wall Street...
, and Church Street
Church Street (Manhattan)
Church Street is a short but heavily travelled north/south street in Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs along the eastern edge of the site of the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Its southern end is at Trinity Place, of which it is a continuation...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, and Seventh Avenue, 59th Street
59th Street (Manhattan)
59th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan runs east-west, from York Avenue to the West Side Highway, with a discontinuity between Ninth Avenue/Columbus Avenue and Eighth Avenue/Central Park West for the Time Warner Center. Although it is bi-directional for most of its length, the...
, and 60th Street in Midtown. The local tracks stretch the entire length between the two East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
tunnels: the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
to the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and the 60th Street Tunnel
60th Street Tunnel
The 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction...
to the BMT Astoria Line
BMT Astoria Line
The Astoria Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. It runs from Ditmars Boulevard to 39th Avenue along 31st Street. It then serves Queensboro Plaza along 27th Street. It was built as part of the Dual Contracts and...
and 60th Street Tunnel Connection in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. Center express tracks exist between Canal Street and 57th Street, turning off at Canal Street to feed the south tracks on the Manhattan Bridge, and continuing north and east under Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
as the BMT 63rd Street Line
BMT 63rd Street Line
The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends...
(presently unused, but planned to connect with the Second Avenue Subway
Second Avenue Subway
The Second Avenue Subway is a planned rapid transit subway line, part of the New York City Subway system. Phase I, consisting of two miles of tunnel and three stations, is currently under construction underneath Second Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.A plan for more than 75 years, the Second...
). The Broadway Line was the only Manhattan outlet north of Delancey Street for the BMT's Brooklyn lines until 1967, when most BMT Brighton Line
BMT Brighton Line
The BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
and BMT West End Line
BMT West End Line
The BMT West End Line is a line of the New York City Subway, serving the Brooklyn, communities of Borough Park, New Utrecht, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Coney Island. The D train operates on the line at all times, providing service to Manhattan and the Bronx via the IND Sixth Avenue Line...
trains were moved to the IND Sixth Avenue Line
IND Sixth Avenue Line
The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
via the new Chrystie Street Connection
Chrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection is a major connecting line of the New York City Subway, and is one of the few connections between lines of the BMT and IND divisions...
.
Extent and service
The BMT Broadway Line begins at the 60th Street Tunnel60th Street Tunnel
The 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction...
from Queens. It runs west as a two-track subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line under 60th Street (east of Fifth Avenue) and 59th Street (west of Fifth Avenue), with stations at Lexington Avenue / 59th Street and Fifth Avenue / 59th Street. It then turns south to Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
into the local tracks at 57th Street – Seventh Avenue. This segment of the line carries the services from the BMT Astoria Line
BMT Astoria Line
The Astoria Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. It runs from Ditmars Boulevard to 39th Avenue along 31st Street. It then serves Queensboro Plaza along 27th Street. It was built as part of the Dual Contracts and...
and the service from the IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...
.
At the 57th Street station, the line joins two express tracks that enter the station from the north via the BMT 63rd Street Line
BMT 63rd Street Line
The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends...
. There is no scheduled BMT service on the 63rd Street Line at present. The BMT 63rd Street Line will carry the service across 63rd Street and up the proposed Second Avenue Line
Second Avenue Subway
The Second Avenue Subway is a planned rapid transit subway line, part of the New York City Subway system. Phase I, consisting of two miles of tunnel and three stations, is currently under construction underneath Second Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.A plan for more than 75 years, the Second...
. The express tracks at 57th Street are currently used as terminal tracks for the train on late nights and weekends.
The BMT Broadway Line proceeds as a four-track subway down Seventh Avenue to its intersection with Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
, and then continues down Broadway to a point north of Canal Street
Canal Street (Manhattan)
Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west to Brooklyn in the east . It forms the main spine of Chinatown, and separates it from Little Italy...
, where the express tracks carrying the services descend and turn sharply east into the Canal Street (formerly Broadway) station of the BMT Broadway – Manhattan Bridge Line.
Immediately after Canal Street, the express tracks resume again (originally they had been intended to run through) and serve as storage and turning tracks, bypassing the Canal Street local station and ending in the disused lower level of City Hall
City Hall (BMT Broadway Line)
City Hall is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights and by the N train during late night hours...
. The local tracks continue south as a two-track subway to Whitehall Street – South Ferry station. Whitehall Street – South Ferry is a three track, two-platform station, with the center track set up as a terminal track, formerly used as the south terminal for now defunct service. Now, the center track is currently only used during service disruptions. A pair of bellmouths exists here, allowing for a connection to a never-built East River tunnel south of the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
. It has been proposed to use this as part of the Lower Manhattan – Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project, connecting to the Court Street station (New York Transit Museum
New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum is a museum which displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, commuter rail, and bridge and tunnel systems; it is located in a decommissioned Court Street subway station in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City...
) in Brooklyn.
The BMT Broadway Line then curves east carrying the trains to a trailing junction with the BMT Nassau Street Line
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
( trains) and enters the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
to Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
History
The New York Public Service CommissionNew York Public Service Commission
The New York Public Service Commission is a government agency that regulates the various utilities of the state of New York. The commission also oversees the cable industry.The commission consists of up to five members, led by a commissioner...
adopted plans for what was known as the Broadway–Lexington Avenue route on December 31, 1907. This route began at the Battery
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
and ran under Greenwich Street, Vesey Street, Broadway to Ninth Street, private property to Irving Place, and Irving Place and Lexington Avenue to the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
. After crossing under the Harlem River into the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, the route split at Park Avenue and 138th Street, with one branch continuing north to and along Jerome Avenue
Jerome Avenue
Jerome Avenue is one of the longest thoroughfares in the New York City borough of the Bronx, New York, United States. The road is 5.6 miles long and stretches from Highbridge general area to Woodlawn. Both of these termini are with the Major Deegan Expressway which runs parallel to the west. Most...
to Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx
Woodlawn Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in New York City and is a designated National Historic Landmark.A rural cemetery located in the Bronx, it opened in 1863, in what was then southern Westchester County, in an area that was annexed to New York City in 1874.The cemetery covers more...
, and the other heading east and northeast along 138th Street, Southern Boulevard, and Westchester Avenue to Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park, located in the northeast corner of the New York City borough of The Bronx and extending partially into Westchester County, is at the largest public park in New York City. The section of the park within New York City's borders is more than three times the size of Manhattan's...
. In early 1908, the Tri-borough plan was formed, combining this route, the under-construction Centre Street Loop Subway in Manhattan and Fourth Avenue Subway in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, a Canal Street Subway from the Fourth Avenue Subway via the Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
to the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, and several other lines in Brooklyn.
Church Street (Manhattan)
Church Street is a short but heavily travelled north/south street in Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs along the eastern edge of the site of the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Its southern end is at Trinity Place, of which it is a continuation...
instead of Greenwich Street), as well as a branch along Broadway, Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
, and 59th Street
59th Street (Manhattan)
59th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan runs east-west, from York Avenue to the West Side Highway, with a discontinuity between Ninth Avenue/Columbus Avenue and Eighth Avenue/Central Park West for the Time Warner Center. Although it is bi-directional for most of its length, the...
from Ninth Street north and east to the Queensboro Bridge
Queensboro Bridge
The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge – because its Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets – or simply the Queensboro Bridge, is a cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City that was completed in 1909...
; the Canal Street Subway was to merge with the Broadway Line instead of continuing to the Hudson River. The city, the BRT, and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the private operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904, as well as earlier elevated railways and additional rapid transit lines in New York City. The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940...
(which operated the first subway and four elevated lines in Manhattan) came to an agreement, and sent a report to the Board of Estimate on June 5, 1911. The line along Broadway to 59th Street was assigned to the BRT, while the IRT obtained the Lexington Avenue line
IRT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York...
, connecting with its existing route at Grand Central – 42nd Street. Construction began on Lexington Avenue on July 31, and on Broadway the next year. The Dual Contracts, two operating contracts between the city and the BMT and IRT, were adopted on March 4, 1913.
Because of the complicated history, the Broadway Line includes several remnants of earlier plans. The line was built as four tracks south to City Hall
City Hall (BMT Broadway Line)
City Hall is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights and by the N train during late night hours...
, where the local tracks were to end at the upper level, and the express tracks were to use the lower level, curving through Vesey Street into Church Street. However, the final plan had the express tracks splitting at Canal Street
Canal Street (Manhattan)
Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west to Brooklyn in the east . It forms the main spine of Chinatown, and separates it from Little Italy...
and passing under the northbound local track to the Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
. The tunnel south of City Hall was rebuilt to bring the upper local tracks down to the lower level north of Vesey Street, and the lower level at City Hall was never used for passenger service.
Unused construction is also present near the west end of the Queensboro Bridge. The original plan there was to build two one-track tunnels under 59th and 60th Streets, rising onto the bridge to Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. However, plans were changed in 1915 to place both tracks under 60th Street and cross the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
in the 60th Street Tunnel
60th Street Tunnel
The 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction...
, in part due to heavy vehicular traffic over the bridge. A piece of the 59th Street tunnel had already been built, concurrent with the construction of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line
IRT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York...
, and became a walkway connecting the two side platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s of the IRT's 59th Street station.
Another unused provision existed for many years north of 57th Street, where the two express tracks ended before being connected to the BMT 63rd Street Line
BMT 63rd Street Line
The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends...
in 1989. Plans were made, but never carried through, to build a line northwest through Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
and under Eighth Avenue
Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)
Eighth Avenue is a north-south avenue on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, carrying northbound traffic. Eighth Avenue begins in the West Village neighborhood at Abingdon Square and runs north for 44 blocks through Chelsea, the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen's east end, Midtown and the...
through the Upper West Side to Inwood
Inwood, Manhattan
Inwood is the northernmost neighborhood on Manhattan Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan.-Geography:Inwood is physically bounded by the Harlem River to the north and east, and the Hudson River to the west. It extends southward to Fort Tryon Park and alternatively Dyckman Street or...
, along the route later built as the IND Eighth Avenue Line
IND Eighth Avenue Line
The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
.
A short portion of the line, coming off the north side of the Manhattan Bridge through Canal Street to 14th Street – Union Square, opened on September 4, 1917. An extension north to Times Square – 42nd Street and south to Rector Street
Rector Street (BMT Broadway Line)
Rector Street is a station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the corner of Rector Street and Trinity Place in Lower Manhattan, the station is served by the R train at all times except late nights and the N train late nights only.- Layout :Since the station is on a...
was completed on January 5, 1918. Further portions were opened south to Whitehall Street – South Ferry on September 20, 1918, north to 57th Street on July 10, 1919, and east to Lexington Avenue / 59th Street on September 1, 1919. Both East River tunnels - the 60th Street Tunnel to Queensboro Plaza and the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
to DeKalb Avenue - opened on August 1, 1920, completing the Broadway Line.
Service history
At most times, the Broadway Line has had four services — two local and two express — during the day, with a third express service until the 1967 opening of the Chrystie Street ConnectionChrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection is a major connecting line of the New York City Subway, and is one of the few connections between lines of the BMT and IND divisions...
.
- 1/ (BMT Brighton LineBMT Brighton LineThe BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
) local trains ran until 1967, when the was discontinued. At that time, the EE was introduced, becoming part of the in 1976; the N became express and the became local in 2004. - 1/ (BMT Brighton Line) express trains were mostly moved to the IND Sixth Avenue LineIND Sixth Avenue LineThe Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
as a relocated in 1967, but a few trips stayed as the , later the again. During the Manhattan BridgeManhattan BridgeThe Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
reconstruction, from the 1980s until 2001, the Q mostly used the IND Sixth Avenue Line. When restored in 2001, the became full-time, replacing the on the Brighton Line. - 2/ (BMT Fourth Avenue LineBMT Fourth Avenue LineThe Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
) trains (later ) have run local over the Broadway Line since 1920. - 3/ (BMT West End LineBMT West End LineThe BMT West End Line is a line of the New York City Subway, serving the Brooklyn, communities of Borough Park, New Utrecht, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Coney Island. The D train operates on the line at all times, providing service to Manhattan and the Bronx via the IND Sixth Avenue Line...
) trains ran express on the Broadway Line until 1967, when the T became part of the realigned via the IND Sixth Avenue Line. - 4/ (BMT Sea Beach LineBMT Sea Beach LineThe BMT Sea Beach Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, connecting the BMT Fourth Avenue Line subway at 59th Street via a four-track wide open cut to Coney Island in Brooklyn...
) trains used the express tracks until the Manhattan Bridge reconstruction in the 1980s, when all trips became local. (Some had run local since the EE was merged into the in 1976.) When the Manhattan Bridge south tracks reopened in 2001, the was introduced, at first running express; it became local in 2004, and the N moved back to the express tracks. - Several other services have used the express tracks, including the (Sea Beach, 1967-1968) and the (West End) and (Brighton) during closures of the Manhattan Bridge north tracks in the 1980s and 1990s.
- On June 28, 2010, the began running local north of Canal Street at all times and the train was extended to/from Astoria, QueensAstoria, QueensAstoria is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the borough of Queens in New York City. Located in Community Board 1, Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Sunnyside , and Woodside...
via the 60th Street Tunnel60th Street TunnelThe 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction...
in place of the service (which was discontinued after June 25, 2010 due to MTA budget problems) on weekdays, and began stopping on the local tracks starting at Times Square – 42nd Street.
The current set of three services — trains — have used the line since July 22, 2001, when the south tracks on the Manhattan Bridge reopened, but until February 22, 2004, when the north tracks reopened, the was local and the now defunct was express.
Station listing
| Station | Tracks | Services | Opened | Transfers and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| begins as a merge of the BMT Astoria Line BMT Astoria Line The Astoria Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. It runs from Ditmars Boulevard to 39th Avenue along 31st Street. It then serves Queensboro Plaza along 27th Street. It was built as part of the Dual Contracts and... and the 60th Street Tunnel Connection and passes through the 60th Street Tunnel 60th Street Tunnel The 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction... |
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| Lexington Avenue / 59th Street | local | September 1, 1919 | (IRT Lexington Avenue Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York... ) Roosevelt Island Tramway Roosevelt Island Tramway The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tramway in New York City that spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. Prior to the completion of the Mississippi Aerial River Transit in May 1984 and the Portland Aerial Tram in December 2006, it was the only commuter aerial tramway... |
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| Fifth Avenue / 59th Street | local | September 1, 1919 | |||
| express tracks begin from the BMT 63rd Street Line BMT 63rd Street Line The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends... |
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| 57th Street – Seventh Avenue | all | July 10, 1919 | Northern Terminal for service | ||
| * | 49th Street 49th Street (BMT Broadway Line) 49th Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at West 49th Street and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, it is served by the N train at all times, the R train at all times except late nights and the Q train on weekdays.- Layout :This local station... |
local | July 10, 1919 | ||
| Times Square – 42nd Street | all | January 5, 1918 | (IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line) (IRT Flushing Line IRT Flushing Line The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route... ) (IRT 42nd Street Shuttle) (IND Eighth Avenue Line IND Eighth Avenue Line The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway... at 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal) Port Authority Bus Terminal Port Authority Bus Terminal The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City... |
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| 34th Street – Herald Square | all | January 5, 1918 | (IND Sixth Avenue Line IND Sixth Avenue Line The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn... ) M34 / M34A Select Bus Service Connection to PATH Port Authority Trans-Hudson PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey... at 33rd Street |
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| 28th Street 28th Street (BMT Broadway Line) 28th Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway, located at 28th Street and Broadway in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. It is served by the N train at all times and the R train at all times except late nights.This underground station, opened on January 5,... |
local | January 5, 1918 | |||
| 23rd Street 23rd Street (BMT Broadway Line) 23rd Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 23rd Street, Broadway, and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, it is served by the N train at all times and the R train at all times except late nights.... |
local | January 5, 1918 | |||
| 14th Street – Union Square | all | September 4, 1917 | (IRT Lexington Avenue Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York... ) (BMT Canarsie Line BMT Canarsie Line The Canarsie Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn... ) |
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| Eighth Street – New York University | local | September 4, 1917 | |||
| Prince Street Prince Street (BMT Broadway Line) Prince Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the N train at all times and the R train at all times except late nights... |
local | September 4, 1917 | |||
| Canal Street | express (lower level) local (upper level) |
(express) (local) |
September 4, 1917 (express) January 5, 1918 (local) |
(IRT Lexington Avenue Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York... ) (BMT Nassau Street Line BMT Nassau Street Line The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage... ) Express station originally known as Broadway |
|
| express tracks continue into Brooklyn via Manhattan Bridge south tracks | |||||
| City Hall City Hall (BMT Broadway Line) City Hall is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights and by the N train during late night hours... |
local | January 5, 1918 | |||
| Cortlandt Street Cortlandt Street (BMT Broadway Line) Cortlandt Street is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway, located under Church Street, between Fulton and Cortlandt Streets in Lower Manhattan. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the N train replaces it.This underground station, opened... |
local | January 5, 1918 | Connection to PATH Port Authority Trans-Hudson PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey... at World Trade Center World Trade Center (PATH station) The World Trade Center PATH station originally opened on July 19, 1909 as the Hudson Terminal. When the Hudson Terminal was torn down to make way for the World Trade Center, a new station was built, which opened in 1971... |
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| Rector Street Rector Street (BMT Broadway Line) Rector Street is a station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the corner of Rector Street and Trinity Place in Lower Manhattan, the station is served by the R train at all times except late nights and the N train late nights only.- Layout :Since the station is on a... |
local | January 5, 1918 | |||
| Whitehall Street – South Ferry | all | September 20, 1918 | (IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line) M15 Select Bus Service Staten Island Ferry Staten Island Ferry The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.-Overview:... at South Ferry South Ferry (Manhattan) South Ferry is at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City and is the embarkation point for ferries to Staten Island and Governors Island.... |
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| merges with BMT Nassau Street Line BMT Nassau Street Line The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage... |
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| continues into Brooklyn via the Montague Street Tunnel Montague Street Tunnel The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began... and becomes the BMT Fourth Avenue Line BMT Fourth Avenue Line The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street... |
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- *49th Street is accessible northbound only