Broadway–Lafayette Street/Bleecker Street station

G	Street level	Exits/entrances
B1	East mezzanine	Fare control, exits to east side of Lafayette Street
	Side platform
	Northbound local	← toward Pelham Bay Park or Parkchester (Astor Place) ← toward Woodlawn late nights (Astor Place)
	Northbound express	← do not stop here
	Southbound express	→ do not stop here →
	Southbound local	→ toward Brooklyn Bridge (Spring Street) → → toward New Lots Avenue late nights (Spring Street) →
	Side platform
	West mezzanine	Fare control, station agent, exits to Houston Street and west side of Lafayette Street
B2	Mezzanine	Transfer between platforms
B3	Northbound local	← toward 179th Street (West Fourth Street–Washington Square) ← weekdays toward 71st Avenue (West Fourth Street–Washington Square)
	Island platform
	Northbound express	← weekdays toward Bedford Park Boulevard or 145th Street (West Fourth Street–Washington Square) ← toward 205th Street (West Fourth Street–Washington Square)
	Southbound express	→ weekdays toward Brighton Beach (Grand Street) → → toward Coney Island via West End (Grand Street) →
	Island platform
	Southbound local	→ toward Coney Island via Culver (Second Avenue) → → weekdays toward Metropolitan Avenue (Essex Street) →

The new transfer

This station had a unique feature in the system in that a transfer to the IND platforms from the IRT station was only possible in the southbound direction until late September 2012.[4] A free transfer passageway from the downtown IRT platform to the IND platform opened on May 19, 1957 after the IRT station's platforms were lengthened by two cars to accommodate 10-car trains.[5][6] This "one-way" transfer existed for 55 years, as the connection from the IND platforms to the downtown IRT platform was purely coincidental, and was not originally intended when first built.[6] The construction of a connection from the northbound platform would have required more extensive construction, including knocking down support walls and digging a tunnel. The northbound platform was extended two car lengths to the north because it was easier to do and cost less.[7] As a result, a free transfer was not available to the northbound platform and access to it required a one-block walk north to Bleecker Street and payment of an additional fare except to Unlimited-Ride MetroCard holders.[8]

A transfer between the IND platforms and the uptown IRT platform had been planned since 1989, with its inclusion in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s Third Capital Program.[8] Construction on the transfer would have started in 1992 pending the approval of the program by the State Legislature. The MTA estimated that 15,000 daily passengers would use the free transfer.[7] However, it was not built until the MTA's 2005–2009 capital program allocated $50 million to renovate the complex, which included installation of ADA-accessible elevators and a free transfer to the uptown IRT platform. Prior to the reconstruction, the Broadway–Lafayette Street station connected only to the southbound platform of Bleecker Street at the extreme south end.[4] On March 26, 2012, the uptown platform was shifted 300 feet (91 m) south to the newly constructed extension and the 1950s northern extension closed at the same time. On the same day, the MTA had stated that the transfer project to the uptown Bleecker Street platform would be completed at the end of June.

The uptown transfer did not fully open until September 25, 2012. The overall cost of the rehabilitation project had climbed to US$135 million.[9] On the same day, an escalator connected the uptown platform of the Broadway-Lafayette Street station with a new transfer mezzanine that connected riders to the uptown platform of the Bleecker Street station. In addition, elevators were installed to connect the various platforms of the IND station, and those of Bleecker Street.[10][11][12] The transfer boasted new elevators and escalators to the IND station below. The street-level elevator accesses the southbound IRT platform directly, while four other elevators in the station connect each IND platform with each IRT platform.[13]

Bleecker Street  ​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Platform for the uptown local 6 train
Station statistics
Division	A (IRT)
Line	IRT Lexington Avenue Line
Services	4  (late nights) ​      6  (all times) <6>  (weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction)
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	4
Other information
Opened	October 27, 1904 (1904-10-27)[15]
Station code	408[1]
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Wireless service	[2]
Opposite-direction transfer available	Yes
Station succession
Next north	Astor Place: 4  ​6  <6>
Next north	23rd Street: 4  ​6  <6>
Next south	Spring Street: 4  ​6  <6>
Next south	Canal Street: 4  ​6  <6>
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Bleecker Street Subway Station (IRT)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark No. 1096
MPS	New York City Subway System MPS
NRHP reference No.	04001012[16]
NYCL No.	1096
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	September 17, 2004
Designated NYCL	November 24, 1981[17]

Track layout
to Astor Pl to Spring St

Bleecker Street on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line is a standard local station with four tracks and two side platforms.

This station was opened on October 27, 1904, as part of the original subway.[18][19] Fare control is currently at platform level, with a crossunder via the IND platforms. It has two side platforms which were originally 5-cars long. In the 1950s, the southbound platform was extended to the south and the northbound platform was extended to the north for ten car trains. After the 2012 renovation, the northbound platform was extended to the south, and the 1950s northern extension of that platform was closed (but can still be seen upon leaving the station on a train).[9]

The station features two styles of "Bleecker Street" station identifiers made by the Grueby Faience Company in 1904. The large "Bleecker Street" plaques were assembled from 27 pieces of faience ceramic. They depict poppies. The smaller blue "B" cartouches show tulips, probably a reminder of the Dutch origins of the city. Later Vickers' mosaic tablets were installed when the station was extended, and five different colors were used for the mosaics. These mosaics were removed in the 2012 renovation of the station, and replicas of the "B" cartouches were installed throughout the station.

A new MTA's Arts for Transit project was created in 2012, called Hive, by Leo Villareal. It is located at the newest section of the uptown platform in the mezzanine providing the transfer to the IND station.[20] This new art complements the first work—Signal by Mel Chin, which was added to the station complex in 1997.

Broadway–Lafayette Street  ​​​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Station statistics
Division	B (IND)
Line	IND Sixth Avenue Line
Services	B  (Weekday rush hours, middays and early evenings) ​      D  (all times) ​      F  (all times) <F>  (two rush hour trains, peak direction) ​      M  (Weekday rush hours, middays and early evenings)
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 island platforms cross-platform interchange
Tracks	4
Other information
Opened	January 1, 1936 (1936-01-01)
Station code	230[1]
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Wireless service	[2]
Opposite-direction transfer available	Yes
Station succession
Next west	West Fourth Street–Washington Square: B  ​D  ​F  <F> ​M
Next west	West Fourth Street–Washington Square: B  ​D  ​F  <F> ​M
Next east	Second Avenue (local): F  <F> ​ Grand Street (express): B  ​D  Essex Street (local via Chyrstie St.): M
Next east	Jay Street–MetroTech (local): F  <F> ​ DeKalb Avenue (express via Chrystie St.): B  ​D  Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (express via Chrystie St.): D  Marcy Avenue (local via Chrystie St.): M
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops all times except late nights Stops weekdays only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only (limited service)

Track layout
to W 4 St to Essex St to Grand St from Essex St to 2 Av

FASTRACK construction work at the station

Broadway–Lafayette Street on the IND Sixth Avenue Line is an express station, located on East Houston Street between Broadway and Lafayette Street in Manhattan. This section of the station complex, opened on January 1, 1936, has four tracks and two island platforms.[21] B and D trains stop on the inner express tracks while F and M trains stop on the outer local tracks.[21] Both outer track walls have a blue trim line on a black border and small "BROADWAY" signs beneath in white lettering on a black border. Large blue columns run along either side of both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black station name plate and white lettering.

The center of both platforms have three staircases that go up to a mezzanine, where wide staircases on either side go up to the station's three fare control areas. The full-time side is at the west end (railroad north). It has a turnstile bank, token booth, and two staircases going up to either eastern corners of Broadway and East Houston Street. The southeastern one is built inside an alcove of an Adidas Sport Performance Center.[22] The station's other fare control areas lead to exits on either side of East Houston Street. In one fare control area, a set of full height turnstiles lead to two separate entrances leading to East Houston Street between Lafayette and Crosby Streets, on the south side. In the other fare control area, another set of full height turnstiles leads to another entrance on Lafayette Street and Houston Street, on the north side. A passageway connects the Lafayette Street fare control areas with the fare control areas at the Broadway end of the station without going through the lower level mezzanine.

There are closed staircases from the extreme western ends of both platforms that lead to a mezzanine with exits to the west side of Broadway and Houston Street. It is currently used by employees.

The 1998 artwork here is called Signal by Mel Chin. It features stainless steel and glass sculptures with lights on the mezzanine walls and ceramic tiles on the platform walls.

West (railroad north) of this station, there are crossovers between the two northbound tracks and a single one between the express tracks. The line turns north along Sixth Avenue and goes through a complex set of switches and crossovers with the IND Eighth Avenue Line before arriving at West Fourth Street–Washington Square.

East (railroad south) of this station, there used to be a crossover between the two southbound tracks before they were reconfigured in 1967 by the Chrystie Street Connection. B and D trains turn south down Chrystie Street with a stop at Grand Street before crossing the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn. F trains continue directly east with a stop at Second Avenue, turn south on Essex Street with two more stops at Delancey Street and East Broadway, before passing under the East River through the Rutgers Street Tunnel into Brooklyn. M trains use a connection that leads to Essex Street on the BMT Nassau Street Line before crossing the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn.

External video

Bleecker St Station Expansion, Metropolitan Transportation Authority; February 5, 2010; 1:26 YouTube video clip (construction and rendering phase of the new transfer project between this station and the uptown Bleecker Street platform)

Broadway/Lafayette-Bleecker St Transfer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority; September 28, 2012; 4:04 YouTube video clip (completed project)

Media related to Bleecker Street / Broadway – Lafayette Street (New York City Subway) at Wikimedia Commons

• Forgotten NY – Original 28 - NYC's First 28 Subway Stations

nycsubway.org

Station Reporter

MTA's Arts For Transit

Google Maps Street View