Astoria Boulevard station

The Astoria Boulevard station (also known as Astoria Boulevard–Hoyt Avenue station) is an express station on the BMT Astoria Line of the New York City Subway. Located on 31st Street between Astoria Boulevard and the Grand Central Parkway (Interstate 278) in Astoria, Queens, the station is served by the N train at all times, as well as by the W train on weekdays.

Astoria Blvd  ​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Southbound R160 W train across the platform, post-renovation
Station statistics
Address	Astoria Boulevard & 31st Street Astoria, New York
Borough	Queens
Locale	Astoria
Coordinates	40.769979°N 73.918161°W / 40.769979; -73.918161
Division	B (BMT)[1]
Line	BMT Astoria Line
Services	N  (all times) ​   W  (weekdays)
Transit	New York City Bus: M60 SBS to LaGuardia Airport MTA Bus: Q19 Columbia Transportation: Queens-Riverdale Commuter Route
Structure	Elevated
Platforms	2 island platforms cross-platform interchange
Tracks	3 (2 in regular service)
Other information
Opened	February 1, 1917; 107 years ago (1917-02-01)[2]
Closed	March 17, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-17) (reconstruction)
Rebuilt	December 18, 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-18)
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Former/other names	Astoria Boulevard–Hoyt Avenue
Traffic
2023	2,350,512[3]  7.7%
Rank	142 out of 423[3]
Services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station 30th Avenue N  ​W  via 34th Street–Herald Square Local Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard N  ​W  Terminus
Non-revenue services and lines Preceding station New York City Subway Following station Queensboro Plaza express no service
Location Show map of New York City Subway Show map of New York City Show map of New York
Track layout Legend to Astoria–Ditmars Blvd to 30th Avenue to Queensboro Plaza
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops weekdays during the day

This station opened in 1917 along with the rest of the Astoria Line as part of the Dual Contracts between New York City and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT).

History

Staircase shelter on southbound platform before 2019 renovation

View of station from Triborough Bridge before renovation.

Early history

This station, originally known as Hoyt Avenue, opened on February 1, 1917, along with the rest of the Astoria Line, which was originally part of the IRT, as a spur off the IRT Queensboro Line, now the IRT Flushing Line. Trains ran between Grand Central and Astoria.^[2][4] On July 23, 1917, the Queensboro Bridge spur of the elevated IRT Second Avenue Line opened. At that time, all elevated trains to Queensboro Plaza used the Astoria Line while all subway trains used the Corona Line, though this was later changed with trains alternating between branches.^[4][5] This station started to be served by BMT shuttles using elevated cars on April 8, 1923.^[6]

In December 1923, the Queens Chamber of Commerce petitioned the New York State Transit Commission to add the name "Astoria Avenue" to station signage. The petition was approved by the Chief of the Transit Bureau.^[7] Later, enclosed waiting rooms were added to the platforms of this station and the Ditmars Boulevard station. They opened on January 17, 1925.^[8]

In 1931, preparation began for the construction of the Grand Central Parkway and the approaches to the Triborough Bridge. The station's original sidewalk entrances were located on the northern corners of the intersection of Hoyt Avenue and 31st Street.^[9] However since these stairs fell within the condemned area in the way of the future road underpass, they were removed and replaced with stairs on the southern corners.^[10] To compensate for this change, unpaid pedestrian overpasses were constructed connecting the station's mezzanine, the relocated stairs, and new stairs to the street under the north side of the station.^[11]

The city government took over the BMT's operations on June 1, 1940,^[12][13] and the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.^[14][15] On October 17, 1949, the Astoria Line became BMT-only as the tracks at Queensboro Plaza were consolidated and the platforms on the Astoria Line were shaved back to allow through BMT trains to operate on it. Service was initially provided by the Brighton Local (BMT 1) weekdays and the Broadway - Fourth Avenue Local (BMT 2) at all times.^[16]

The platforms at this station, along with six others on the Astoria Line, were lengthened to 610 feet (190 m) to accommodate ten-car trains in 1950.^[17]: 23 The project cost $863,000 (equivalent to $10,928,946 in 2023). Signals on the line had to be modified to take into account the platform extensions.^{[18]: 633, 729}

Notable incidents

The Astoria Boulevard station's mezzanine sits above an access point to a major truck route, Interstate 278. Accordingly, there have been incidents involving vehicles striking the structure. On the evening of March 27, 1991, a truck struck the bottom of the station and severely damaged a transverse girder, part of which supported the center express track. The affected track was taken out of service for two days until repairs were made to the structure.^[19]

Several years later, on the morning of May 1, 1998, a backhoe working underneath the station (not performing New York City Transit-related work) struck the mezzanine, ripping out three support beams while damaging four more and creating a large hole in the floor. There were no injuries, but trains bypassed the station at restricted speed. Cleanup work began immediately and by noon, the slow speed restriction was removed. By 3:00 p.m., a temporary wooden floor was installed. Less than eight hours from the time of the first response, the station was back in full service. Permanent repairs were made overnight.^[20]

Reconstruction and accessibility improvements

As part of the 2015–2019 MTA Capital Program, the station received funding for reconstruction to make it compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.^[21][22][23] A contract for the reconstruction was awarded in June 2018, and substantial completion was projected for November 2020.^[24] In September 2018, work began adding four elevators; two connect the street and mezzanine, and two more connect the mezzanine with the platforms. In order to construct the street elevators, the station mezzanine was demolished and rebuilt. The new mezzanine was raised to reduce strikes by trucks driving underneath.^[25] The station was fully closed for nine months on March 17, 2019 to allow the mezzanine to be replaced^[26][27] and was reopened on December 18, 2019, while elevator construction and installation was still underway.^[28][29] On July 24, 2020, the elevators were placed into operation, making the station ADA accessible.^[30]

In January 2023, it was announced that to further improve accessibility, wide-aisle fare gates will be installed at this station and at four others across the city.^[31]: 54 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to work with Cubic to design a gate that will accommodate both the MetroCard and OMNY payment systems, and allow easier station access for passengers with large items such as strollers, mobility devices, and luggage.^[32]

Station layout

P Platforms	Southbound local	← toward Coney Island (30th Avenue) ← toward Whitehall Street–South Ferry (weekdays) (30th Avenue)
	Island platform, doors will open on the left
	Peak-direction express	← No regular service (No service: Queensboro Plaza southbound or Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard northbound)
	Island platform, doors will open on the left
	Northbound local	→ ( weekdays) toward Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard (Terminus) →
M	Mezzanine	to entrances/exits, station agent, MetroCard vending machines Elevators at southeast corner of Hoyt Avenue South and 31st Street, and northwest corner of Hoyt Avenue North and 31st Street
G	Street Level	Entrances/Exits

Newly commissioned artwork from MTA Arts & Design by MacArthur Fellow Jeffrey Gibson. The glass artwork is called I Am A Rainbow Too.

The elevated station has three tracks and two island platforms. The center track is not used in revenue service, but it had been used regularly as recently as 2002.^[33]

The station has wooden canopies with transite and wooden mezzanines. The northbound platform's benches are surrounded by low windscreen on three sides. The southbound platform bears the tertiary name of Columbus Square, for a small park containing a statue of Columbus by Angelo Racioppi immediately east of the southeastern stair of the station. It also has an enclosed waiting area.

As part of the MTA Arts & Design program, Jeffrey Gibson created an artwork for the station, titled I Am A Rainbow Too (stylized in all-capital letters), which was installed in 2020.^[34] The work includes over 100 laminated glass panels,^[35] The artwork includes depictions of the moon, sun, and stars, which are decorated in the colors of a rainbow.^[34]

Exits

There are four exits to the station: two to either northern corner of Hoyt Avenue North and 31st Street (via overpass), and two to either southern corner of Hoyt Avenue South and 31st Street.^[36] The stair to the northwest corner of Hoyt Avenue North and 31st Street was demolished and reconstructed to run parallel to Hoyt Avenue instead of 31st Street; the stair's original orientation was replaced with an elevator.^[37]

From the station's platforms, the Hell Gate Bridge and Hell Gate Line viaduct to the north, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to the west, and the Grand Central Parkway/Interstate 278 and Hoyt Avenue underneath are visible. The mezzanine has separate turnstile banks from each side with crossunders from the platform stairs.

References

1. "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
2. "First Train Runs On Elevated Line to Astoria Section". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. February 1, 1917. Retrieved June 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
4. Annual report. 1916-1917. New York: Interborough Rapid Transit Company. 1917.
5. "Subway Link Over Queensboro Bridge". The New York Times. July 22, 1917. p. 31. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
6. "Additional Subway Service to Borough of Queens". The New York Times. April 8, 1923. p. RE1. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
7. New York State Transit Commission (1923). Proceedings of the Transit Commission, State of New York - Volume 3. p. 1348.
8. New York Board of Transportation (1925). Proceedings - Volume 2. p. 98.
9. "Tri Boro Bridge building for condemnation Astoria Long Island lot 2nd Avenue and Hoyt Avenue 2929". NYC Department of Records & Information Services. June 11, 1931. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
10. "Astoria Boulevard at 33rd Street". NYC Department of Records & Information Services. March 9, 1942. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
11. New York State Transit Commission (1937). Annual Report. p. 61.
12. "B.M.T. Lines Pass to City Ownership; $175,000,000 Deal Completed at City Hall Ceremony-- Mayor 'Motorman No. 1'". The New York Times. June 2, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
13. "City Takes Over B. M. T. System; Mayor Skippers Midnight Train". New York Herald Tribune. June 2, 1940. p. 1. ProQuest 1243059209.
14. "City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign". The New York Times. June 13, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
15. "Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration". New York Herald Tribune. June 13, 1940. p. 25. ProQuest 1248134780.
16. "Direct Subway Runs to Flushing, Astoria". The New York Times. October 15, 1949. p. 17. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
17. Association, General Contractors (1950). Bulletin.
18. Transportation, New York (N Y. ) Board of (1950). Proceedings ...
19. Henry, Russell; Gilmore, John; Transit Cooperative Research Program (1997). Inspection Policy and Procedures for Rail Transit Tunnels and Underground Structures. National Academy Press. p. 90. ISBN 9780309060172.
20. Mbugua, Martin; Rutenberg, James (May 2, 1998). "Backhoe Cripples El". Daily News. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
21. "MTA Capital Program 2015-2019: Renew. Enhance. Expand" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 28, 2015. p. 61. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
22. "Funding For Subway Station ADA-Accessibility Approved". www.mta.info. April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
23. "MTA 2017 Preliminary Budget July Financial Plan 2017 –2020 Volume 2" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
24. "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting November 2018" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 13, 2018. p. 90. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
25. Griffin, Allie (December 19, 2019). "Astoria Boulevard Station Reopens Amid Continuing Work". Astoria Post. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
26. "MTA New York City Transit to Bring Elevators to Astoria Blvd Station". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
27. mtainfo, Rebuilding The Astoria Line, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved January 30, 2019
28. "Astoria Boulevard subway station in Queens reopens after 9-month renovation". ABC7 New York. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
29. Kaufman, Maya (December 19, 2019). "Astoria Boulevard N/W Subway Station Reopens". Astoria-Long Island City, NY Patch. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
30. Griffin, Allie (July 24, 2020). "New Elevators at the Astoria Boulevard Station Open". Astoria Post. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
31. "Extending Transit's Reach: MTA's Strategic Action Plan to Promote Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Access to MTA Facilities". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
32. "Accessible Wide Fare Gates". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
33. Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
34. "I AM A RAINBOW TOO". MTA. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
35. Byrnes, Mark (May 3, 2024). "Going Deep on the Modern Art of the New York City Subway". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
36. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Astoria" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
37. "Astoria Blvd Station Stair Closure for ADA Elevator – OANA". OANA - Old Astoria Neighborhood Association. November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.

External links

• nycsubway.org – BMT Astoria Line: Astoria Boulevard/Hoyt Avenue
• Station Reporter — N Train
• Astoria Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Hoyt Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Platforms from Google Maps Street View