Flushing Avenue station (IND Crosstown Line)

This station opened on July 1, 1937, when the entire Crosstown Line was completed between Nassau Avenue and its connection to the IND Culver Line. On this date, the GG was extended in both directions to Smith–Ninth Streets and Forest Hills–71st Avenue.[2]

In 1984, after a series of robberies in the station, Pfizer, which has a plant located one block away from the station, installed four closed circuit TVs and talk-back boxes on the platforms, monitoring them from the Pfizer plant security area, reporting crimes to the local precinct and TA police. The installation was completed as part of the TA's Adopt-A-Station Program and cost $50,000. The TA added additional lighting in a stairwell and added an additional Off-Hours-Waiting Area. Shortly after the installation, several crimes were prevented.[4] As of 1990, the emergency system resulted in 14 arrests and 5 convictions. Pfizer also helped the MTA refurbish the Brooklyn-bound platform with high-entry turnstiles, security gates and new railings. New artwork was also added to the station.[5]

Under the 2015–2019 Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program, this station, along with 32 others, would have undergone a complete overhaul as part of the Enhanced Station Initiative. Updates would have included cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps, and improved signage and station lighting.[6][7] However, most of these renovations are being deferred until the 2020–2024 Capital Program due to a lack of funding.[8]

Ground	Street level	Entrances/exits
Mezzanine		Station agent, fare control, MetroCard machines
Basement 2	Side platform
	Northbound	← toward Court Square (Broadway)
	Southbound	→ toward Church Avenue (Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues) →
	Side platform

This underground station has two tracks and two side platforms.[9] The G stops at the station at all times.[10] The station is between Broadway to the north and Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues to the south.[11]

Both platforms have a light green trim line on a dark green border and mosaic name tablets reading "FLUSHING AVE." in white sans serif lettering on a dark green background and light green border. Underneath the trim line and name tablets are tile captions and direction signs in white lettering on a black background. The tiles were part of a color-coded tile system used throughout the IND.[12] The tile colors were designed to facilitate navigation for travelers going away from Lower Manhattan. Because the Crosstown Line does not merge into a line that enters Manhattan at either end, all stations on the line had green tiles.[13][14] Yellow I-beams run along both platforms are regular intervals, alternating ones having the standard black station name plate with white lettering.

Exits

Northbound stair

The platforms each have one same-level fare control area at their south ends and there are no crossovers or crossunders to allow a free transfer between directions. Each area has a turnstile bank, two full height turnstiles (one exit-only and the other high entry/exit), token booth, and one staircase to the street.[15] The one on the southbound side goes up to the southwest corner of Flushing and Marcy Avenues while the one on the Queens-bound side goes up to the northeast corner of Union Avenue (which becomes Marcy Avenue at the intersection of Flushing Avenue) and Gerry Street (which begins diagonally at the aforementioned intersection).[15][16] The turnstile bank and token booth on the southbound platform is only open on weekdays and the two full height turnstiles provide entrance to and exit from the station at other times.

The station formerly had another exit at the north end as proven by one gated staircase on each platform going up. Directional signs indicate that this mezzanine and crossover, which are now used for storage and employee space, led to both southern corners of Walton Street and Union Avenue. Both staircases were eventually sealed, and the one to the southwestern corner was partly demolished during the construction of new buildings.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flushing Avenue (IND Crosstown Line).

• nycsubway.org – IND Crosstown: Flushing Avenue
• Station Reporter — G Train
• The Subway Nut — Flushing Avenue Pictures
• Flushing Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Platform from Google Maps Street View