23rd Street station (IND Sixth Avenue Line)
The 23rd Street station is a local station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Manhattan. It is served by the F train at all times, the M train during weekdays, and by the <F> train during rush hours in the peak direction. This station and 14th Street are the only two local stations on the Sixth Avenue Line.
23 Street | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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New York City Subway station (rapid transit) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Station statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Address | West 23rd Street & Sixth Avenue New York, NY 10011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borough | Manhattan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Chelsea, Flatiron District | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 40.742933°N 73.992877°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Division | B (IND)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line | IND Sixth Avenue Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services | F (all times) <F> (two rush hour trains, peak direction) M (weekdays until 9:00 p.m.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transit | NYCT Bus: M7, M23 SBS, M55 PATH: JSQ–33, HOB–33, JSQ–33 (via HOB) (at 23rd Street) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Structure | Underground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 2 side platforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | December 15, 1940[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closed | July 23, 2018 (reconstruction) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rebuilt | November 29, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opposite- direction transfer | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 8,619,473[3] 69% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | 36 out of 424[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 23rd Street station of the IND Sixth Avenue Line shares entrances with the 23rd Street station of the PATH, which is located in between this station's two platforms.
History
In 1924, the Independent Subway System (IND) submitted its list of proposed subway routes to the New York City Board of Transportation, which included the construction of the IND Sixth Avenue Line. The Board approved the program.[4] As part of the construction of the line, the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad's (now PATH) 23rd Street station had to be rebuilt to provide space for the Sixth Avenue Line's 23rd Street stop, which was to be built at the same level as the Hudson and Manhattan's stop.[2][5] In 1937, the James McCreery Realty Company, the owner of a building at the southeastern corner of 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue, granted the IND the right to build two staircases outside that building.[6]
This station opened on December 15, 1940, as local subway service began on Sixth Avenue from the West Fourth Street subway station to the 47th–50th Streets station, with track connections to the IND 53rd Street Line. The Sixth Avenue Line's construction cost $59.5 million.[2] Service was originally provided by the D, which ran between Norwood–205th Street and Hudson Terminal, and the F, which ran between Parsons Boulevard and Church Avenue.[7][8][9] This station replaced the 23rd Street station on the elevated IRT Sixth Avenue Line, which remained open while construction on the Sixth Avenue subway proceeded,[10][11] but closed in December 1938.[12]
Ground was broken for two new express tracks between the West Fourth Street and 34th Street–Herald Square stations on April 19, 1961.[13] The express tracks were built 80 feet (24 m) beneath the surface. The construction was done in two portions. The first section was between West 9th and 19th Streets, and the second section was between West 19th and 31st Streets.[14] Although the express tracks, which went into service in 1967,[15] do not serve this station, provisions were incorporated into the design of the tunnel to permit the addition of a future lower level station here without disturbances to train operation.[16]
Under the 2015–2019 MTA Capital Plan, this station, along with 32 others, underwent a complete overhaul as part of the Enhanced Station Initiative. Updates included cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps, improved signage, and improved station lighting.[17][18] In January 2018, the NYCT and Bus Committee recommended that Judlau Contracting receive the $125 million contract for the renovations of 57th and 23rd Streets on the IND Sixth Avenue Line; 28th Street on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, and 34th Street–Penn Station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and IND Eighth Avenue Line.[19] However, the MTA Board temporarily deferred the vote for these packages after city representatives refused to vote to award the contracts.[20][21] The contract was put back for a vote in February, where it was ultimately approved.[22] The subway station was closed for renovations on July 23, 2018,[23] and reopened slightly ahead of schedule on November 29, 2018.[24][25][26] Access to the PATH station was retained during the renovation via the street stairs on the southern side of the station, which are owned by the Port Authority; hence, those entrances were not renovated.[23]
Station layout
G | Street level | Exit/entrance |
B1 Sixth Avenue and PATH platforms |
West mezzanine | Fare control, MetroCard machines |
Side platform | ||
Northbound local | ← toward Jamaica–179th Street (34th Street–Herald Square) ← weekdays toward 57th Street (34th Street–Herald Square) | |
Side platform | ||
Northbound | ← HOB–33 weekdays toward 33rd Street (Terminus) ← JSQ–33 (via HOB weekends) toward 33rd Street (Terminus) | |
Southbound | HOB–33 weekdays toward Hoboken (14th Street) → JSQ–33 (via HOB weekends) toward Journal Square (14th Street) → | |
Side platform | ||
Southbound local | Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (14th Street) → weekdays toward Middle Village–Metropolitan Avenue (14th Street) → | toward |
Side platform | ||
East mezzanine | Fare control, station agent, MetroCard machines | |
B2 | Underpass | Connection between PATH platforms |
B3 Lower level[27] |
Northbound express | ← do not stop here |
Southbound express | do not stop here → |
This underground station has two tracks and two side platforms.[28] No crossover, crossunder or mezzanine exists to allow a free transfer between directions. The PATH tracks, which were built 40 years before the Sixth Avenue Line, are behind the trackway walls where there would typically be the express tracks would be. The Sixth Avenue PATH tracks are on top of the express tracks used by the B and D, which were constructed in the mid-1960s using a "deep-bore" tunneling method and both sets of tracks are not visible from the platforms.[27] A green trim line with a darker green border runs along both track walls, and appears to be obscured by support beams directly underneath 23rd Street. A similar trim line is present on the platforms walls, though is higher and thus is regularly obscured by the angled ceiling supports. The platform walls also have mosaic name tablets reading "23RD STREET" in white sans serif lettering on a dark green background and lighter green border. Small tile captions reading "23" in white lettering on black run below both trim lines.
On the express tracks on the lower level, the deep-bore tunnel's round shape becomes square below this station and at 14th Street, where provisions for lower level platforms were built.
The 2018 artwork at this station is Stationary Figures by William Wegman. It is composed of 11 glass tile mosaics of Wegman's Weimaraners (a breed of dogs), each of which is wearing different attire.[29][26]
8th Av | 7th Av | 6th Av | 5th Av & Broadway |
Park Av | |||||||
A / C / E | 1 / 2 / 3 | FM↓ | PATH | FM↑ | N / Q / R / W | 6 / <6> | |||||
underpass | underpass |
Exits
The northbound platform has exits on the east side of 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue, while the southbound platform has exits to the west side. Each side of the station has four street staircases on the corresponding side of Sixth Avenue, two to each corner.[30] The station also features direct indoor entrances to the 23rd Street PATH station on both sides; the northbound platform has a direct entrance to the 33rd Street-bound PATH, while the southbound platform has a direct entrance to the New Jersey-bound PATH.
The southern entrances on each side contain simple gray steel fences and are maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, PATH's operator, rather than the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York City Subway's operator. The southern entrances appear to be part of the original PATH station, which was built in 1911.[30] The northern entrances on each side contain green-metal fences that are standard to the New York City Subway, with countdown clocks showing the time until the next train arrives. One of the two entrances on each side contain black slabs with digital maps of the surrounding neighborhood, as well as a lighted green bar at the top of the slabs.
The station is near the Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, and New York Life Insurance Building.[31]
References
- "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.
- "New Subway Line on 6th Ave. Opens at Midnight Fete". The New York Times. December 15, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- "Facts and Figures: Annual Subway Ridership 2014–2019". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- "New Subway Routes in Hylan Program to Cost $186,046,000" (PDF). The New York Times. March 21, 1925. p. 1.
- Harrington, John W. (May 5, 1935). "City Plans Its Costliest Subway". The New York Times. p. E-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- "Grants Tube Stairway Rights". The New York Times. April 22, 1937. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- "The New Subway Routes". The New York Times. December 15, 1940. p. 56. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- "6th Ave. Tube Adds Two New Services". The New York Times. December 5, 1940. p. 27. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- "New Subway to Add 2 Need Services". The New York Times. December 2, 1939. p. 12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- "Delaney for Razing Elevated Line Now". The New York Times. January 11, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- "Ends Move to Scrap 6th Avenue Elevated". The New York Times. September 17, 1931. p. 14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- "Gay Crowds on Last Ride as Sixth Ave. Elevated Ends 60-Year Existence". The New York Times. December 5, 1938. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- Levey, Stanley (April 19, 1961). "Construction of New IND Tunnel For 6th Ave. Line Begins Today". The New York Times. p. 41. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- Annual Report 1964–1965. New York City Transit Authority. 1965.
- Raskin, Joseph B. (2013). The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System. New York, New York: Fordham University Press. doi:10.5422/fordham/9780823253692.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-82325-369-2.
- Annual Report 1962–1963. New York City Transit Authority. 1963.
- Whitford, Emma (January 8, 2016). "MTA Will Completely Close 30 Subway Stations For Months-Long "Revamp"". Gothamist. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- "MTA Stations" (PDF). governor.ny.gov. Government of the State of New York. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- Transit & Bus Committee Meeting (PDF). New York City Transit and Bus Committee Meeting. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 22, 2018. p. 135. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- Barone, Vincent (January 24, 2018). "Subway station upgrades in Manhattan, Bronx on hold after MTA board tables vote". am New York. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- Siff, Andrew (January 24, 2018). "MTA Shelves Plan to Modernize Subway Stations Amid Criticism". NBC New York. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- "Foes Hit Gov's Station Fix Plan". NY Daily News. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- "Repairs and Improvements Coming to Three Manhattan 6FM Subway Stations" (Press release). New York: Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 15, 2018. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- "Service Restored - Trains stop at 23 St". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- "Planned Service Changes for: Thursday, November 29, 2018". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- Yakas, Ben (November 30, 2018). "Photos: The Newly Reopened 23rd Street F/M Station Has Already Gone To The Dogs". Gothamist. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- nycsubway.org – IND 6th Avenue: 23rd Street
- Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
- "23rd Street - William Wegman - Stationary Figures, 2018". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Chelsea" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Union Square / Gramercy Park" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
External links
- nycsubway.org – IND 6th Avenue: 23rd Street
- Station Reporter — F Train
- Station Reporter — M Train
- 23rd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
- Platform from Google Maps Street View