110th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) explained

110 Street
Address:East 110th Street & Lexington Avenue
New York, NY
Borough:Manhattan
Locale:East Harlem
Coordinates:40.7948°N -73.9444°W
Division:IRT
Line:IRT Lexington Avenue Line
Service:Lexington local
Service Header:Lexington local header
Connection: NYCT Bus:
Platforms:2 side platforms
Tracks:4
Structure:Underground
Accessible:future

The 110th Street station is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located in East Harlem at the intersection of 110th Street and Lexington Avenue, it is served by the train at all times, the <6> train during weekdays in the peak direction, and the train during late nights.

This station was constructed as part of the Dual Contracts by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and opened in 1918. It was renovated from 2002 to 2004, and further renovations are planned to add elevators, making the station compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

History

Construction and opening

Following the completion of the original subway, there were plans to construct a line along Manhattan's east side north of 42nd Street. The original plan for what became the extension north of 42nd Street was to continue it south through Irving Place and into what is now the BMT Broadway Line at Ninth Street and Broadway. In July 1911, the IRT had withdrawn from the talks, and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) was to operate on Lexington Avenue. The IRT submitted an offer for what became its portion of the Dual Contracts on February 27, 1912.[1] [2]

In 1913, as part of the Dual Contracts, which were signed on March 19, 1913,[3] the Public Service Commission planned to split the original Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) system from looking like a "Z" system (as seen on a map) to an H-shaped system. The original system would be split into three segments: two north–south lines, carrying through trains over the Lexington Avenue and Broadway–Seventh Avenue Lines, and a west–east shuttle under 42nd Street. This would form a roughly H-shaped system.[4] [5] It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of the Upper East Side and the Bronx.[6] [7]

The 110th Street station opened on July 17, 1918, with service initially running between Grand Central–42nd Street and 167th Street via the line's local tracks.[8] [9] On August 1, the "H system" was put into place, with through service beginning on the new east and west side trunk lines, and the institution of the 42nd Street Shuttle along the old connection between the sides.[10] [11] The cost of the extension from Grand Central was $58 million.[12]

Later years

The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.[13] [14]

On March 20, 1991, a woman was raped behind a pile of debris in the subway passageway connecting the 34th Street–Herald Square and 42nd Street–Bryant Park stations under Sixth Avenue during rush hour, which had entrances at 38th Street. This was the longest passageway in the system. That passageway was closed the day after[15] and recorded 30 felonies since January 1, 1990. In response, on March 28, 1991, the NYCTA ordered the closing of the 15 most dangerous passageways in the system within a week, which the Transit Police and citizen advocacy groups had called for since the previous year.[16] The locations were chosen based on crime volume, lighting, traffic and physical layout. These entrances were closed under the declaration of a public safety emergency, and were blocked off with plywood and fencing until public hearings were held and official permission was obtained.[17] One of the stations that had an entrance closed was 110th Street, which has the exit-only staircase at 111th Street from the northbound platform closed. 52 felonies had occurred at the station since January 1, 1990.[18] The entrance was permanently closed in 1992, following a public hearing.[19]

In June 2002, it was announced that 110th Street would be one of ten subway stations citywide to receive renovations. Work on these ten renovation projects was estimated to cost almost $146 million, and was scheduled to start later that year, and be completed in April 2004. The renovation projects made repairs to platforms, replaced or refurbished stairways, installed new lighting and tiles, and reconfigured fare control areas.[20]

In May 2018, New York City Transit Authority President Andy Byford announced his plan subway and bus modernization plan, known as Fast Forward, which included making an additional 50 stations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 during the 2020–2024 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Capital Program to allow most riders to have an accessible station every two or three stops.[21] [22] The draft 2020–2024 Capital Program released in September 2019 included 66 stations that would receive ADA improvements.[23] In December, the MTA announced that an additional twenty stations, including 110th Street, would be made ADA-accessible as part of the Capital Program.[24] [25] In May 2024, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the MTA $157 million for accessibility renovations at five stations, including 110th Street.[26] [27] [28] The funds would be used to add elevators, signs, and public-announcement systems, as well as repair platforms and stairs, at each station.[28] The accessibility project was to be funded by congestion pricing in New York City, but it was postponed in June 2024 after the implementation of congestion pricing was delayed.[29]

Station layout

This underground station has four tracks and two side platforms. The two center express tracks are used by the 4 and trains during daytime hours. The 6 stops here at all times, and the 4 stops here during late nights. The station is between to the north and to the south.

Both platforms have their original trim line, which has "110" tablets on it at regular intervals, and name tablets, which read "110TH STREET" in serif font.

The artwork at this station is a mosaic entitled Un Sábado en la Ciento Diez (A Saturday on 110th), by Manuel Vega in 1996.[30]

Exits

Each platform has one same-level fare control area at the center. Each one has a turnstile bank, token booth, and two street stairs. The ones on the southbound platform go up to either western corners of Lexington Avenue and 110th Street, while the ones on the northbound platform go up to either eastern corners. There are no crossovers or crossunders to allow a free transfer between directions.[31] Both platforms used to have second exits at their northern ends to 111th Street.[32] [33] [34] The entrance on the northbound platform to the southeastern corner of 111th Street and Lexington Avenue was closed due to safety reasons in 1992[19] and was subsequently slabbed over. The only evidence of this exit is a steel door in the wall.[35] The entrance on the northbound platform closed some time before 1992.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Walker. James Blaine. Fifty Years of Rapid Transit — 1864 to 1917. 1918. Law Printing. New York, N.Y.. 230–233. November 6, 2016.
  2. News: Petition for Subway in Lexington Ave.. May 22, 1912. 0362-4331. The New York Times. February 16, 2009. A petition is being circulated among the residents and property owners of the section just south of the Grand Central Station, in Park and Lexington Avenues, protesting against the proposed abandonment of the construction of the Subway in Lexington Avenue, between Forty-third and Thirty-second Streets.. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021130/https://www.nytimes.com/1912/05/22/archives/petition-for-subway-in-lexington-ave-district-residents-object-to.html. live.
  3. News: Subway Contracts Solemnly Signed; Cheers at the Ceremonial Function When McCall Gets Willcox to Attest.. March 20, 1913. The New York Times. January 11, 2018. en-US. 0362-4331. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021115/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/20/100611839.pdf. live.
  4. News: March 19, 1913. Money Set Aside For New Subways; Board of Estimate Approves City Contracts to be Signed To-day with Interboro and B.R.T.. en-US. The New York Times. November 10, 2017. 0362-4331. July 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210707225820/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/19/104910612.pdf. live.
  5. Book: Engineering News-record. 1916. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. 846. en. December 28, 2020. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021116/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Engineering_News_record/mONHAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=5%2C900+feet+long+clark+street+tunnel&pg=PA846&printsec=frontcover. live.
  6. News: The Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subways Will Revive Dormant Sections — Change in Operation That Will Transform Original Four-Tracked Subway Into Two Four-Tracked Systems and Double Present Capacity of the Interborough. Whitney. Travis H.. March 10, 1918. The New York Times. August 26, 2016. 12. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021133/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/03/10/archives/the-seventh-and-lexington-avenue-subways-will-revive-dormant.html?searchResultPosition=1. live.
  7. News: Public Service Commission Fixes July 15 For Opening of The New Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subway Lines — Will Afford Better Service and Less Crowding — Shuttle Service for Forty-Second Street — How the Various Lines of the Dual System Are Grouped for Operation and List of Stations on All Lines. May 19, 1918. The New York Times. November 6, 2016. 32. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021117/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/05/19/archives/article-1-no-title-east-tank-line-west-trunk-line-park-place.html?searchResultPosition=1. live.
  8. News: Lexington Av. Line to be Opened Today. July 17, 1918. The New York Times. April 21, 2020. en-US. 0362-4331. 13. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214183011/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/07/17/102723156.pdf. live.
  9. News: 1918-07-17. Lexington Subway to Operate To-day. 8. New York Herald. 2023-05-30.
  10. News: August 2, 1918. Open New Subway Lines to Traffic; Called a Triumph — Great H System Put in Operation Marks an Era in Railroad Construction — No Hitch in the Plans — But Public Gropes Blindly to Find the Way in Maze of New Stations — Thousands Go Astray — Leaders in City's Life Hail Accomplishment of Great Task at Meeting at the Astor. 1. The New York Times. November 6, 2016. January 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210106233417/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html?searchResultPosition=1. live.
  11. News: 1918-08-02. New "H" System Brings Worst Subway Jam. 1, 6. New-York Tribune. 2023-05-30.
  12. News: July 11, 1918. Finish a New Link of the Dual Subway; Lexington Avenue Line North of Forty-second Street to Begin Local Service Wednesday. Branch Extends to Bronx Through service, with Times SquareGrand Central Shuttle Connections, to Open Soon. Changes in the Bronx.. 20. The New York Times. January 8, 2017. 0362-4331. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021118/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/07/11/archives/finish-a-new-link-of-the-dual-subway-lexington-avenue-line-north-of.html?searchResultPosition=1. live.
  13. News: 1940-06-13 . City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-14 . 0362-4331 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107193115/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html . live .
  14. News: June 13, 1940 . 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 . 25 . New York Herald Tribune . .
  15. News: Subway rape. Diamond. Randy. March 22, 1991. New York Daily News. February 24, 2019. 12. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207141245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28821041/daily_news/. live.
  16. News: Subway Path Boarded Shut After a Rape. Wolff. Craig. March 23, 1991. The New York Times. February 1, 2018. en-US. 0362-4331. August 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170820120737/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/23/nyregion/subway-path-boarded-shut-after-a-rape.html. live.
  17. News: Tunnel vision. March 30, 1991. New York Daily News. February 24, 2019. 19. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207141245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28821203/daily_news/. live.
  18. News: 15 dangerous corridors to be closed. Chang. Dean. March 29, 1991. New York Daily News. February 24, 2019. 7. February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207141245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28821130/daily_news/. live.
  19. Book: January 1992 Transit Authority Committee Agenda . January 17, 1992 . New York City Transit Authority . E.19, E.35 . December 28, 2020 . May 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220504022122/https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yVsipSjzkOzN7ul231M6XRU7LELXpzJ8 . live .
  20. News: Renovation Is Set For 10 Subway Stations. Pete. Donohue. June 11, 2002. New York Daily News. January 8, 2018. en. January 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064005/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/renovation-set-10-subway-stations-article-1.485558. live.
  21. News: A Sweeping Plan to Fix the Subways Comes With a $19 Billion Price Tag. May 22, 2018. The New York Times. May 23, 2018. en-US. 0362-4331. January 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110100344/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/nyregion/nyc-subway-byford-proposal.html. live.
  22. Web site: Transform the Subway. Fast Forward. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 23, 2018. 41. May 23, 2018. January 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110100352/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5afef986c3c16a2dc6705929/t/5b056a55aa4a99ccc11291bc/1527081560241/Fast+Forward+The+Plan+to+Modernize+NYCT.pdf. live.
  23. News: MTA announces $51 billion plan to save the subway, treat NYC's transit sickness. Guse. Clayton. September 16, 2019. New York Daily News. September 16, 2019. January 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110100357/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-capital-plan-five-year-51-billion-20190916-vv4redne5nfkvjrjtfwxuuckqi-story.html. live.
  24. MTA Announces 20 Additional Subway Stations to Receive Accessibility Improvements Under Proposed 2020-2024 Capital Plan. December 19, 2019. MTA. December 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322233116/http://www.mta.info/press-release/mta-headquarters/mta-announces-20-additional-subway-stations-receive-accessibility. March 22, 2020. live.
  25. News: MTA unveils nearly full list of subway stations to receive elevators . Vincent . Barone . amNewYork . December 19, 2019 . December 20, 2019 . January 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110100427/https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-unveils-nearly-full-list-of-subway-stations-to-receive-elevators/ . live .
  26. Web site: All Stations Accessibility Program FY24 Projects . May 28, 2024 . Federal Transit Administration.
  27. Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Modernize Transit Stations, Improve Accessibility Across the Country . May 28, 2024 . Federal Transit Administration.
  28. Web site: Gonella . Catalina . NYC subway stops and East Orange NJ Transit station are getting accessibility upgrades . Gothamist . May 28, 2024 . May 30, 2024.
  29. News: Collins. Keith. 2024-07-11. See How Your Subway Service May Suffer Without Congestion Pricing. 2024-07-12. The New York Times. en-US. 0362-4331.
  30. Web site: 110th Street - Manuel Vega - Sábado en la Ciento Diez (Saturday on 110th Street), 1996. mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171123180848/http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=6&artist=1&station=13. November 23, 2017. April 3, 2020.
  31. Web site: 110th Street Neighborhood Map. April 2018. mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 28, 2020. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504022123/https://new.mta.info/document/21166. live.
  32. Book: Final Report of the Joint Legislative Committee Appointed to Investigate the Public Service Commissions Vol. 1. New York State Legislature. 1915. 612. December 28, 2020. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504022122/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Documents_of_the_Senate_of_the_State_of/rZUlAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0. live.
  33. Web site: 1940s NYC Street photos of every building in New York City in 1939/1940. 2020-08-28. 1940s.nyc. May 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220504022125/https://1940s.nyc/map/photo/nynyma_rec0040_1_01637_0052a#16.32/40.794498/-73.944217. live.
  34. Web site: Image. 2020-06-03. nycma.lunaimaging.com. June 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200603222808/http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/NYCMA~5~5~186047~540503. live.
  35. Reopening Closed Subway Entrances Using High Entry/Exit Turnstiles - Suggestions from the New York City Transit Riders Council. November 2001. New York City Transit Riders Council. April 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222153323/http://www.pcac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2001-Reopening-Closed-Entrances.pdf. December 22, 2015.