157th Street station

New York City Subway station in Manhattan August 2023 August 2023 157 Street 157th Street IRT Broadway 2.JPG The southbound platform West 157th Street & BroadwayNew York, New York Manhattan Washington Heights 40.834 N 73.944 W inline,title IRT IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line Broadway-Seventh north NYCT Bus: M4 M5 Bx6 Bx6 SBS (M3 M100 M101 on Amsterdam Avenue)M 2 side platforms 2 Underground future 1904 11 12 y New York City Subway Broadway-Seventh north 168th Street 145th Street New York City Subway none blank 96th Street express; one-way operation alltimes y 168th Street 145th Street IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line 330 The 157th Street station is a local station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Broadway and 157th Street in Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, it is served by the 1 train at all times. The 157th Street station was constructed for the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) as part of the city's first subway line, which was approved in 1900. Construction of the line segment that includes 157th Street began on May 14 of the same year. The station held a soft opening on October 29, 1904, and officially opened two weeks later on November 12. The station's platforms were lengthened in 1948, and the station was renovated in the late 20th century. The 157th Street station contains two side platforms and two tracks. The station was built with tile and mosaic decorations. The platforms contain exits to Broadway's intersection with 157th Street and not connected to each other within fare control. History right thumb|right|200px|Original station name mosaic Construction Planning for a subway line in New York City dates to 1864,21 but development of what became 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, the Rapid Transit Commission's chief engineer. 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 under 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 157th Street station was constructed as part of the IRT's West Side Line (now the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) from 133rd Street to a point 100 ft north of 182nd Street. Work on this section was conducted by L. B. McCabe & Brother, who started building the tunnel segment on May 14, 1900. On that date, a groundbreaking ceremony took place at Broadway and 156th Street, one block south of the 157th Street station site.May 15, 1900 Ground Broken for the Big Tunnel; Ceremonies on Washington Heights Where the Work Begins https://www.nytimes.com/1900/05/15/archives/group-broken-for-the-big-tunnel-ceremonies-on-washington-heights.html 2026-08-07 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 The section of the West Side Line around this station was originally planned as a two-track line, but in early 1901, was changed to a three-track structure to permit train storage in the center track.https://books.google.com/books?id=PLonAAAAYAAJ&q=Third+Track+North+of+Fort+George&pg=PA242 Report of the Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners For And In The City of New York Up to December 31, 1901 1902 Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners en January 4, 2021 May 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220502022956/https://books.google.com/books?id=PLonAAAAYAAJ&q=Third+Track+North+of+Fort+George&pg=PA242 live93https://books.google.com/books?id=kKUlAQAAIAAJ&q=november+26%2C+1904+subway+extension&pg=PA191 Report of the Public Service Commission For The First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1909 1910 Public Service Commission Albany en January 4, 2021 April 22, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422120155/https://books.google.com/books?id=kKUlAQAAIAAJ&q=november+26%2C+1904+subway+extension&pg=PA191 live189–190 A third track was added directly north of 96th Street, immediately east of the originally planned two tracks.October 2004 New York City's Subway Turns 100 https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2004-10-bulletin.pdf dead The Bulletin Electric Railroaders' Association 47 10 https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051535/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/2004-10-bulletin.pdf April 3, 2018 April 2, 201814 Opening Operation of the first subway began on October 27, 1904, with the opening of the original 28 stations of the New York City Subway from City Hall to 145th Street on the West Side Branch.186 157th Street was constructed as part of this initial line and was intended to open the same day, but painting and plastering work had not been completed. The station opened for limited service two days later to accommodate passengers traveling to a Yale–Columbia football game at the Polo Grounds.November 12, 1904 Subway On East Side Will Be Opened Soon: New Switching Station on West Side Nearly ready, too - Football Trains On Today 16 The New York Times subscription https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/12/120273073.pdf August 19, 2015 December 20, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211220124408/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/12/120273073.pdf live 157th Street formally opened on November 12, 1904; it became the northern terminus for West Side Line trains,https://books.google.com/books?id=oJ5RAAAAYAAJ Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide F. W. Dodge Corporation 1904 en relieving congestion at 96th Street, which previously had been the terminus for the IRT's local trains.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66884315/ Some Subway "Ifs" and "Don'ts" October 27, 1904 The New York Times January 4, 2021 9 newspapers.com 0362-4331 June 15, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220615133949/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66884315/some-subway-ifs-and-donts/ live There had been an unsuccessful proposal during the station's construction to name it after the neighboring Audubon Park enclave,571463832 Big Franchise Granted: Route Is to Connect Pennsylvania and New-Haven Roads 24 June 1904 5 New-York Tribune 1941-0646 but the station's opening nonetheless led to an influx of development in Audubon Park, where apartment buildings were developed in the following decades.May 28, 1911 Rows of Apartment Houses Wiping Out Old-Time Washington Heights Estates; Selling Off of Hoguet Property Sounds Death Knell of Family Mansion on Riverside Drive at 141st Street -- Transformation of the Big Audubon Park Tract -- Recent Years Have Seen Demolition of Many Country Homes -- New Structures Overlooking the Hudson. https://www.nytimes.com/1911/05/28/archives/rows-of-apartment-houses-wiping-out-oldtime-washington-heights.html 2026-08-08 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 limited On March 12, 1906, the IRT was extended from 157th Street to 221st Street.January 14, 1907 Farthest North in Town by the Interborough 18 The New York Times subscription https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/01/14/104980177.pdf May 16, 2020 July 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210708221312/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/01/14/104980177.pdf live Shuttle trains served the new extension terminating at 157th Street, meaning that passengers south of 157th Street wanting to go to stations on the extension had to transfer at 157th Street.Interborough Rapid Transit Company Subway Division - New York City 1906 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/1906_IRT_map_north.png September 1, 2016 October 8, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161008185111/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/1906_IRT_map_north.png live On May 30, 1906, express trains began running through to 221st Street, eliminating the need to transfer at this station.May 30, 1906 Express to 221st Street: Will Run In the Subway To-day–New 181st Street Station Ready. 1 The New York Times subscription https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/05/30/101426453.pdf June 14, 2018 December 22, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211222095136/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/05/30/101426453.pdf live Station improvements After the first subway line was completed in 1908,limited https://www.nytimes.com/1908/08/02/archives/our-first-subway-completed-at-last-opening-of-the-van-cortlandt.html Our First Subway Completed At Last — Opening of the Van Cortlandt Extension Finishes System Begun in 1900 — The Job Cost $60,000,000 — A Twenty-Mile Ride from Brooklyn to 242d Street for a Nickel Is Possible Now August 2, 1908 The New York Times November 6, 2016 10 December 23, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211223112020/https://www.nytimes.com/1908/08/02/archives/our-first-subway-completed-at-last-opening-of-the-van-cortlandt.html live the station was served by West Side local and express trains. Express trains began at South Ferry in Manhattan or Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and ended at 242nd Street in the Bronx. Local trains ran from City Hall to 242nd Street during rush hours, continuing south from City Hall to South Ferry at other times.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1916 119 January 4, 2021 May 11, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210511155639/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151 live In 1918, the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line opened south of Times Square–42nd Street, and the original line was divided into an H-shaped system. The original subway north of Times Square thus became part of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. Local trains were sent to South Ferry, while express trains used the new Clark Street Tunnel to Brooklyn.August 2, 1918 Open New Subway Lines to Traffic; Called a Triumph 1 The New York Times limited https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html October 4, 2011 0362-4331 January 6, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210106233417/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html?searchResultPosition=1 live 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 The northbound platform at the 157th Street station was extended 70 ft to the south and 60 ft to the north,113 while the southbound platform was not lengthened.106 Six-car local trains began operating in October 1910,168 and ten-car express trains began running on the West Side Line on January 24, 1911.168limited https://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 Subsequently, the station could accommodate six-car local trains, but ten-car trains could not open some of their doors. Work to construct new entrances at the station was 49 percent completed in Fiscal Year 1924.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015016416862&view=1up&seq=15 1923-1924 Annual Report of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company For The Year Ended June 30, 1924 Interborough Rapid Transit Company 1924 13 December 21, 2020 October 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211031152201/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015016416862&view=1up&seq=15 live The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.1940-06-13 City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign en-US The New York Times subscription https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html 2022-05-14 0362-4331 January 7, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220107193115/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html live 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 Platforms at IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line stations between 103rd Street IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and 238th Street IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, including those at 157th Street, were lengthened to 514 ft between 1946 and 1948, allowing full ten-car express trains to stop at these stations. A contract for the platform extensions at 157th Street and eight other stations on the line was awarded to Spencer, White & Prentis Inc. in October 1946,Crowell Paul October 11, 1946 Improvement Costs Voted for Subway; Board of Estimate Appropriates $31,291,000 for New Cars and Station Lengthening en-US 24 The New York Times subscription https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/10/11/94061958.pdf July 28, 2021 0362-4331 May 21, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220521165007/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/10/11/94061958.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false live with an estimated cost of $3.891 million.11 Oct 1946 City Approves $35,153,000 Subway Outlay: Board of Estimate Awards Contract for 400 Cars and 10 Station Projects 40 New York Herald Tribune 1941-0646 1287183692 The platform extensions at these stations were opened in stages. On April 6, 1948, the platform extension at 157th Street opened.Report for the three and one-half years ending June 30, 1949. 1949 New York City Board of Transportation 2027/mdp.39015023094926July 10, 1948 More Long Platforms – Five Subway Stations on IRT to Accommodate 10-Car Trains 8 The New York Times subscription https://www.nytimes.com/1948/07/10/archives/more-long-platforms-five-subway-stations-on-irt-to-accommodate.html March 27, 2016 0362-4331 January 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210108210737/https://www.nytimes.com/1948/07/10/archives/more-long-platforms-five-subway-stations-on-irt-to-accommodate.html?searchResultPosition=1 live At the same time, the IRT routes were given numbered designations with the introduction of "R-type" rolling stock, which contained rollsigns with numbered designations for each service.Brown Nicole How did the MTA subway lines get their letter or number? NYCurious amNewYork May 17, 2019 https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subway-name-1-31116195/ January 27, 2021 March 2, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210302020704/https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subway-name-1-31116195/ live The route to 242nd Street became known as the 1.Friedlander Alex Lonto Arthur Raudenbush Henry April 1960 A Summary of Services on the IRT Division, NYCTA https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1960/1960-01-bulletin.pdf New York Division Bulletin Electric Railroaders' Association 3 1 2 January 27, 2021 September 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200914232631/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1960/1960-01-bulletin.pdf dead In 1959, all 1 trains became local.February 7, 1959 Wagner Praises Modernized IRT — Mayor and Transit Authority Are Hailed as West Side Changes Take Effect 21 The New York Times subscription https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/07/archives/wagner-praises-modernized-irt-mayor-and-transit-authority-are.html November 6, 2016 January 1, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180101082503/http://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/07/archives/wagner-praises-modernized-irt-mayor-and-transit-authority-are.html?_r=0 live As part of its 2025–2029 Capital Program, the MTA has proposed making the station wheelchair-accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.https://www.youtube.com/live/bfrHeBsa9D4&t=3211s MTA Board - Capital Program Committee Meeting - 3/24/2025 en 2025-03-24 www.youtube.com 53:31 in video left Station layout GStreet levelEntrance/exitPPlatform levelSide platformNorthbound← newyork 1 toward NYCS Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street ()Southbound→ newyork 1 toward NYCS South Ferry Broadway-Seventh () →→ (No regular service (express track): NYCS 96th Street Broadway-Seventh)Side platform thumb|right|150px|Ceramic cartouche with number "157" This station was part of the original subway, and has two side platforms and two tracks.trackref trackbook3 The station is served by the 1 at all timestimetable 1 and is between 168th Street to the north and 145th Street to the south.map The platforms were originally 350 ft long, like at other stations north of 96th Street,48 but as a result of the 1948 platform extension, became 520 ft long. The platform extensions are at the rear ends of the original platforms: the southbound platform was extended northward and the northbound platform was extended southward.40 Design 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. This trough contains a foundation of concrete no less than 4 in thick.9 Each platform consists of 3 in cm -thick mid concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The original platforms contain I-beam columns spaced every 15 ft. Additional columns between the tracks, spaced every 5 ft, support the jack-arched concrete station roofs.4Framberger 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 live9 The tiled columns that run along the entire length and contain "157" painted in black.http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n15.jpg Tiled columns that are extremely frequent line the platform at 157 Street. Cox Jeremiah June 24, 2008 subwaynut.com August 26, 2019 August 20, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200820080813/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n15.jpg dead Some of the columns between the tracks have "157" signs in black lettering on white borders.http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n111.jpg 157 signs on the columns between the two tracks there. Cox Jeremiah June 24, 2008 subwaynut.com August 26, 2019 August 20, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200820081516/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n111.jpg dead 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.9 The decorative scheme consists of blue/green tile tablets; buff tile bands; a green terracotta cornice; and buff terracotta plaques.40 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 tile contractor Manhattan Glass Tile Company and terracotta contractor Atlantic Terra Cotta Company.40 The platforms contain their original trim line that includes "157" mosaics and name tablets reading "157TH ST." There are also directional signs on the tiles containing white lettering on a black background and brown border.http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n17.jpg A 157th Street name tablet in the extension portion of the station, a very IND era exit sign with an arrow for the only exit to 157th St is underneath it. Cox Jeremiah June 24, 2008 subwaynut.com August 26, 2019 August 20, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200820081336/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/157n17.jpg dead thumb|Uptown entrance Exits Each platform has one same-level fare control area near the middle. Both are fully staffed, containing a turnstile bank and token booth, and each has two street stairs. The northbound side's two exits lead to the southeast corner of 157th Street and Broadway, and the southbound side's two exits lead to the northwest corner of the intersection. There are no crossovers or crossunders to allow free transfers between directions. Only the South Ferry-bound side token booth is staffed.https://new.mta.info/document/2201 157th Street Neighborhood Map April 2018 mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority January 4, 2021 December 20, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211220113913/https://new.mta.info/document/2201 live left References External links http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?6:67 IRT West Side Line 157th Street Station Reporter – 1 Train The Subway Nut – 157th Street Pictures https://web.archive.org/web/20170614020514/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/157n1/index.php June 14, 2017 157th Street downtown entrance from Google Maps Street View 157th Street uptown entrance from Google Maps Street View Platforms from Google Maps Street View y yes collapsed Category:IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line stations Category:Washington Heights, Manhattan Category:Broadway (Manhattan) Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1904 Category:1904 establishments in New York City