14th Street–Union Square station

New York City Subway station in Manhattan 14th Street (disambiguation)14th Street August 2023 August 2023 14 Street–Union Square complex Union Square Subway 3760070985 d4b6a3d4fa2.jpg Station entrance within Union Square Park IRT/BMT BMT Broadway LineBMT Canarsie LineIRT Lexington Avenue Line Union Square NYCT Bus: M1 M2 M3 M14A SBS M14D SBS X27 X28 SIM1C SIM3C SIM4C SIM7 SIM9 SIM33 SIM33C East 14th Street, Park Avenue South & BroadwayNew York, New York Manhattan Union Square 40 44 05 N 73 59 25 W inline,title 1948 07 1 y Underground 3 partial BMT Broadway Line & BMT Canarsie Line platforms only allexceptnightsalltimesweekdaysonlyrushpeak yes 14th Street–Union Square Subway Station (IRT; Dual System BMT) July 6, 2005 New York City Subway System MPS 05000671 New York State Register of Historic Places May 11, 2005Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation November 7, 2014 https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ July 20, 2023 April 4, 2019 http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190404141934/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ live 06101.015188 An entrance to the 14th Street-Union Square station within Union Square Park. The entrance is covered by a domed canopy. The 14th Street–Union Square station is a New York City Subway station complex shared by the BMT Broadway Line, the BMT Canarsie Line and the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. It is located at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 14th Street, underneath Union Square Park in Manhattan. The complex is near the border of several neighborhoods, including the East Village to the southeast, Greenwich Village to the south and southwest, Chelsea to the northwest, and both the Flatiron District and Gramercy Park to the north and northeast. The 14th Street–Union Square station is served by the 4, 6, L, N, and Q trains at all times; the 5 and R trains at all times except late nights; the W train on weekdays; and the <6> train weekdays in the peak direction. The Lexington Avenue Line platforms were built for the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) as an express station on the city's first subway line, which was approved in 1900. The station opened on October 27, 1904, as one of the original 28 stations of the New York City Subway. As part of the Dual Contracts, the Broadway Line platforms opened in 1917 and the Canarsie Line platform opened in 1924. Several modifications have been made to the stations over the years, and they were combined on July 1, 1948. The complex was renovated in the 1990s and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The Lexington Avenue Line station has two abandoned side platforms, two island platforms, and four tracks, while the parallel Broadway Line station has two island platforms and four tracks. The Canarsie Line station, crossing under both of the other stations, has one island platform and two tracks. Numerous elevators make most of the complex, except for the Lexington Avenue Line station, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). There is also a New York City Police Department (NYPD) transit precinct at the station. In 2019, over 32 million passengers entered this station, making it the fourth-busiest station in the system. According to Gothamist, the station "notoriously" has the highest temperatures of all stations in the New York City Subway.Khalifeh Ramsey 2026-08-14 The 'blast furnace' subway sauna at Union Square makes life hell for riders https://gothamist.com/news/the-blast-furnace-subway-sauna-at-union-square-makes-life-hell-for-riders 2026-08-22 Gothamist History First subway left vertical 250 Views of the 14th Street IRT station in 1904 14th Street on the IRT in 1904 under construction.jpg Under construction 14th Street on the IRT in 1904.jpg Just prior to opening The Union Square station on the IRT line as seen when it was under construction. There are construction materials on the platform. The Union Square station on the IRT line as seen shortly before opening Planning for a subway line in New York City dates to 1864.21 However, development of what would become the city's first subway line did not start until 1894, when the New York State Legislature passed the Rapid Transit Act.Walker James Blaine https://archive.org/details/fiftyyearsrapid00walkgoog Fifty Years of Rapid Transit — 1864 to 1917 1918 Law Printing New York, N.Y. November 6, 2016139–140 The subway plans were drawn up by a team of engineers led by William Barclay Parsons, chief engineer of the Rapid Transit Commission. It called for a subway line from New York City Hall in lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side, where two branches would lead north into the Bronx.October 23, 1979 Interborough Rapid Transit System, Underground Interior http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1096.pdf November 19, 2019 New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission September 21, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200921135400/https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1096.pdf live3 A plan was formally adopted in 1897,148 and all legal conflicts over the route alignment were resolved near the end of 1899.161 The Rapid Transit Construction Company, organized by John B. McDonald and funded by August Belmont Jr., signed the initial Contract 1 with the Rapid Transit Commission in February 1900,https://archive.org/details/cu31924022794253/page/n253/mode/2up?q=april+28 Report of the Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners for the City of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1904 Accompanied By Reports of the Chief Engineer and of the Auditor Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners 1905 229–236 in which it would construct the subway and maintain a 50-year operating lease from the opening of the line.165 In 1901, the firm of Heins & LaFarge was hired to design the underground stations.4 Belmont incorporated the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) in April 1902 to operate the subway.182 The 14th Street station was constructed as part of the route segment from Great Jones Street to 41st Street. Construction on this section of the line began on September 12, 1900. The section from Great Jones Street to a point 100 feet (30 m) north of 33rd Street was awarded to Holbrook, Cabot & Daly Contracting Company. Two streetcar tracks on Union Square East were temporarily relocated to one side of the street while contractors excavated through solid rock on the site.November 24, 1901 Features of the Subway's Building; Apparent Disregard of Expense on the Part of Contractors. Every Step, However, Has Been Carefully Calculated -- Shifting the Car Tracks at Union Square. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1901/11/24/archives/features-of-the-subways-building-apparent-disregard-of-expense-on.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125759/https://www.nytimes.com/1901/11/24/archives/features-of-the-subways-building-apparent-disregard-of-expense-on.html live During the line's construction, the contractors installed a temporary compressed-air plant in Union Square, prompting a lawsuit from the operator of a nearby hotel.June 12, 1902 Rives to Pass on Decision 6 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123886958/rives-to-pass-on-decision/ May 1, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125759/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123886958/rives-to-pass-on-decision/ live The New York Court of Appeals ruled in 1902 that the contractors had to disassemble the compressed-air plant and to stop storing materials in Union Square Park.June 12, 1902 Court Deals a Blow to Tunnel Contractors; Appeals Bench Decision Compels Clearance of Union Square. Victory of Proprietor Bates of Everett House May Affect Contractors Throughout Subway's Length. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1902/06/12/archives/court-deals-a-blow-to-tunnel-contractors-appeals-bench-decision.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125759/https://www.nytimes.com/1902/06/12/archives/court-deals-a-blow-to-tunnel-contractors-appeals-bench-decision.html live By late 1903, the subway was nearly complete, but the IRT Powerhouse and the system's electrical substations were still under construction, delaying the system's opening.186November 14, 1903 First of Subway Tests; West Side Experimental Trains to be Run by Jan. 1 Broadway Tunnel Tracks Laid, Except on Three Little Sections, to 104th Street -- Power House Delays. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1903/11/14/archives/first-of-subway-tests-west-side-experimental-trains-to-be-run-by.html May 10, 2022 0362-4331 May 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220505030752/https://www.nytimes.com/1903/11/14/archives/first-of-subway-tests-west-side-experimental-trains-to-be-run-by.html live The 14th Street station opened on October 27, 1904, as one of the original 28 stations of the New York City Subway from City Hall to 145th Street on the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.186 The opening of the 14th Street station turned Union Square into a major transportation hub.September 6, 1988 Germania Life Insurance Company Building http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1541.pdf October 10, 2019 New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission 2 October 12, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191012005524/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1541.pdf liveJune 20, 1908 Plans for Everett House Site Improvement https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/pdf_files/ldpd_7031148_041_26.pdf The Real Estate Record: Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide 81 1178 columbia.edu 2101 December 27, 2020 September 18, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200918131155/https://rerecord.library.columbia.edu/pdf_files/ldpd_7031148_041_26.pdf live With the northward relocation of the city's theater district, Union Square became a major wholesaling district with several loft buildings, as well as numerous office buildings.October 29, 2013 Tammany Hall http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2490.pdf October 10, 2019 New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission 2 August 9, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200809133101/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2490.pdf live198–20311 Initially, the IRT station was served by local and express trains along both the West Side (now the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line to Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street) and East Side (now the Lenox Avenue Line). West Side local trains had their southern terminus at City Hall during rush hours and South Ferry at other times, and had their northern terminus at 242nd Street. East Side local trains ran from City Hall to Lenox Avenue (145th Street). Express trains had their southern terminus at South Ferry or Atlantic Avenue and had their northern terminus at 242nd Street, Lenox Avenue (145th Street), or West Farms (180th Street).https://archive.org/details/pocketguidetone00yorkgoog The Merchants' Association of New York Pocket Guide to New York March 1906 Merchants' Association of New York 19–26 en Express trains to 145th Street were later eliminated, and West Farms express trains and rush-hour Broadway express trains operated through to Brooklyn.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1916 119 Herries William December 27, 2020 May 11, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210511155639/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151 live As part of an experiment to improve the subway line's ventilation, the Rapid Transit Commission installed large fans at the 14th Street station in July 1905.July 15, 1905 To Fan Out Subway Air: Tests Made at Brooklyn Bridge Station Reduce Temperature 12 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 571722607July 15, 1905 Huge Fans Pump Out Stifling Subway Air; Three Were at Work Yesterday -- More To-day en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/15/archives/huge-fans-pump-out-stifling-subway-air-three-were-at-work-yesterday.html May 12, 2023 0362-4331 May 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230512185939/https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/15/archives/huge-fans-pump-out-stifling-subway-air-three-were-at-work-yesterday.html live thumb|A view of the now-closed side platform at 14th Street in 1905|alt=Black-and-white image of the now-closed side platform on the 14th Street station of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. To the left is the platform, while to the right is a brick wall. To address overcrowding, in 1909, the New York Public Service Commission proposed lengthening the platforms at stations along the original IRT subway.Hood Clifton 1978 The Impact of the IRT in New York City https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf December 20, 2020 Historic American Engineering Record 146–207 (PDF pp. 147–208) January 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf live168 As part of a modification to the IRT's construction contracts made on January 18, 1910, the company was to lengthen station platforms to accommodate ten-car express and six-car local trains. In addition to $1.5 million (equivalent to $c US 1.5 1910 1 million in US) spent on platform lengthening, $500,000 (equivalent to $c US 0.5 1910 1 million in US) was spent on building additional entrances and exits. It was anticipated that these improvements would increase capacity by 25 percent.https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=+zoological+station&pg=PA596 Report of the Public Service Commission for the First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1910 1911 Public Service Commission en January 7, 2021 January 20, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210120015525/https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=%20zoological%20station&pg=PA596 live15 At the 14th Street station, the northbound island platform was extended 55 ft north and 100 ft south, while the southbound island platform was extended 128 ft north, necessitating the replacement of some structural steel north of the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street.107–108 Gap fillers were added to the southbound island platform at this time.Kolker Robert February 23, 2016 How a Single Mechanical Failure Sparked 625 MTA Delays http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/02/mta-one-day-625-delays.html May 2, 2023 Intelligencer October 7, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223923/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/02/mta-one-day-625-delays.html live Six-car local trains began operating in October 1910.168 On January 23, 1911, ten-car express trains began running on the Lenox Avenue Line, and the next day, ten-car express trains were inaugurated on the West Side Line.168https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html Ten-car Trains in Subway to-day; New Service Begins on Lenox Av. Line and Will Be Extended to Broadway To-morrow. January 23, 1911 The New York Times April 5, 2018 en-US 0362-4331 April 5, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180405224750/https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html live In 1918, the Lexington Avenue Line opened north of Grand Central–42nd Street, and the original line was divided into an H-shaped system. All trains at the 14th Street–Union Square station were sent via the Lexington Avenue Line.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 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/08/02/97011929.pdf November 6, 2016 February 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065215/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/08/02/97011929.pdf live Dual Contracts After the original IRT opened, the city began planning new lines. The New York Public Service Commission adopted plans for what was known as the Broadway–Lexington Avenue route (later the Broadway Line) on December 31, 1907.212 A proposed Tri-borough system was adopted in early 1908, incorporating the Broadway Line. Operation of the line was assigned to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT; after 1923, the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation or BMTState of New York Transit Commission Third Annual Report for the Calendar Year 1923 New York State Transit Commission v. 3 1924 https://books.google.com/books?id=lFxLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA501 501 May 30, 2023 May 30, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230530000036/https://books.google.com/books?id=lFxLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA501 live ) in the Dual Contracts, adopted on March 4, 1913. The Dual Contracts also entailed a subway route under 14th Street, to run to Canarsie in Brooklyn; this became the BMT's Canarsie Line.203–219March 20, 1913 Subway Contracts Solemnly Signed; Cheers at the Ceremonial Function When McCall Gets Willcox to Attest. en-US The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/20/100611839.pdf live January 11, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021115/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/20/100611839.pdf May 4, 2022 0362-4331 Broadway Line In May 1913, the Public Service Commission began receiving bids for Section 4 of the Broadway Line, between Houston Street and Union Square. This was the first construction contract to be placed for bidding after the Dual Contracts had been signed.May 24, 1913 Plan for the B.R.T. Under Broadway; First to be Prepared for Letting Since the Signing of the Agreements. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/05/24/archives/plan-for-the-brt-under-broadway-first-to-be-prepared-for-letting.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125759/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/05/24/archives/plan-for-the-brt-under-broadway-first-to-be-prepared-for-letting.html live The next month, the Dock Contractor Company submitted a low bid of $2.578 million.June 25, 1913 Open Bids for Subway; Dock Company Expected to Get First Section Advertised. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/06/25/archives/open-bids-for-subway-dock-company-expected-to-get-first-section.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125800/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/06/25/archives/open-bids-for-subway-dock-company-expected-to-get-first-section.html live June 24, 1913 Subway Progress 1 The Brooklyn Citizen newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123820567/subway-progress/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125800/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123820567/subway-progress/ live This section was to include a station at Union Square between 14th and 16th Streets.September 7, 1913 Subway's Progress Mars Union Square; Fine Old Shade Trees Fall Under the Axe and May Never Be Replaced in the Park. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/09/07/archives/subways-progress-mars-union-square-fine-old-shade-trees-fall-under.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125804/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/09/07/archives/subways-progress-mars-union-square-fine-old-shade-trees-fall-under.html live Local civic group Broadway Association and various property owners objected to the fact that Dock Contractor was to receive the contract, citing the firm's lack of experience.July 10, 1913 Object to Lowest Subway Bidder; Broadway Association and Property Owners Want Broadway Contract Awarded the Next. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/07/10/archives/object-to-lowest-subway-bidder-broadway-association-and-property.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125802/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/07/10/archives/object-to-lowest-subway-bidder-broadway-association-and-property.html live July 10, 1913 Protest Lowest Bid on Subway 2 The Brooklyn Citizen newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123819392/protest-lowest-bid-on-subway/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125801/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123819392/protest-lowest-bid-on-subway/ live The Public Service Commission approved Dock Contractor's bid despite these objections,July 16, 1913 Lower Broadway Subway Bid Stands; Service Board Overrules Objections of Property Owners on Evidence of Contractors. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/07/16/archives/lower-broadway-subway-bid-stands-service-board-overrules-objections.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125801/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/07/16/archives/lower-broadway-subway-bid-stands-service-board-overrules-objections.html live and the contract was awarded later that month.July 19, 1913 Subway Bulletin 20 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123821247/subway-bulletin/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125805/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123821247/subway-bulletin/ live The section between 16th and 26th Streets was awarded to the E. E. Smith Construction Company in September 1913 for $2.057 million (equivalent to $US 2.057 1913 3 c million in US).https://books.google.com/books?id=1_pLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA116 Report of the Public Service Commission for the First District of the State of New York The Commission 1916 116 August 10, 2023 August 10, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230810235051/https://books.google.com/books?id=1_pLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA116 live From the outset, the 14th Street–Union Square station was intended as an express station on the Broadway Line.December 2, 1913 Station Spacing Favors Times Sq.; B.R.T. Plan Might Put Two Express Stops Above There in Seventh Avenue en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/02/archives/station-spacing-favors-times-sq-brt-plan-might-put-two-express.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 July 14, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180714023622/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/02/archives/station-spacing-favors-times-sq-brt-plan-might-put-two-express.html live To save money, the station was built using an open cut method. A 120 ft m -wide mid strip of land, running diagonally through Union Square Park, was closed and excavated.September 17, 1913 New Union Square to Make Up for Closing 16 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 575130370 By late 1913, large portions of Union Square Park had been demolished for the construction of the Broadway Line's Union Square station.October 19, 1913 Dire Destruction at Union Square 4 The Standard Union newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123815454/dire-destruction-at-union-square/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125802/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123815454/dire-destruction-at-union-square/ live New York City's parks commissioner promised members of the public that the park would be remodeled after the station was finished. Because the Dual Contracts specified that the street surfaces needed to remain intact during the system's construction, a temporary web of timber supports was erected to support the streets overhead while the BMT platforms were being constructed.3 The Broadway Line south of 14th Street was near completion by February 1916,February 22, 1916 Manhattan to Coney by Tube Next Year 4 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123826832/manhattan-to-coney-by-tube-next-year/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125803/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123826832/manhattan-to-coney-by-tube-next-year/ live February 23, 1916 New Subway Trains to Run Within Year; The Times Square Section Will Be Completed, It Is Believed, by July, 1917 en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1916/02/23/archives/new-subway-trains-to-run-within-year-the-times-square-section-will.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125804/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/02/23/archives/new-subway-trains-to-run-within-year-the-times-square-section-will.html live and workers began restoring the section of Union Square Park above the 14th Street station.February 25, 1916 Old Union Square to Be Park Again: Wooden Shacks and Rubbish Will Be Cleared Away in Spring 9 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 575517751 The same month, the Public Service Commission began accepting bids for the installation of finishes at seven stations on the Broadway Line from Rector Street to 14th Street. D. C. Gerber submitted a $346,000 low bid for the finishes.March 12, 1916 Urge New Station for Shoppers' Use 20 The Standard Union newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123827211/urge-new-station-for-shoppers-use/ April 30, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125804/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123827211/urge-new-station-for-shoppers-use/ live The section of the line north of 14th Street, by contrast, was still incomplete.July 27, 1916 B.R.T. Blames City for Subway Delay; Annual Report Says Municipality Is Postponing Time When It Will Get Profits en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1916/07/27/archives/brt-blames-city-for-subway-delay-annual-report-says-municipality-is.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125803/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/07/27/archives/brt-blames-city-for-subway-delay-annual-report-says-municipality-is.html live Although it was technically possible for the BRT to terminate trains at Union Square, the line would not be profitable until it was extended at least to 34th Street. The Broadway Line's 14th Street–Union Square station opened on September 4, 1917, as the northern terminus of the first section of the line between 14th Street and Canal Street. Initially, it only served local trains.September 4, 1917 Broadway Subway Opened To Coney By Special Train. Brooklynites Try New Manhattan Link From Canal St. to Union Square. Go Via Fourth Ave. Tube The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2708189/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ May 31, 2019September 5, 1917 Open First Section of Broadway Line; Train Carrying 1,000 Passengers Runs from Fourteenth Street to Coney Island en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1917/09/05/archives/open-first-section-of-broadway-line-train-carrying-1000-passengers.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 June 12, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180612191916/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/09/05/archives/open-first-section-of-broadway-line-train-carrying-1000-passengers.html live Within three months of the Broadway Line station's opening, the 14th Street–Union Square station recorded more daily passengers than either the Grand Central–42nd Street station or the Brooklyn Bridge–Chambers Street station, leading Women's Wear to describe the Union Square complex as "probably the world's greatest underground traffic point".December 21, 1917 General News: Union Square's Underground Traffic Women's Wear 15 144 36 1666258069 On January 5, 1918, the Broadway Line was extended north to Times Square–42nd Street and south to Rector Street, and express service started on the line.January 6, 1918 Open New Subway To Times Square; Brooklyn Directly Connected with Wholesale and Shopping Districts of New York. Nickel Zone Is Extended. First Train in Broadway Tube Makes Run from Rector Street in 17 Minutes. Cost About $20,000,000 Rapid Transit from Downtown to Hotel and Theatre Sections Expected to Affect Surface Lines. Increases Five-Cent Zone. First Trip to Times Square. Benefits to Brooklyn. The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/01/06/102652686.pdf November 5, 2016 0362-4331 August 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210831204326/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/01/06/102652686.pdf live For about three weeks, a shuttle service ran between Union Square and Times Square. Local trains from Brooklyn began running through to Times Square on January 27.January 28, 1918 New Service to Times Sq.; B.R.T. Trains Will Run Through from 7:30 P.M. Till 6 A.M. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1918/01/28/archives/new-service-to-times-sq-brt-trains-will-run-through-from-730-pm.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125803/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/01/28/archives/new-service-to-times-sq-brt-trains-will-run-through-from-730-pm.html live While local trains terminated at the Times Square station, express trains from Brooklyn continued to terminate at Union Square until a northward extension to 57th Street opened in July 1919, allowing express trains to operate to Times Square.July 4, 1919 Broadway Subway Line To Be Extended to 57th Street 14 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 576110371July 4, 1919 Open New Subway July 9; B.R.T. Extension from Times Sq. to 57th St. to be Put Into Operation. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1919/07/04/archives/open-new-subway-july-9-brt-extension-from-times-sq-to-57th-st-to-be.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125804/https://www.nytimes.com/1919/07/04/archives/open-new-subway-july-9-brt-extension-from-times-sq-to-57th-st-to-be.html live To aid navigation, in 1920, the BRT installed illuminated signs on the southbound platforms of Union Square and two other Broadway Line stations.March 26, 1920 Subway Beacons Ordered; Illuminated Signs to Shine in Three Stations. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1920/03/26/archives/subway-beacons-ordered-illuminated-signs-to-shine-in-three-stations.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503125805/https://www.nytimes.com/1920/03/26/archives/subway-beacons-ordered-illuminated-signs-to-shine-in-three-stations.html live Canarsie Line thumb|Staircase connecting one of the Broadway Line platforms to the Canarsie Line platform|alt=The stairway down to the L train (BMT Canarsie Line) platform at the far south end of the Downtown platform of the 14th Street-Union Square station of the BMT Broadway Line. There is a sign above the staircase, a train at the platform to the left, and a white wall to the right. At Union Square, the BRT's Canarsie Line was to pass under both the Broadway and Lexington Avenue lines.May 7, 1916 The ABC of New York City's Subway Lines; Also the Letter H and the Two Y's, Which Help to Make the Matter Clearly Understood;- The Dual Contract in Simple Terms en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/07/archives/the-abc-of-new-york-citys-subway-lines-also-the-letter-h-and-the.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503131809/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/07/archives/the-abc-of-new-york-citys-subway-lines-also-the-letter-h-and-the.html live Booth and Flinn was awarded the first contract for the line, namely a tunnel under the East River, in January 1916.January 14, 1916 East River Tunnel Contract Awarded; Booth & Flinn, Who Will Do the Work for $6,639,023, to Use the Shield Method en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/14/archives/east-river-tunnel-contract-awarded-booth-flinn-who-will-do-the-work.html July 16, 2023 0362-4331 July 27, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145835/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/14/archives/east-river-tunnel-contract-awarded-booth-flinn-who-will-do-the-work.html live At the time, the Public Service Commission was completing plans for the rest of the line;January 16, 1916 Public Service Commission Promises to Complete Contract Awards This Year 40 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-public-service/128336094/ July 16, 2023 July 16, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230716234113/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-public-service/128336094/ live the commission began accepting bids for two parts of the line within Manhattan, sections 1 and 2. in April 1916.April 8, 1916 E. D. Tube Trains Will Run in 1918 15 Times Union https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-e-d-tube-trains-will-run-i/128331468/ July 16, 2023 July 16, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230716230654/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-e-d-tube-trains-will-run-i/128331468/ live The next month, Booth and Flinn won the contract for section 1, which was to cost $2.528 million (equivalent to $US 2.528 1916 3 c million in US).May 26, 1916 Award Subway Contracts 6 Times Union https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-award-subway-contracts/128331703/ July 16, 2023 July 16, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230716205425/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-award-subway-contracts/128331703/ live By early 1919, the section of the line under 14th Street was about 20 percent completed.January 5, 1919 When Will Dual Subway Be Finished?: Completed Work Cost 188,332,000--unfinished Contracts Amount to 20,000,000 Two Bodies Responsible for Construction Lack Mutual Confidence and Team-work D10 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 575999620 In 1922, the Charles H. Brown & Son Corporation was contracted to build out the Canarsie Line's stations in Manhattan, including the Union Square station.October 29, 1922 Long Delayed E. D. Transit Relief Move Announced 9, 11 The Standard Union https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79373580/long-delayed-e-d-transit-relief-move/ June 11, 2021 June 11, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210611180432/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79373580/long-delayed-e-d-transit-relief-move/ live Track-laying in the tunnels between Sixth and Montrose Avenues started in the last week of October 1922.November 4, 1922 Laying of Tracks Starts New Action for Thru Tubes 18 The Chat https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79373034/laying-of-tracks-starts-new-action-for/ June 11, 2021 June 11, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210611180434/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79373034/laying-of-tracks-starts-new-action-for/ live October 29, 1922 Long Delayed E. D. Transit Relief Move Announced 9, The Standard Union https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-long-delayed-e-d-tr/79373580/ July 16, 2023 July 17, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230717013748/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-long-delayed-e-d-tr/79373580/ live A passageway between the Broadway and Canarsie Line stations at Union Square was completed in late 1923.New York (State). Transit Commission https://books.google.com/books?id=u5kT80_w6rYC Proceedings of the Transit Commission, State of New York 1923 1136–1137 December 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065217/https://books.google.com/books?id=u5kT80_w6rYC February 21, 2021 live v. 3 The Canarsie Line station at Union Square opened on June 30, 1924, as the second-westernmost stop on the 14th Street–Eastern Line, which ran from Sixth Avenue under the East River and through Williamsburg to Montrose and Bushwick Avenues.July 1, 1924 Celebrate Opening of Subway Link 23 The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1924/07/01/101604731.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 February 13, 2010July 1, 1924 Pushing Throng Christens Spur Of B. M. T. Tube: Hylan Runs the First Train From Brooklyn to 14th Street, Then Assails "Interests'" at Luncheon Yearns to Boss System Transit Commission Heads Remind Mayor Epithets Won't Solve Problems 12 The New York Herald, New York Tribune 1941-0646 1112998377 Service was extended east to Canarsie on July 14, 1928, stopping at Union Square.July 15, 1928 Celebrate Opening of New B. M. T. Line; Officials and Civic Association Members Fill First Train From Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1928/07/15/archives/celebrate-opening-of-new-b-m-t-line-officials-and-civic-association.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 December 10, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211210103644/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/07/15/archives/celebrate-opening-of-new-b-m-t-line-officials-and-civic-association.html live July 14, 1928 Communities in Gala Attire Awaiting 'First Train' in New Subway 37 The Chat newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123675360/communities-in-gala-attire-awaiting/ April 28, 2023 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428134617/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123675360/communities-in-gala-attire-awaiting/ live The extension of service to Canarsie and Sixth Avenue reduced overcrowding at the Canal Street station in Lower Manhattan.August 17, 1928 14th St. Tube Eases Jams; Transit Board Reports Drop in Transfers Issued at Canal Street. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1928/08/17/archives/14th-st-tube-eases-jams-transit-board-reports-drop-in-transfers.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428134618/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/08/17/archives/14th-st-tube-eases-jams-transit-board-reports-drop-in-transfers.html live 1920s and 1930s modifications In 1922, the Rapid Transit Commission awarded a contract to the Wagner Engineering Company for the installation of navigational signs at the Union Square station and several other major subway stations. The IRT platforms received blue-and-white signs, while the BMT platforms received red-white-and-green navigational signs.June 10, 1922 Color Signs Adopted as Guides in Subways; Blue and White for I.R.T. and White and Green for B.R. T. Stations. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1922/06/10/archives/color-signs-adopted-as-guides-in-subways-blue-and-white-for-irt-and.html May 13, 2023 0362-4331 August 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230814161844/https://www.nytimes.com/1922/06/10/archives/color-signs-adopted-as-guides-in-subways-blue-and-white-for-irt-and.html live576624795 B. R. T. to End Jam on Sundays On Coney Lines: Receiver Garrison, After a Conference With Harkness, Agrees to Provide Relief Without an Order City Bus Lines Attacked Estimate Board Again Refuses to Aid Commission on Staten Island Tunnels June 10, 1922 5 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 The Broadway Line station's platforms originally could only fit six 67 ft m -long mid cars. In 1926, the New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) received bids for the lengthening of platforms at nine stations on the Broadway Line, including the 14th Street station, to accommodate eight-car trains. Edwards & Flood submitted a low bid of $101,750 for the project.July 8, 1926 Bids for B.M.T. Stations; Platforms South of Fourteenth Street to Be Lengthened. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1926/07/08/archives/bids-for-bmt-stations-platforms-south-of-fourteenth-street-to-be.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428135805/https://www.nytimes.com/1926/07/08/archives/bids-for-bmt-stations-platforms-south-of-fourteenth-street-to-be.html live The platform-lengthening project was completed in 1927, bringing the length of the Broadway Line platforms to 535 feet meters.August 2, 1927 B.M.T. to Operate Eight-car Trains; Platforms in Forty Stations Are Lengthened, Increasing Capacity 33 1-3%. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1927/08/02/archives/bmt-to-operate-eightcar-trains-platforms-in-forty-stations-are.html May 12, 2023 0362-4331 May 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230512200633/https://www.nytimes.com/1927/08/02/archives/bmt-to-operate-eightcar-trains-platforms-in-forty-stations-are.html live August 2, 1927 B. M, T. Station Lengthening Is Nearly Finished: 76 Platforms Are Extended 3,186 Feet to Make Room for 126.000 Additional Passengers in Rush Hours City Carried Out Work I.R.T. Changes Planned, but That Company Refuses to Pay Its Share of Costs 32 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 1113704092 In May 1928, the New York City Board of Estimate awarded a $607,223 contract to improve transfers between the Canarsie and Broadway lines at Union Square,May 8, 1928 Approves B.M.T. Link Plan; Estimate Board Committee Votes $607,223 for 14th Street Transfer. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1928/05/08/archives/approves-bmt-link-plan-estimate-board-committee-votes-607223-for.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428140148/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/05/08/archives/approves-bmt-link-plan-estimate-board-committee-votes-607223-for.html live which was expected to help relieve crowding at Canal Street.April 22, 1928 Enlarged Station on 14th St. Line to Cost $618,000. Broadway Transfer Terminal to Relieve Congestion at Canal St. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/77677079/ May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/77677079/ live The low bidder was the Hart & Early Co. Work on the transfer between the Broadway and Canarsie lines began that August.November 4, 1928 New Union Square Subway Station Will Be the Largest in Manhattan; Twelve Stairways Will Lead to Train Platforms--Planned to Accommodate 50,000,000 Passengers Annually--Work Scheduled for Completion Next March. Verona Acreage Deal. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/04/archives/new-union-square-subway-station-will-be-the-largest-in-manhattan.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428140144/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/04/archives/new-union-square-subway-station-will-be-the-largest-in-manhattan.html live The project involved constructing a 30000 ft2 on mezzanine and raising and re-landscaping the adjacent portion of Union Square Park to provide enough headroom.April 28, 1928 Improved Facilities Will Aid 14th St. Tube 1 The Chat newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123656024/improved-facilities-will-aid-14th-st/ April 28, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123656024/improved-facilities-will-aid-14th-st/ live Existing statues in the park were relocated as part of improvements to the park. In addition, the contractor added twelve stairs from the mezzanine to the Broadway Line platforms and twelve stairs from the mezzanine to the Canarsie Line platform. The mezzanine and stairs were intended to accommodate 2,000 passengers per minute in either direction, and the rebuilt station would be capable of accommodating 50 million passengers per year.November 4, 1928 Union Square City's Greatest Traffic Center: Made-Over Station Will Serve Three Subway Routes, Handle 50,000,000 People D13 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 1113458793 At the time, the Union Square station was one of the city's busiest, with 52 million annual passengers.June 22, 1930 Old Union Square Will Soon Be New; Tall Flagpole With Bronze Figures at Base to Be Dedicated on July 4 en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1930/06/22/archives/old-union-square-will-soon-be-new-tall-flagpole-with-bronze-figures.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130335/https://www.nytimes.com/1930/06/22/archives/old-union-square-will-soon-be-new-tall-flagpole-with-bronze-figures.html live The renovation was nearly completed by mid-1931.July 25, 1931 Shovels Rooting In Union Square For 'Last Time': Park Officials Swear Newest Gouging Will Convert Desert, to Blooming Garden Union Square in Final Stages of Its Upheaval 3 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 1114180192March 28, 1931 Union Sq. Park Work to Be Completed Soon; 14th St. Association Head Says Area Torn Up for Years Will Be in Shape This Summer. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1931/03/28/archives/union-sq-park-work-to-be-completed-soon-14th-st-association-head.html May 1, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130338/https://www.nytimes.com/1931/03/28/archives/union-sq-park-work-to-be-completed-soon-14th-st-association-head.html live Later years 1940s to 1970s The city government took over the BMT's operations on June 1, 1940,June 2, 1940 B.M.T. Lines Pass to City Ownership; $175,000,000 Deal Completed at City Hall Ceremony-- Mayor 'Motorman No. 1' en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/02/archives/bmt-lines-pass-to-city-ownership-175000000-deal-completed-at-city.html May 14, 2022 0362-4331 https://web.archive.org/web/20210719094900/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/02/archives/bmt-lines-pass-to-city-ownership-175000000-deal-completed-at-city.html July 19, 2021 liveJune 2, 1940 City Takes Over B. M. T. System; Mayor Skippers Midnight Train 1 New York Herald Tribune 1243059209 and the IRT's operations on June 12.June 13, 1940 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 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html May 14, 2022 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 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 1248134780 In September 1945, the New York City Club presented a proposal for improving service on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. The 14th Street–Union Square station on the IRT line would have been relocated about 500 ft northward, requiring the closure of the 18th Street station. Since the plan entailed having local trains terminate at 14th Street instead of at City Hall, the local platforms would be rebuilt at a lower level, with a crossover next to the station. In addition, all local trains would be lengthened from six to ten cars. This plan was not implemented.September 27, 1945 Plan Submitted to Improve IRT en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1945/09/27/archives/plan-submitted-to-improve-irt-city-club-offers-its-solution-of.html May 15, 2022 0362-4331 May 15, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220515192450/https://www.nytimes.com/1945/09/27/archives/plan-submitted-to-improve-irt-city-club-offers-its-solution-of.html live The transfer between the IRT and BMT platforms was placed inside fare control on July 1, 1948.https://www.nytimes.com/1948/06/30/archives/transfer-points-under-higher-fare-board-of-transportation-lists.html Transfer Points Under Higher Fare; Board of Transportation Lists Stations and Intersections for Combined Rides June 30, 1948 The New York Times April 21, 2020 en-US 0362-4331 19 June 25, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200625074924/https://www.nytimes.com/1948/06/30/archives/transfer-points-under-higher-fare-board-of-transportation-lists.html live As part of a pilot program, the BOT installed three-dimensional advertisements at the Union Square station in late 1948.October 6, 1948 3-Dimensional Advertising Signs Installed In City Subway Station; More Are Planned en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1948/10/06/archives/3dimensional-advertising-signs-installed-in-city-subway-station.html May 21, 2023 0362-4331 May 21, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230521174950/https://www.nytimes.com/1948/10/06/archives/3dimensional-advertising-signs-installed-in-city-subway-station.html live October 6, 1948 3-Dimensional Lit-Up Posters Invade Subway: First of Projected 480 for 6 Key Stations Set Up at Grand Central I. R. T 14 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 1327435571 The BOT studied the feasibility of building an underpass from the station to the eastern side of Union Square East at 15th Street in January 1949,January 13, 1949 New Passage in Subway; Free Underground Route Being Built in Grand Central en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1949/01/13/archives/new-passage-in-subway-free-underground-route-being-built-in-grand.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130323/https://www.nytimes.com/1949/01/13/archives/new-passage-in-subway-free-underground-route-being-built-in-grand.html live 1327118095 Free 'Subway Walk' To Cross 42d Street January 13, 1949 12 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 and Loft Inc. opened a candy store in the BMT mezzanine that April.April 10, 1949 Loft's to Open 3 Subway Shops en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1949/04/10/archives/lofts-to-open-3-subway-shops.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 March 11, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180311131911/https://www.nytimes.com/1949/04/10/archives/lofts-to-open-3-subway-shops.html live1335484899 Loft Candy Shops to Open Three New Subway Stores April 9, 1949 17 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 During 1956, the Central Savings Bank and Union Square Savings Bank both opened branches on the Union Square station's mezzanine.May 19, 1956 Sidelights; Subway Banking Hits Union Sq. That $113,000 Seat Sales Up Big Push by Westinghouse Innovation Studied It's Where You Ride Miscellany en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1956/05/19/archives/sidelights-subway-banking-hits-union-sq-that-113000-seat-sales-up.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) lengthened both of the Lexington Avenue Line platforms by 150 ft as part of a $1.3 million project that was completed at the beginning of 1958. After the extensions were completed, the NYCTA began requiring that, during PM rush hours, alighting Lexington Avenue Line riders use only one of the staircases on the northbound platform to reduce congestion.Katz Ralph January 18, 1958 Plan to Ease IRT at 14th St. Begun; Riders Leaving Northbound Platform in Evening Rush Use One Stairway Only en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1958/01/18/archives/plan-to-ease-irt-at-14th-st-begun-riders-leaving-northbound.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130331/https://www.nytimes.com/1958/01/18/archives/plan-to-ease-irt-at-14th-st-begun-riders-leaving-northbound.html live In the 1960s, the NYCTA started a project to lengthen station platforms on the Broadway Line to 615 feet meters to accommodate 10-car trains.New York City Transit Authority Annual Report For The Year June 30, 1960 New York City Transit Authority 1960 16–17 As part of the project, the Broadway Line platforms at Union Square were extended 85 feet meters to the north.Rogoff Dave February 1969 BMT Broadway Subway Platform Extensions https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1969/1969-01-bulletin.pdf New York Division Bulletin Electric Railroaders' Association 12 1 4 December 27, 2020 September 15, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200915034916/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1969/1969-01-bulletin.pdf live Additionally, the NYCTA installed a closed-circuit television system on the Lexington Avenue Line platforms in 1965 as part of a pilot program to deter crime there.Jones Theodore May 2, 1965 Subway Stations to Test TV Units as Curb on Crime; Scanning Devices Will Be Set Up at 3 Points in a 3-Month Experiment en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/02/archives/subway-stations-to-test-tv-units-as-curb-on-crime-scanning-devices.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130323/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/02/archives/subway-stations-to-test-tv-units-as-curb-on-crime-scanning-devices.html live Efforts were made to renovate the Union Square station during the late 1970s as part of an effort to redevelop the area around Union Square.Blau Eleanor May 19, 1977 Project Aimed at Sprucing, Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/19/archives/project-aimed-at-sprucing-union-square.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428155622/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/19/archives/project-aimed-at-sprucing-union-square.html live During this time, $1.2 million was raised for a renovation of the Union Square station.March 8, 1979 Union Sq. Plan: A Fresh Image For a Soapbox en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/08/archives/union-sq-plan-a-fresh-image-for-a-soapbox-removal-of-barriers.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 November 28, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191128044507/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/08/archives/union-sq-plan-a-fresh-image-for-a-soapbox-removal-of-barriers.html live December 12, 1978 Union Square Restoration 15Q Newsday 2574-5298 964387295 This included $120,000 raised by the 14th Street–Union Square Area Project and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), as well as $900,000 from the federal government.King Martin December 31, 1979 Apple Polishers keep working on Union Sq. 7 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894050/apple-polishers-keep-working-on-union/ May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130332/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894050/apple-polishers-keep-working-on-union/ live The renovation, which was limited to the complex's mezzanine level, coincided with the original IRT line's 75th anniversary.April 28, 1978 Metropolitan Briefs en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/28/archives/metropolitan-briefs-union-sq-station-fund-westchester-smoking-plan.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130324/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/28/archives/metropolitan-briefs-union-sq-station-fund-westchester-smoking-plan.html live Local civic groups, the MTA, and the New York City Transit Authority began soliciting bids for the station's renovation in December 1978.December 12, 1978 Bids sought to fix Union Sq. subway 549 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894158/bids-sought-to-fix-union-sq-subway/ May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894158/bids-sought-to-fix-union-sq-subway/ live The project included relocating turnstiles away from hallways, closing or straightening some passageways, removing most concession stands,December 4, 1978 Already on the job 137 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894594/already-on-the-job/ May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130404/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123894594/already-on-the-job/ live and relocating a district headquarters for the New York City Transit Police to the station.Lewis John June 1, 1980 A grand old dame & she'll shine again 559 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123680717/a-grand-old-dame-shell-shine/ April 28, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130328/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123680717/a-grand-old-dame-shell-shine/ live The renovation, which had been completed by 1980, was one of the first such projects conducted through the MTA's Adopt-a-Station program.Iovine Julie August 30, 1984 Parks and Bridges Go Up for 'Adoption' en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/30/garden/parks-and-bridges-go-up-for-adoption.html May 5, 2023 0362-4331 May 5, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230505172046/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/30/garden/parks-and-bridges-go-up-for-adoption.html live 1980s and early 1990s The MTA evicted 25 businesses, who occupied a combined 8000 ft2, from the station's mezzanine in 1981 to free up space.Oser Alan S. April 22, 1981 Real Estate; New Policy For Shops In Subway en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/22/business/real-estate-new-policy-for-shops-in-subway.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 April 24, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220424233431/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/22/business/real-estate-new-policy-for-shops-in-subway.html live That year, the MTA listed the Union Square station on the Lexington Avenue Line among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.Gargan Edward A. June 11, 1981 Agency lists its 69 most deteriorated subway stations The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html August 13, 2016 0362-4331 March 31, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204421/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html live The MTA provided funding for a further renovation of the Union Square station in its 1985–1989 capital plan.Goldman Ari L. April 28, 1983 M.T.A. Making Major Addition to Capital Plan en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/28/world/mta-making-major-addition-to-capital-plan.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 April 25, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220425151916/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/28/world/mta-making-major-addition-to-capital-plan.html live By 1982, the entrances in the southern portion of Union Square were to be renovated as part of a refurbishment of Union Square Park.Carmody Deirdre November 29, 1982 Union Square Park to Undergo Overhaul en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/29/nyregion/union-square-park-to-undergo-overhaul.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 May 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524120706/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/29/nyregion/union-square-park-to-undergo-overhaul.html live The entrances had been renovated by 1985.Carmody Deirdre May 23, 1985 Union Square Park Reopens With a Lush Grandeur en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/23/nyregion/union-square-park-reopens-with-a-lush-grandeur.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 November 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171125034905/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/23/nyregion/union-square-park-reopens-with-a-lush-grandeur.html liveMetropolis Bellerophon Publications v. 6 1986 https://books.google.com/books?id=XQYMAQAAMAAJ December 27, 2020 18 February 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065235/https://books.google.com/books?id=XQYMAQAAMAAJ live Reynolds D.M. Reynolds A. The Architecture of New York City: Histories and Views of Important Structures, Sites, and Symbols Wiley 1994 978-0-471-01439-3 https://archive.org/details/architectureofne0000reyn subscription December 27, 2020 187 The MTA also renovated 10600 ft2 of storefronts at the station in 1984.Daniels Lee A. July 1, 1984 A Plan to Revitalize Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/01/realestate/a-plan-to-revitalize-union-square.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428154857/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/01/realestate/a-plan-to-revitalize-union-square.html live Seven storefronts received glass enclosures.Daniels Lee A. June 29, 1983 About Real Estate; City's Transit Agency Improves Concession Revenue en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/29/business/about-real-estate-city-s-transit-agency-improves-concession-revenue.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 April 25, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220425144840/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/29/business/about-real-estate-city-s-transit-agency-improves-concession-revenue.html live thumb|The subway entrance in the Zeckendorf Towers|alt=The subway entrance at the ground story of the Zeckendorf Towers. There are escalators to the left and stairs to the right. A sign with the station's name, and the services that stop at the station, is placed above the escalators and stairs. During the mid-1980s, the New York City Department of City Planning prepared zoning guidelines for the Union Square area, which would allow a greater maximum floor area ratio in exchange for subway improvements.Daniels Lee A. April 6, 1984 About Real Estate; the Efforts to Revitalize Neglected Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/06/business/about-real-estate-the-efforts-to-revitalize-neglected-union-square.html live December 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524151428/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/06/business/about-real-estate-the-efforts-to-revitalize-neglected-union-square.html May 24, 2015 0362-4331 William Zeckendorf, who was developing the adjacent Zeckendorf Towers, agreed in 1984 to build and maintain subway entrances within Zeckendorf Towers as "a public benefit", in exchange for being allowed to increase the towers' floor area by 20 percent.July 29, 1984 A Preview of Union Sq. East: Zeckendorf Unveils Plan en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/29/realestate/postings-a-preview-of-union-sq-east.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428154858/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/29/realestate/postings-a-preview-of-union-sq-east.html live Martinez Jose April 21, 2022 Union Square Subway Entrance a Smelly Mess Despite Ritzy Private Ownership https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/4/21/23035957/union-square-subway-entrance-a-smelly-mess-despite-ritzy-private-ownership May 2, 2023 The City March 4, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230304062448/https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/4/21/23035957/union-square-subway-entrance-a-smelly-mess-despite-ritzy-private-ownership live This was because of zoning rules that required many developers in Lower Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, and Downtown Brooklyn to relocate and maintain subway entrances that were formerly on the street.Satow Julie March 16, 2011 Developers in New York Try to Ease Prickly Relations en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/realestate/commercial/16subway.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 May 30, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200530082421/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/realestate/commercial/16subway.html live In exchange for adding and maintaining an entrance with escalators and elevators at the building's base, Zeckendorf was allowed to add 153,006 ft2 to his building. The Zeckendorf plan received some opposition from members of the publicDaniels Lee A. April 6, 1984 The Efforts to Revitalize Neglected Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/06/business/about-real-estate-the-efforts-to-revitalize-neglected-union-square.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 May 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150524151428/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/06/business/about-real-estate-the-efforts-to-revitalize-neglected-union-square.html live but was approved by the New York City Board of Estimate in early 1985.Rangel Jesus January 11, 1985 Estimate Board Approves Plan for Union Square en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/11/nyregion/estimate-board-approves-plan-for-union-square.html April 30, 2023 0362-4331 November 27, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171127170520/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/11/nyregion/estimate-board-approves-plan-for-union-square.html live As part of the construction of Zeckendorf Towers the 14th Street–Union Square station was partially renovated in the late 1980s.4 The modifications included a modification of the mezzanine, a new station entrance with escalators under Zeckendorf Towers, and a new station entrance at 15th Street. In addition, to speed up passenger flow, dozens of platform conductors were assigned to direct crowds on the Lexington Avenue Line platforms during the late 1980s.Dwyer Jim August 31, 1986 In the Subways TA to Try Its 'stuff' on Subway Riders 2 Newsday 2574-5298 285347546 On August 28, 1991, an accident just north of the IRT station killed five passengers and injured 215 others in one of the deadliest incidents in New York City Subway history. The derailment occurred at the entry to a former pocket track on the Lexington Avenue Line station, which was removed after the accident.Meredith Jack https://books.google.com/books?id=xGRtQetWjNsC&pg=RA1-PA116 Project management : a managerial approach Wiley 2012 978-0-470-53302-4 Hoboken, NJ 115–117 757668996 May 10, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200601013917/https://books.google.com/books?id=xGRtQetWjNsC&pg=RA1-PA116 June 1, 2020 liveMay 2014 Moving Forward: Accelerating the Transition to Communications-Based Train Control for New York City's Subways http://library.rpa.org/pdf/RPA-Moving-Forward.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091527/http://library.rpa.org/pdf/RPA-Moving-Forward.pdf March 4, 2016 May 10, 2020 Regional Plan Association 18 The operator of a southbound 4 train was supposed to switch to the local track because the express track was being repaired. The train was traveling 40 mph kph on in a 10 mph kph on zone, and the train derailed after the first car traveled through the switch. Five cars were damaged heavily, being scrapped on site, and the track infrastructure suffered heavy structural damage as a result.McFadden Robert D. September 1, 1991 Catastrophe Under Union Square; Crash on the Lexington IRT: Motorman's Run to Disaster en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/01/nyregion/catastrophe-under-union-square-crash-lexington-irt-motorman-s-run-disaster.html May 10, 2020 0362-4331 September 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200902023910/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/01/nyregion/catastrophe-under-union-square-crash-lexington-irt-motorman-s-run-disaster.html live The entire infrastructure, including signals, switches, track, roadbed, cabling, and 23 support columns were replaced.Sims Calvin September 3, 1991 Subway Line Back After Being Closed By Fatal Derailing en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/03/nyregion/subway-line-back-after-being-closed-by-fatal-derailing.html May 10, 2020 0362-4331 May 19, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200519103038/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/03/nyregion/subway-line-back-after-being-closed-by-fatal-derailing.html live 1990s renovation thumb|An elevator from the mezzanine to the southbound Broadway Line platform, one of several installed in the station's renovation during the 1990s and 2000s|alt=An elevator from the mezzanine to the southbound Broadway Line platform. It has a glass-and-metal enclosure and signage indicating that it leads to the "N", "Q", and "R" trains.In April 1993, the New York State Legislature agreed to give the MTA $9.6 billion for capital improvements. Some of the funds would be used to renovate nearly one hundred New York City Subway stations,Benenson Joel April 1, 1993 Albany deal to save the $1.25 fare 1059 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677736/albany-deal-to-save-the-125-farejoel/ April 28, 2023 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428152841/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677736/albany-deal-to-save-the-125-farejoel/ live Faison Seth April 3, 1993 $9.6 Billion Package for M.T.A. Is Crucial to its Rebuilding Plans en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/03/nyregion/article-269693-no-title.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428152843/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/03/nyregion/article-269693-no-title.html live including all three stations at 14th Street–Union Square.May 28, 1993 Stop the Fussing 56 Newsday 2574-5298 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677942/stop-the-fussing/ April 28, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677942/stop-the-fussing/ live On July 9, 1993, the contract for the project's design was awarded for $2.993 million. As part of the contract, the consultant investigated whether the MTA could reconfigure the IRT passageway, reframe the exit structure on the Lexington Avenue platforms to accommodate the relocation and widening of stairs, build a new fan room, remove stairs on the Broadway Line platforms, reframe the existing structure, and rebuild a new staircase between the intermediate and IRT mezzanines. After the consultant deemed that all of these modifications were feasible, in May 1994, the MTA and the consultant reached a supplemental agreement worth $984,998 to allow the consultant to prepare designs.NYC Transit Committee Agenda May 1994 May 16, 1994 New York City TransitC-57 Lee Harris Pomeroy prepared plans for the project, which was to cost $38.5 million and start in December 1994, with a new entrance pavilion and elevator on the southeast corner of Union Square Park.Howe Marvine January 2, 1994 Neighborhood Report: Union Square; Revamping an Old Subway Station en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/02/nyregion/neighborhood-report-union-square-revamping-an-old-subway-station.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 May 26, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526100427/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/02/nyregion/neighborhood-report-union-square-revamping-an-old-subway-station.html live The same year, a New York City Transit Police station opened in the Broadway Line mezzanine.4 A construction contract was ultimately signed in March 1995,March 12, 1995 Posting: $40 Million Construction Contract Is Signed; Colorful Renovation for Union Sq. Station en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/12/realestate/postings-40-million-construction-contract-signed-colorful-renovation-for-union.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 February 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065236/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/12/realestate/postings-40-million-construction-contract-signed-colorful-renovation-for-union.html live and NAB Construction Corp. was hired to renovate the station.Cho Aileen February 26, 2001 New York City Subway Station Face Lifts Vie with Busy System Engineering News-Record 246 8 15 235658774 As part of the project, power infrastructure was upgraded to allow the construction of MetroCard vending machine equipment.Hays Constance L. December 29, 1996 Notes from the Underground: Station Renovations Continue. Watch Your Step on the Tiles. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/29/nyregion/notes-underground-station-renovations-continue-watch-your-step-tiles.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 May 26, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526173653/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/29/nyregion/notes-underground-station-renovations-continue-watch-your-step-tiles.html live The station was also to receive color-coded signs (corresponding to the trunk colors of the services that stopped there), and six pieces of the station's original wall were to be displayed. The Union Square Greenmarket, directly above the station, was relocated during the renovation.Williams Monte October 1, 1995 Neighborhood Report: Union Square; Noise and Gridlock Well Underway, With More in the Offing en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/01/nyregion/neighborhood-report-union-square-noise-gridlock-well-underway-with-more-offing.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428152842/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/01/nyregion/neighborhood-report-union-square-noise-gridlock-well-underway-with-more-offing.html live By 1996, the renovation project was running behind schedule.Rein Lisa July 16, 1996 Dis-Union Sq. station 95 New York Daily News 2692-1251 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677424/dis-union-sq-stationlisa-rein/ April 28, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123677424/dis-union-sq-stationlisa-rein/ live The MTA had planned to install a forced-ventilation system in the station as part of a pilot program, but this was delayed. In addition, at least one staircase to the Canarsie Line platform was canceled, even though it would have relieved congestion. The MTA also canceled plans for a new subway entrance in Union Square Park because the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) refused to remove trees to make way for the entrance. Pomeroy claimed that NYC Parks would have had to remove one tree, while NYC Parks commissioner Henry Stern said the entrance would be expensive, inconveniently located, and require the removal of three trees.Fried Joseph P. February 3, 2000 Untangling Knots in the Subway; Architect's Challenge Is to Make DeKalb Station Flow en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/03/nyregion/untangling-knots-subway-architect-s-challenge-make-dekalb-station-flow.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 May 8, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220508174802/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/03/nyregion/untangling-knots-subway-architect-s-challenge-make-dekalb-station-flow.html live During the late 1990s, the MTA had received $1.6 million from The Related Companies, which had developed a building on the site of two subway entrances at Broadway and 14th Street. Local residents requested that the MTA spend the money to improve pedestrian access around Union Square.Allon Janet August 31, 1997 One Problem Lingers in Resurrected Park: Access en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/31/nyregion/one-problem-lingers-in-resurrected-park-access.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 January 4, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192204/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/31/nyregion/one-problem-lingers-in-resurrected-park-access.html live Subsequently, mayor Rudy Giuliani announced plans in early 1998 to spend $2.6 million on an expansion of the park; the MTA agreed to contribute $400,000 toward the project.February 17, 1998 A $2.6 Million Expansion Is Planned for Union Square Park 16 The New York Times 0362-4331 430923994February 17, 1998 Union Square Expansion A21 Newsday 2574-5298 The Associated Press 279074278 The expansion consisted of a pocket park in a traffic island at the southeast corner of Union Square, which was completed in 2000.Friedman Andrew December 3, 2000 Neighborhood Report: New York Parks; in Union Square, the End of a Long Wait en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-parks-in-union-square-the-end-of-a-long-wait.html December 27, 2020 0362-4331 May 27, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527131056/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-parks-in-union-square-the-end-of-a-long-wait.html live The MTA announced in 1999 that it would begin installing a forced-ventilation system above the IRT platforms at Union Square.Bowles Pete June 10, 1999 Cool Waits Ahead / 2 subway stops to beat heat in summer, 2000 A06 Newsday 2574-5298 279234035 The forced-ventilation system, consisting of 32 ceiling fans, was completed by July 2000 at a cost of $1 million.Fountain John W. July 19, 2000 A Chill, or at Least a Breeze, in the Air at 2 Subway Stations en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/19/nyregion/a-chill-or-at-least-a-breeze-in-the-air-at-2-subway-stations.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230428152842/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/19/nyregion/a-chill-or-at-least-a-breeze-in-the-air-at-2-subway-stations.html live Sanchez Ray July 27, 2000 Staying Cool Until No. 4 Comes 7 Newsday 2574-5298 newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123679134/staying-cool-until-no-4-comesray/ April 28, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130346/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123679134/staying-cool-until-no-4-comesray/ live In addition, as part of a program to increase accessibility in the New York City Subway, the MTA had planned to install elevators to the Broadway Line and Canarsie Line platforms by 1998.Sachar Emily July 16, 1993 Long Wait 2 Newsday 2574-5298 278657263 These elevators were not completed until 2000. Furthermore, elevators to the Lexington Avenue Line platforms could not be installed because the portions of the platforms under the mezzanine were too narrow. The project, which was finished in 2001, cost $40 million and increased the station's public space by 30 percent. 21st century thumb|left|Escalator from the Canarsie Line platform to the IRT|alt=An escalator leading from the Canarsie Line platform to the Lexington Avenue Line platform's mezzanine. There are brown columns on either side.The station's token booths were shuttered in May 2005, after fare tokens were replaced with MetroCards; station agents were deployed elsewhere in the station to answer passengers' queries. This was part of a pilot program that was tested at seven other stations.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/nyregion/eight-subway-stations-to-deploy-agents-to-assist-passengers.html Eight Subway Stations to Deploy Agents to Assist Passengers Chan Sewell May 3, 2005 The New York Times 0362-4331 August 19, 2016 May 29, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529171410/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/nyregion/eight-subway-stations-to-deploy-agents-to-assist-passengers.html live As part of the 2015–2019 MTA Capital Program and the L Project, several modifications were implemented on the platform to improve circulation and to reduce crowding. The stairs from the Broadway Line platforms were rebuilt in March 2019; the stair from the downtown Broadway Line platform was reconfigured entirely.Project Details – Circulation Improvements at Union Square on the Canarsie Line http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=t7041416&PLTYPE=1 May 12, 2020 web.mta.info May 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200512090759/http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=t7041416&PLTYPE=1 liveMay 24, 2017 MTA Capital Program 2015–2019 Renew. Enhance. Expand. Amendment No. 2, as proposed to the MTA Board May 2017 http://web.mta.info/capital/pdf/WEB2015-2019Program_reduced.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20200402222007/http://web.mta.info/capital/pdf/WEB2015-2019Program_reduced.pdf April 2, 2020 May 24, 2017 mta.info Additionally, a new escalator was installed from the east mezzanine to the platform;December 31, 2017 Circulation Improvements at Union Square on the Canarsie Line http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/15_19/agencies/t/t7041416_project_narrative.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20180219150514/http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/15_19/agencies/t/t7041416_project_narrative.htm February 19, 2018 February 18, 2018 web.mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority it cost around $15 million and opened on September 10, 2020.Saltonstall Gus September 14, 2020 New Escalator Opens At Union Square L Train Station: Photos https://patch.com/new-york/west-village/new-escalator-opens-union-square-l-train-station-photos December 27, 2020 West Village, NY Patch September 16, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200916111837/https://patch.com/new-york/west-village/new-escalator-opens-union-square-l-train-station-photos liveHallum Mark September 13, 2020 New subway escalator in Union Square moves 92 people per minute, aims to reduce congestion https://www.amny.com/transit/new-subway-escalator-in-union-square-moves-92-people-per-minute-aims-to-reduce-congestion/ December 27, 2020 amNewYork November 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201102024701/https://www.amny.com/transit/new-subway-escalator-in-union-square-moves-92-people-per-minute-aims-to-reduce-congestion/ live The Union Square Partnership proposed a $100 million overhaul of Union Square in 2021; the plans included a new subway entrance with escalator and elevator access.Passy Charles January 18, 2021 New York City's Union Square Park to Grow Under $100 Million Plan https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-citys-union-square-park-to-grow-under-100-million-plan-11610974800 May 1, 2023 The Wall Street Journal 0099-9660 November 8, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221108211213/https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-citys-union-square-park-to-grow-under-100-million-plan-11610974800 live In April 2025, the MTA announced plans to install taller fare gates with glass panels at 20 stations, including the 14th Street–Union Square station. The fare gates would be manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems, Conduent, Scheidt & Bachmann, and STraffic as part of a pilot program to reduce fare evasion.NYC fare evasion: MTA to test four different modern gates for subway system in New York City ABC7 New York April 28, 2025 https://abc7ny.com/post/mta-testing-fare-evasion-gates-nyc-subway-new-york/16269253/ April 28, 2025Simko-Bednarski Evan NYC to get new subway turnstiles at 20 stations by year’s end: MTA New York Daily News April 28, 2025 https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/04/28/nyc-to-get-new-subway-turnstiles-at-20-stations-by-years-end-mta/ April 28, 2025 The MTA announced in late 2025 that a customer service center would open at the station.Russo-Lennon Barbara These 14 NYC subway stations will get new customer service centers in 2025 amNewYork October 16, 2025 https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/nyc-subway-stations-customer-service-centers/ October 17, 2025 For a list of the new stations, see: Customer Service Centers MTA September 3, 2025 https://www.mta.info/contact-us/customer-service-centers https://web.archive.org/web/20251017190209/https://www.mta.info/contact-us/customer-service-centers October 17, 2025 live October 17, 2025 Station layout GroundStreet levelExit/entranceBasement 1MezzanineFare control, station agentBasement 2Lexington Avenue Line platformsSide platform, not in serviceNorthbound local← newyork 6newyork 6d toward NYCS Pelham Bay Park or NYCS Parkchester (NYCS 23rd Street–Baruch College Lexington)← newyork 4 toward NYCS Woodlawn late nights (23rd Street)→ (No service: NYCS 18th Street Lexington)Island platformNorthbound express← newyork 4 toward Woodlawn (NYCS Grand Central–42nd Street Lexington) ← newyork 5 toward NYCS Eastchester–Dyre Avenue or NYCS Nereid Avenue (Grand Central–42nd Street) Southbound express→ newyork 4 toward NYCS Crown Heights–Utica Avenue (NYCS Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall) →→ newyork 5 toward NYCS Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College weekdays, NYCS Bowling Green evenings/weekends (Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall) →Island platformSouthbound local→ newyork 6newyork 6d toward Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall (NYCS Astor Place) →→ newyork 4 toward NYCS New Lots Avenue New Lots late nights (Astor Place) →Side platform, not in serviceBasement 2Broadway Line platformsNorthbound local← newyork R toward NYCS Forest Hills–71st Avenue (NYCS 23rd Street Broadway)← newyork W toward NYCS Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard weekdays (23rd Street)← newyork N toward Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard late nights/weekends (23rd Street)← newyork Q toward NYCS 96th Street Second late nights (23rd Street)Island platform Northbound express← newyork N toward Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard weekdays (NYCS 34th Street–Herald Square Broadway)← newyork Q toward 96th Street (34th Street–Herald Square)Southbound express← newyork N toward NYCS Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue via Sea Beach weekdays (NYCS Canal Street Broadway bridge) →← newyork Q toward Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue via Brighton (Canal Street) →Island platform Southbound local→ newyork R toward NYCS Bay Ridge–95th Street (NYCS Eighth Street–New York University) →→ newyork W toward NYCS Whitehall Street–South Ferry weekdays (Eighth Street–New York University) →→ newyork N toward Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue via Sea Beach late nights/weekends (Eighth Street–New York University) →→ newyork Q toward Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue via Brighton late nights (Eighth Street–New York University)Basement 3Westbound← newyork L toward NYCS Eighth Avenue Canarsie ()Island platform Eastbound→ newyork L toward NYCS Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway () → thumb|Map of the 14th Street–Union Square station The IRT Lexington Avenue Line and BMT Broadway Line stations both run in a north–south direction and are both two levels below ground. The Lexington Avenue Line platforms are to the east, running under Fourth Avenue and Union Square East, while the Broadway Line platforms are to the west, running under Broadway and cutting directly under Union Square Park. The BMT Canarsie Line station runs west–east under both of the other stations, along 14th Street.Records of the National Park Service, 1785–2006 National Archives https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75313911 National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013–2017 New York MPS 14th Street-Union Square Subway Station (IRT; Dual System BMT) 75313911 National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: New York3 A 480 ft m mid -long mezzanine stretches above the BMT Broadway Line platforms, ramping down to a control area at its south end, where there are stairs down to the Broadway Line platforms and transfers to the other platforms. The tops of the mezzanine and passageway walls are decorated with friezes made of raised geometric patterns on rectangular tiles. White-on-green tiles with the number "14" are placed at the tops of the walls at regular intervals, while white-on-green "Union Square" tablets are installed below the friezes. Rectangular red metal frames also surround sections of the original wall. The mezzanine is relatively shallow, and because it was built with insufficient clearance, Union Square Park was raised by 4 ft to accommodate the station.4, 6 The precinct house of New York City Police Department (NYPD)'s Transit District 4 is located on the mezzanine.Transit District 4 New York City Police Department https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/transit-housing/transit-district-4.page May 2, 2023 July 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220719145648/https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/transit-housing/transit-district-4.page live Directly east of the control area at the south end of the BMT Broadway Line mezzanine, a 20 ft 0 -wide mid corridor slopes down to the IRT mezzanine. There are two overpasses above the IRT platforms, connecting the station complex with exits on the east side of both Fourth Avenue and Union Square East. Galleries extend from the overpasses above the platforms, with stairs leading downward from the galleries to each island platform.4–5 Original faience plaques with the number "14" are in the southern end of the IRT mezzanine, near one of the entrances. Other decorations, such as a pale blue frieze, date from later renovations. Storefronts, as well as steel and glass enclosures, are located near the Zeckendorf Towers.5 A corridor runs above the western side of the IRT station, connecting the two overpasses.4–5 Prior to the 1990s renovation, this corridor had been used as storage space.Luo Michael April 14, 2004 The Subway That Started It All; 100 Years Later, Faded Traces of City's Original Remain en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/nyregion/subway-that-started-it-all-100-years-later-faded-traces-city-s-original-remain.html April 28, 2023 0362-4331 July 9, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709170015/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/nyregion/subway-that-started-it-all-100-years-later-faded-traces-city-s-original-remain.html live Another staircase extends from the IRT mezzanine to a small mezzanine above the Canarsie Line platform. Another mezzanine on the western side of the station serves the Canarsie Line platform directly. There were several connecting passageways between the western Canarsie Line mezzanine and the larger concourse area above the Broadway Line. However, these passageways have been sealed off. The passageways to the Canarsie Line platform is decorated with cruciform borders similar to those in the other passageways.6–7, 18 Artwork center horizontal 500 Union Sq 14 9-11 name hall jeh.jpg Tile name tablets on the mezzanine with names of September 11 attack victims Union_Sq_mezzanine_vc.jpg Corridor sloping up from the IRT to BMT mezzanines A wall of white tiles on the station's mezzanine. Stickers with the names of 9/11 victims are placed on the tiles. View of a corridor sloping upward from the IRT mezzanine to the BMT mezzanine. The corridor is wide and contains tiled floors, a low ceiling, and green columns. Framing Union Square, by Mary Miss, is a station-wide art installation commissioned as part of the MTA Arts & Design program.Framing Union Square https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/framing-union-square live https://web.archive.org/web/20221216143159/https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/framing-union-square December 16, 2022 May 2, 2023 Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityJacobs Karrie December 23, 1996 Notes From Underground – Cityscape https://books.google.com/books?id=SeECAAAAMBAJ&q=bmt+union+square+renovation&pg=PA34 New York Magazine 29 50 34 Google Books It consists of six wall segments on the corridor above the western side of the IRT station, which were originally part of a double-height wall adjacent to the IRT station's southbound local platform. The wall segments have faience cornices, mosaic tile borders, and plaques of eagles.4–5 Bright red frames surround objects such as mosaics, cables, and bolts. According to Miss, the artwork was intended to invite "the public to look below the surface, to see a 'slice' of the station, its structure, its history". In 2005, an artwork called City Glow by Chiho Aoshima was installed within an advertising space at the station.Chiho Aoshima – Rebirth of the World http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/chiho live https://web.archive.org/web/20201127013802/http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/chiho November 27, 2020 December 27, 2020 Seattle Art MuseumVan Den Abeele L. https://books.google.com/books?id=5dxHAQAAIAAJ Disorder in the House: Vanhaerents Art Collection Vanhaerents W. de Coninck F. Lanoo 2010 978-90-209-9105-5 23 December 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065219/https://books.google.com/books?id=5dxHAQAAIAAJ February 21, 2021 live Imprinted on the walls of the BMT mezzanine are over 3,000 stickers with the names of victims of the September 11 attacks, which were put up by artist John Lin and sixteen friends on September 10, 2002.Levine Lester April 23, 2019 An Overlooked Memorial in Union Square Subway Station Commemorates 9/11 Victims https://untappedcities.com/2019/04/23/an-overlooked-memorial-in-union-square-subway-station-commemorates-9-11-victims-15-years-later/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20200811042316/https://untappedcities.com/2019/04/23/an-overlooked-memorial-in-union-square-subway-station-commemorates-9-11-victims-15-years-later/ August 11, 2020 December 27, 2020 Untapped New York en-US The stickers were not approved by the MTA and have deteriorated since they were placed.Pollak Michael September 24, 2011 Answers to Questions About New York en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/nyregion/answers-to-questions-about-new-york.html live December 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20120101201148/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/nyregion/answers-to-questions-about-new-york.html January 1, 2012 0362-4331Brown Nicole September 6, 2018 9/11 memorials in NYC: Where to honor victims of the terrorist attacks https://www.amny.com/news/september-11-memorials-1-14117664/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065219/https://www.amny.com/news/september-11-memorials-1-14117664/ February 21, 2021 December 27, 2020 amNewYork Another work of street art, a temporary wall of Post-it notes known as "Subway Therapy", appeared on the station's walls after Donald Trump was elected as U.S. president in 2016 but was removed after one month.Rosenberg Eli December 17, 2016 Sticky Notes Bearing Election Hopes and Fears Removed from Subway en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/nyregion/subway-election-therapy-wall-sticky-notes.html May 2, 2023 0362-4331 November 8, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201108122313/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/nyregion/subway-election-therapy-wall-sticky-notes.html live December 19, 2016 Post-election 'Subway Therapy' sticky notes taken down — but not thrown out en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/12/19/post-election-subway-therapy-sticky-notes-taken-down-but-not-thrown-out/ May 2, 2023 0190-8286 May 5, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220505165849/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/12/19/post-election-subway-therapy-sticky-notes-taken-down-but-not-thrown-out/ live "Subway Therapy" re-appeared at the station following Trump's 2024 reelection.Tuchman Lindsay Subway Therapy returns to Union Square let New Yorkers express their thoughts after 2024 presidential election ABC7 New York November 7, 2024 https://abc7ny.com/post/subway-therapy-returns-union-square-let-new-yorkers-express-thoughts-after-2024-presidential-election/15523735/ November 10, 2024 Exits thumb|Station entrance sign|alt=A sign at the entrance to the station. It contains the text "14 Street Union Square Station", the emblems for the routes that stop there, and elevator information. There are numerous entrances and exits to the station. An entrance with one stair, escalator bank, and elevator in the Zeckendorf Towers, at the northeast corner of 4th Avenue and 14th Street, connects with the southeast end of the station. This entrance provides people that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) access to the station.18 The Zeckendorf Towers entrance is privately maintained; 2023 y, the escalators there had been among the least reliable in the New York City Subway system for several years. There are two stairs to each of the southwest and southeast corners of the same intersection. All of these lead directly to the Lexington Avenue Line mezzanine. One block to the west, two staircases on the south side of 14th Street between Broadway and University Place lead to the western Canarsie Line mezzanine.18MTA Neighborhood Maps: 14 St-Union Sq (N)(Q)(R)(W) https://new.mta.info/document/771 Metropolitan Transportation Authority December 25, 2020 2018 February 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210221065218/https://new.mta.info/document/771 live A closed exit extended to the west side of Broadway between 13th and 14th Streets.18Subway stair closures https://github.com/datanews/subway-stair-closures GitHub November 12, 2015 en May 5, 2020 September 7, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200907165452/https://github.com/datanews/subway-stair-closures live The central portion of the station contains another exit from the Lexington Avenue Line mezzanine to the Zeckendorf Towers, which leads to the southeast corner of Union Square East and 15th Street. There are also two stairs inside Union Square Park between 14th and 15th Streets. One is closer to Union Square West between these two streets, opposite the equestrian statue of George Washington, while the other is closer to Union Square East and 15th Street. These entrances are closest to the Broadway Line station.18 The Union Square Park entrances contain large polygonal metal-and-glass canopies, which date from a 1985 renovation of the park.7 At the northern end of the station, two stairs rise to Union Square Park on the east side of Union Square West at 16th Street. These lead directly to the Broadway Line mezzanine. IRT Lexington Avenue Line platforms 14 Street–Union Square 14 Street-Union Square IRT 003.JPG Downtown platform for the local services (left) and express services (right), showing the curvature of the station and the gap fillers IRT IRT Lexington Avenue Line Lexington 2 island platforms (in service)cross-platform interchange2 side platforms (abandoned) 4 yes 1904 10 27 yhttp://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/10/28/118948832.html Our Subway Open: 150,000 Try It; Mayor McClellan Runs the First Official Train. October 28, 1904 The New York Times April 21, 2020 en-US 0362-4331 1 November 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012129/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/10/28/118948832.html live mezzanine yes New York City Subway Lexington express Grand Central–42nd Street Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall 1 1 Lexington local 23rd Street–Baruch College Astor Place 1 1 New York City Subway none 18th Street blank local; closed allexceptnightsalltimesnightsonlyrushpeak y track uvSTR!~MFADEg ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS Grand Central–42nd Street Lexington udSTR!~dMFADEg\uvSTR\udSTR!~dMFADEg ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS 23rd Street–Baruch College numN330\uvSTRf\uvSTRg\ uvÜST\uvSTR uv-SHI2r\uvSTR\uvSTR- udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\uvSTR- udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\uvSHI2l- excPLT\udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR\excPLT excPLT\udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR\excPLT uvSHI2l-\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR uv-STR\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR uv-STR\uvSTR\uv-SHI2gr uv-STR\ubvvvSTR uv-STR\ubvvvSTR uv-STR\udSTR\uvÜST\udSTR uv-STR\uvSTR\uvSHI2g+l- uvSTRf\uvSTRg udSTR!~dMFADEf\uvSTR\udSTR!~dMFADEf ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS Astor Place uvSTR!~MFADEf ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall View of the downtown platform of the Lexington Avenue Line station. The local track is to the left, and the express platform is to the right. Due to the extremely sharp curve, there are gap fillers on the platforms. The 14th Street–Union Square station (also Union Square–14th Street) is an express station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. The 4 and 6 trains stop here at all times;timetable 4timetable 6 the 5 train stops here at all times except late nights;timetable 5 and the <6> train stops here during weekdays in the peak direction. The 5 train always makes express stops, the 6 and <6> trains always make local stops; and the 4 train makes express stops during the day and local stops at night. The next station northbound is NYCS 23rd Street–Baruch College Lexington for local trains and NYCS Grand Central–42nd Street Lexington for express trains, while the next station southbound is NYCS Astor Place for local trains and NYCS Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall for express trains.map When the subway opened, the next local stop to the north was NYCS 18th Street Lexington; that station closed in 1948.November 6, 1948 IRT Station To Be Closed; East Side Subway Trains to End Stops at 18th Street 29 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1948/11/06/archives/irt-station-to-be-closed-east-side-subway-trains-to-end-stops-at.html live April 17, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20180723065232/https://www.nytimes.com/1948/11/06/archives/irt-station-to-be-closed-east-side-subway-trains-to-end-stops-at.html July 23, 2018 0362-4331 The station has four tracks and two island platforms. The uptown and downtown platforms are offset from each other, having been extended at their rear ends, and are curved.5 The island platforms allow for cross-platform interchanges between local and express trains heading in the same direction. Local trains use the outer tracks while express trains use the inner tracks. The island platforms were originally 350 ft long, like the other express stations on the original IRT,48 but later were extended to 525 ft. The platforms are 30 ft m wide at their widest point.8 Departing passengers are asked to watch the gap upon leaving the train at this station. Platform gap fillers on the downtown side use proximity sensors to detect when trains arrive, automatically extending when a train has stopped in the station.5 Unlike the rest of the complex, no elevators lead down to the Lexington Avenue Line platforms.Martinez Jose January 26, 2021 Union Square Curves Add Accessibility Challenge to $100M Makeover https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/1/25/22249712/union-square-curves-add-accessibility-challenge-to-100m-makeover May 1, 2023 The City December 6, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221206081057/https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/1/25/22249712/union-square-curves-add-accessibility-challenge-to-100m-makeover live This is because the portions of the platforms under the mezzanine are too narrow for elevators. A 2020 study by Stantec found that, unless the downtown platform were rebuilt, it could never become fully accessible because of its "extreme curvature".Martinez Jose February 20, 2020 MTA Could Make Many More NYC Subway Stations Accessible, Study Finds https://www.thecity.nyc/transportation/2020/2/20/21210518/mta-could-make-many-more-subway-stations-accessible-study-finds May 1, 2023 The City According to a separate report by engineering firm STV, it would be prohibitively expensive to relocate the southbound platform northward to eliminate the gap fillers.March 25, 2023 IRT Capacity Study Final Report https://archive.org/details/irt-capacity-study-final-reportt-redacted May 2, 2023 Internet Archive STV A.16 The station has two abandoned local side platforms; the northbound platform is visible through windows, bordered with wide, bright red frames.5 A combination of island and side platforms was also used at Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line and 96th Street on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.Framberger David J. 1978 Architectural Designs for New York's First Subway https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf December 20, 2020 Historic American Engineering Record 1–46 (PDF pp. 367–412) January 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf live8 Design center horizontal 600 IRT North end Union Sq plat jeh.jpg The platforms are offset, with the original platforms having been extended at their rears NYCS IRT LexAve 14St.jpg Abandoned side platform behind the wall and the black bars on the right, whose edge is still visible Union Square subway 001.JPG Old IRT "14" eagle cartouche View of the northern end of the northbound platform. The northern end of the southbound platform, which extends beyond the northbound platform, is visible to the left. View of the southbound local platform of the 14th Street–Union Square station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line. Behind the wall and the black bars on the right there is an abandoned side platform, whose edge is still visible. The mezzanine is right above. The red and white stripe indicates that there is no clearance between trains and the wall. In the foreground one can see the gap fillers that are automatically operated via proximity sensors. The writing on the floor says "stand clear". A beige, green, and blue cartouche on the wall of the station with the number "14" in white text As with other stations built as part of the original IRT, the station was constructed using a cut-and-cover method.Scott Charles 1978 Design and Construction of the IRT: Civil Engineering https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf December 20, 2020 Historic American Engineering Record 208–282 (PDF pp. 209–283) January 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf live237 The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The bottom of this trough has a foundation of concrete no less than 4 in thick.3–49 Each platform consists of 3 in cm -thick mid concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The platforms have I-beam columns spaced every 15 ft. Additional columns between the tracks, spaced every 5 ft, support the jack-arched concrete station roofs.3–449 There is a 1 in on gap between the trough wall and the platform walls, which are made of 4 in on-thick brick covered over by a tiled finish.3–49 The walls near the tracks do not have any identifying motifs with the station's name, as all station identification signs are on the platforms. The trackside walls are clad with vertical white glass tiles.5 The original decorative scheme for the side platforms consisted of blue tile station-name tablets, blue and buff tile bands, a yellow faience cornice, and blue faience plaques.34 The mosaic tiles at all original IRT stations were manufactured by the American Encaustic Tile Company, which subcontracted the installations at each station.31 The decorative work was performed by faience contractor Grueby Faience Company.34 Above the IRT platforms are 32 ceiling fans, which were installed in 2000. Despite the fans' presence, the station is consistently reported as one of the hottest in the New York City Subway system.Khalifeh Ramsey The 'blast furnace' subway sauna at Union Square makes life hell for riders Gothamist 2026-08-14 https://gothamist.com/news/the-blast-furnace-subway-sauna-at-union-square-makes-life-hell-for-riders 2026-08-15 Track layout Similar to at 72nd Street on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, there were originally additional tracks at the approach to either platform between each pair of local and express tracks. These tracks were approximately 300 ft m long and were used as "stacking" tracks, where trains could be held momentarily until the platform was clear and the train could enter the station. The tracks here and at 72nd Street were rendered useless when train lengths grew beyond these tracks' capacity. The track between the southbound tracks, north of the southbound platform, was removed as a result of the 1991 derailment. A similar track still exists between the northbound tracks south of the northbound platform.trackref trackbook BMT Broadway Line platforms 14 Street–Union Square BMT Broadway 14th Street-Union Square Southbound Platform.jpg R46 Q train arriving on the southbound express track BMT BMT Broadway Line Broadway 2 island platformscross-platform interchange 4 yes Transfer to IRT Lexington Avenue Line platforms not accessible 1917 09 4 y yes New York City Subway Broadway express 34th Street–Herald Square Canal Street 1 1 services split Broadway local 23rd Street Eighth Street–New York University 1 1 allexceptnightsalltimesnightsonlynightsweekendsweekdaysonly y 23rd Street Eighth Street–New York University Eighth St–NYU 34th Street–Herald Square 34th St–Herald Square Canal Street 345 BMT Broadway Line BMT Manhattan Bridge Line A view from the southbound platform of the BMT Broadway Line's 14th Street station. A "Q" train is arriving. The 14th Street–Union Square station is an express station on the BMT Broadway Line that has four tracks and two island platforms. The N and Q stop here at all times,timetable ntimetable q the R stops here except at night,timetable r and the W stops here only on weekdays during the day.timetable w The R and W always run on the local tracks. The N runs on the express tracks only on weekdays during the day and on the local tracks at all other times. The Q runs on the express tracks during the day and on the local tracks during the night. The next station northbound is NYCS 23rd Street Broadway for local trains and NYCS 34th Street–Herald Square Broadway for express trains, while the next station southbound is NYCS Eighth Street–New York University for local trains and NYCS Canal Street Broadway for express trains. The island platforms were originally 530 ft long but were extended to 615 ft in the early 1970s.5 Both platforms are 18 ft 8 in wide.Stv Inc. February 2020 New York City Transit System-wide Platform Screen Door Feasibility Study Summary of Conclusions https://new.mta.info/document/73241 January 28, 2022 Metropolitan Transportation Authority3146 The platforms are 30 ft below the street. At the southern end of each platform, three stairs and an elevator lead to the mezzanine, and one stair leads to the Canarsie Line platforms. At the northern end of each platform, two stairs lead to the mezzanine.5–6, 18 The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The bottom of this trough has a concrete foundation no less than 4 in thick. Each platform consists of 3 in cm -thick mid concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The platforms have I-beam columns spaced every 15 ft;3–4 these columns are placed 3 ft 6 in from the platform edge.3146 Additional columns between the tracks, spaced every 5 ft, support the jack-arched concrete station roofs. The trackside walls also contain exposed I-beam columns, dividing the trackside walls into 5-foot-wide panels.3–4 thumb|left|Mosaic depicting the junction of Broadway and Bowery Road in 1828|alt=A tile mosaic on top of the outer wall of the Broadway Line platforms. The mosaic depicts the junction of Broadway and Bowery Road in 1828. The panels on the trackside walls consist of white square ceramic tiles. A frieze with multicolored geometric patterns runs atop the trackside walls, with a square mosaic tile placed inside the frieze at intervals of three panels. A band of narrow green tiles runs along the left and right edges of each white-tiled panel, as well as below the frieze and mosaic tiles.6 The mosaic tiles, by Jay Van Everen, are part of a work entitled The junction of Broadway and Bowery Road, 1828, a reference to the two streets that intersect at Union Square.6Schneider Daniel B. December 21, 1997 F.Y.I. - Frieze Frame en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/21/nyregion/fyi-678287.html May 12, 2020 0362-4331 May 20, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200520045044/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/21/nyregion/fyi-678287.html live BMT Canarsie Line platform Union Square 14 Street–Union Square Union Sq Canarsie vc.jpg Platform view BMT BMT Canarsie Line Canarsie Manhattan 1 island platform 2 yes transfer to IRT Lexington Avenue Line platforms not accessible 1924 06 30 y yes New York City Subway Canarsie Sixth Avenue Third Avenue alltimes y Sixth Avenue Third Avenue yes 060 BMT Canarsie Line A view of passengers on the Canarsie Line platform The Union Square station (announced as 14th Street–Union Square on rolling stock) on the BMT Canarsie Line has two tracks and one island platform. The station is served by the L train at all times and is between NYCS Sixth Avenue Canarsie to the west and NYCS Third Avenue Canarsie to the east.timetable l Various stairs and an elevator go up from the platform to the mezzanine. A stair also leads directly to either of the Broadway Line platforms.7, 18 An escalator leads directly from the Canarsie Line platform to the IRT mezzanine. The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The bottom of this trough has a concrete foundation no less than 4 in thick. The platform consists of 3 in cm -thick mid concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The platform contains I-beam columns spaced every 15 ft;3–4 these columns are placed between 28 and 42 in from the platform edge.3001 The trackside walls also contain exposed I-beam columns, dividing the trackside walls into 5-foot-wide panels.3–4 The panels on the trackside walls consist of white square ceramic tiles. A band of narrow green tiles runs along the left, right, and top edges of each white-tiled panel. A frieze with multicolored geometric patterns runs atop the trackside walls, with a hexagonal mosaic tile with the letter "U" placed inside the frieze at intervals of three panels.6–7 Ridership The 14th Street–Union Square station has historically ranked among the New York City Subway's busiest stations.Grynbaum Michael M. Main St. Stop in Flushing Joins List of Subway's Busiest City Room June 7, 2011 https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/main-st-stop-in-flushing-joins-list-of-subways-busiest/ May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230503130853/https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/main-st-stop-in-flushing-joins-list-of-subways-busiest/ live Although the station had only 14 million passengers in 1913,March 28, 1914 New Times Location Benefit to Readers 18 Brooklyn Times Union newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-new-times-location-benefit-t/125096031/ May 21, 2023 May 21, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230521233513/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-new-times-location-benefit-t/125096031/ live this had increased to 40 million passengers per year in 1925 shortly after the opening of the Canarsie Line platform.November 15, 1925 Times Square Gains as Transit Centre; Outstrips All Subway Stations With 65,557,667 Fares Collected on Two Lines in Year. en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1925/11/15/archives/times-square-gains-as-transit-centre-outstrips-all-subway-stations.html May 13, 2023 0362-4331 August 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230814161811/https://www.nytimes.com/1925/11/15/archives/times-square-gains-as-transit-centre-outstrips-all-subway-stations.html live By the early 1930s, the complex recorded 52 million annual passengers. The number of passengers entering the 14th Street–Union Square station annually declined over the years, from 22.702 million in 1963 to 17.168 million in 1973.Burks Edward C. November 26, 1973 Use of Lexington Ave. IRT, Busiest Line in City, Drops en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/26/archives/use-of-lexington-ave-irt-busiest-line-in-city-drops-stations.html May 8, 2023 0362-4331 May 9, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230509012747/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/26/archives/use-of-lexington-ave-irt-busiest-line-in-city-drops-stations.html live By 2011, the Union Square station was the fourth-busiest in the system, behind the Times Square, Grand Central, and Herald Square stations; at the time, an average of 107,352 riders entered the station every weekday.April 20, 2015 New York City's Busiest Subway Stations https://graphics.wsj.com/table/NYRIDER_0420 May 8, 2023 The Wall Street Journal 0099-9660 May 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230508211447/https://graphics.wsj.com/table/NYRIDER_0420 live In 2019, the station had 32,385,260 boardings, making it the fourth-most-used station in the number intl-station system. This amounted to an average of 101,832 passengers per weekday.riderref Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, ridership dropped drastically in 2020, with only 10,830,712 passengers entering the station that year. However, it remained the system's fourth most-used station.Subway and bus ridership for 2020 MTA August 31, 2020 https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/subway-bus-ridership-2020 July 8, 2022 October 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211031024901/https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/subway-bus-ridership-2020 live Gannon Devin In 2020, NYC subway saw a billion fewer total trips than year prior 6sqft May 18, 2020 https://www.6sqft.com/in-2020-nyc-subway-saw-a-billion-fewer-total-trips-than-year-prior/ July 8, 2022 June 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220630200755/https://www.6sqft.com/in-2020-nyc-subway-saw-a-billion-fewer-total-trips-than-year-prior/ live References Further reading Stookey Lee Subway ceramics : a history and iconography of mosaic and bas relief signs and plaques in the New York City subway system L. Stookey Brattleboro, Vt 1994 978-0-9635486-1-0 31901471 External links nycsubway.org:2 http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?5:3098 IRT East Side Line 14th Street/Union Square http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?202:3230 BMT Broadway Subway 14th Street/Union Square http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?203:2866 BMT Canarsie Line Union Square nycsubway.org – Framing Union Square Artwork by Mary Miss (1998) https://web.archive.org/web/20120520112642/http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?59 May 20, 2012 nycsubway.org – Paradise Artwork by Chiho Aoshima (2005) https://web.archive.org/web/20120520203326/http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?118 May 20, 2012 nycsubway.org – City Glow Artwork by Chiho Aoshima (2005) https://web.archive.org/web/20120520210545/http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?117 May 20, 2012 Google Maps Street View: 30em 14th Street and Broadway entrance to Canarsie Line 14th Street and Fourth Avenue entrance https://web.archive.org/web/20121112012216/https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.734365,-73.989701&spn=0,0.013433&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.73432,-73.989593&panoid=lmadY_2-KHKdP-jqfOBKSw&cbp=12,214.91,,0,11.6 November 12, 2012 Entrance by Union Square East https://web.archive.org/web/20121112012231/https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.735218,-73.99012&spn=0,0.013433&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.7353,-73.990051&panoid=0ant4c_87rvVGSlY46ZfXA&cbp=12,276.95,,0,3.06 November 12, 2012 Union Square East and 15th Street entrance https://web.archive.org/web/20121112012252/https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.73521,-73.989873&spn=0,0.013433&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.735121,-73.989881&panoid=FpXUf34HUCECAe0zOJE4jA&cbp=12,81.56,,0,3.78 November 12, 2012 Entrance in Union Square Park https://web.archive.org/web/20121112012305/https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.735064,-73.991354&spn=0,0.013433&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.735021,-73.991246&panoid=2TgljF-rDoxhzIY6MRhYOA&cbp=12,33.54,,1,0.51 November 12, 2012 Union Square West and 16th Street entrance Broadway Line platforms https://web.archive.org/web/20201127224243/http://www.google.com/maps/@40.736526,-73.9893039,3a,75y,146.39h,88.84t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-93z-KyeO9PM%2FVeeJQQiGtmI%2FAAAAAAAAn5w%2FNcYjILy6jTE!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-93z-KyeO9PM%2FVeeJQQiGtmI%2FAAAAAAAAn5w%2FNcYjILy6jTE%2Fw203-h100-n-k-no%2F!7i10240!8i5120!6m1!1e1 November 27, 2020 Canarsie Line platform https://web.archive.org/web/20201128015830/http://www.google.com/maps/@40.7350398,-73.9912506,3a,75y,327.14h,88.46t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-PMR5kzXZEq4%2FVevo1BVQDyI%2FAAAAAAAAqko%2F0Ks9d1lNyHM!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-PMR5kzXZEq4%2FVevo1BVQDyI%2FAAAAAAAAqko%2F0Ks9d1lNyHM%2Fw203-h101-n-k-no%2F!7i8704!8i4352?hl=en November 28, 2020 IRT uptown platform https://web.archive.org/web/20201127131702/http://www.google.com/maps/@40.7305489,-73.9925613,3a,75y,358.83h,91.86t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-kGY4iFcQsr0%2FV4nETbrUlOI%2FAAAAAAAAKGU%2FqNlERIRDteodR1Mbxwar_3ENtCl9KosXwCLIB!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-kGY4iFcQsr0%2FV4nETbrUlOI%2FAAAAAAAAKGU%2FqNlERIRDteodR1Mbxwar_3ENtCl9KosXwCLIB%2Fw203-h100-p-k-no%2F!7i9728!8i4864!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1!6m1!1e1 November 27, 2020 Mezzanine https://web.archive.org/web/20201127051622/http://www.google.com/maps/@40.7358581,-73.9904694,3a,75y,235.79h,89.05t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-0miklyncfD8%2FVh62bk4CX1I%2FAAAAAAAA5x0%2FATNZFwATbv4!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-0miklyncfD8%2FVh62bk4CX1I%2FAAAAAAAA5x0%2FATNZFwATbv4%2Fw203-h101-n-k-no%2F!7i8704!8i4352 November 27, 2020 Other websites:2 Station Reporter – 14th Street–Union Square Complex Forgotten NY – Original 28 – NYC's First 28 Subway Stations https://web.archive.org/web/20190110023049/http://forgotten-ny.com/2006/01/the-original-28-part-1-a-look-at-the-artwork-from-the-nycs-first-28-stations-opened-october-27-1904-2/ January 10, 2019 Abandoned Stations – Abandoned Stations – 14th Street side platforms https://web.archive.org/web/20190123083532/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/14st.html January 23, 2019 y y y y y y y y y yes yes yes Category:14th Street (Manhattan) Category:1948 establishments in New York City Category:BMT Broadway Line stations Category:BMT Canarsie Line stations Category:Broadway (Manhattan) Category:IRT Lexington Avenue Line stations Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan Category:New York City Subway transfer stations Category:New York State Register of Historic Places in New York County * Category:Railway and subway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1948 Category:Union Square, Manhattan