103rd Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)

New York City Subway station in Manhattan 103rd Street (disambiguation)103rd Street December 2020 August 2025 103 Street 103 St SB platform post renovation.JPG Southbound platform East 103rd Street & Lexington AvenueNew York, New York East Harlem Manhattan 40.79029 N 73.947687 W inline,title IRT IRT Lexington Avenue Line Lexington local Lexington local header NYCT Bus: M101 M102 M103M 2 side platforms 4 Underground 1918 7 17 yes New York City Subway Lexington local 110th Street 96th Street 1 1 nycs 5 does not stop here alltimesnightsonlyrushpeak y track numN330\\uvSTR!~MFADEg\uvSTR!~MFADEg ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS 110th Street Lexington \\uvSTRf\uvSTRg \\cPLT\ubvvvSTR\cPLT \\cPLT\ubvvvSTR\cPLT \\cPLT\ubvvvSTR\cPLT \\cPLT\ubvvvSTR\cPLT \\udSTR\uvSTR!~MFADEf!~utvSTR\udSTR \\udSTR\utvSTRfg\udSTR \\udSTR\utvSTR!~MFADEf\udSTR ~~ ~~ ~~ express tracks to NYCS 86th Street Lexington \\uvSHI2l-\uv-SHI2r \\uvSTRfg \\uvSTR!~MFADEf ~~ ~~ ~~ to NYCS 96th Street Lexington \ uSTRq ~~ ~~ ~~ Upper level utSTRq ~~ ~~ ~~ Lower level The 103rd Street station is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 103rd Street in East Harlem, it is served by the 6 train at all times, the <6> train during weekdays in the peak direction, and the 4 train during late nights. This station was constructed as part of the Dual Contracts by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and opened in 1918. It was renovated in 1990 and in 2015–2016. History Construction and opening Following the completion of the original subway, there were plans to construct a line along Manhattan's east side north of 42nd Street. The original plan for what became the extension north of 42nd Street was to continue it south through Irving Place and into what is now the BMT Broadway Line at Ninth Street and Broadway. In July 1911, the IRT had withdrawn from the talks, and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) was to operate on Lexington Avenue. The IRT submitted an offer for what became its portion of the Dual Contracts on February 27, 1912.Walker James Blaine Fifty Years of Rapid Transit — 1864 to 1917 1918 Law Printing New York, N.Y. 230–233 https://archive.org/details/fiftyyearsrapid00walkgoog November 6, 2016https://www.nytimes.com/1912/05/22/archives/petition-for-subway-in-lexington-ave-district-residents-object-to.html Petition for Subway in Lexington Ave. May 22, 1912 0362-4331 The New York Times February 16, 2009 A petition is being circulated among the residents and property owners of the section just south of the Grand Central Station, in Park and Lexington Avenues, protesting against the proposed abandonment of the construction of the Subway in Lexington Avenue, between Forty-third and Thirty-second Streets. May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021130/https://www.nytimes.com/1912/05/22/archives/petition-for-subway-in-lexington-ave-district-residents-object-to.html live In 1913, as part of the Dual Contracts, which were signed on March 19, 1913,https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/20/100611839.pdf Subway Contracts Solemnly Signed; Cheers at the Ceremonial Function When McCall Gets Willcox to Attest. March 20, 1913 The New York Times January 11, 2018 en-US 0362-4331 May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021115/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/20/100611839.pdf live the Public Service Commission planned to split the original Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) system from looking like a "Z" system (as seen on a map) to an H-shaped system. The original system would be split into three segments: two north–south lines, carrying through trains over the Lexington Avenue and Broadway–Seventh Avenue Lines, and a west–east shuttle under 42nd Street. This would form a roughly H-shaped system.March 19, 1913 Money Set Aside For New Subways; Board of Estimate Approves City Contracts to be Signed To-day with Interboro and B.R.T. en-US The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/19/104910612.pdf November 10, 2017 0362-4331 July 7, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210707225820/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/03/19/104910612.pdf livehttps://books.google.com/books?id=mONHAQAAMAAJ&q=5,900+feet+long+clark+street+tunnel&pg=PA846 Engineering News-record 1916 McGraw-Hill Publishing Company 846 en December 28, 2020 May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021116/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Engineering_News_record/mONHAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=5%2C900+feet+long+clark+street+tunnel&pg=PA846&printsec=frontcover live It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of the Upper East Side and the Bronx.https://www.nytimes.com/1918/03/10/archives/the-seventh-and-lexington-avenue-subways-will-revive-dormant.html The Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subways Will Revive Dormant Sections — Change in Operation That Will Transform Original Four-Tracked Subway Into Two Four-Tracked Systems and Double Present Capacity of the Interborough Whitney Travis H. March 10, 1918 The New York Times August 26, 2016 12 May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021133/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/03/10/archives/the-seventh-and-lexington-avenue-subways-will-revive-dormant.html?searchResultPosition=1 livehttps://www.nytimes.com/1918/05/19/archives/article-1-no-title-east-tank-line-west-trunk-line-park-place.html Public Service Commission Fixes July 15 For Opening of The New Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subway Lines — Will Afford Better Service and Less Crowding — Shuttle Service for Forty-Second Street — How the Various Lines of the Dual System Are Grouped for Operation and List of Stations on All Lines May 19, 1918 The New York Times November 6, 2016 32 May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021117/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/05/19/archives/article-1-no-title-east-tank-line-west-trunk-line-park-place.html?searchResultPosition=1 live The 103rd Street station opened on July 17, 1918, with service initially running between Grand Central–42nd Street and 167th Street via the line's local tracks.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/07/17/102723156.pdf Lexington Av. Line to be Opened Today July 17, 1918 The New York Times April 21, 2020 en-US 0362-4331 13 December 14, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211214183011/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/07/17/102723156.pdf live1918-07-17 Lexington Subway to Operate To-day 8 New York Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald/66004851/ 2023-05-30 On August 1, the "H system" was put into place, with through service beginning on the new east and west side trunk lines, and the institution of the 42nd Street Shuttle along the old connection between the sides.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://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html November 6, 2016 January 6, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210106233417/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html?searchResultPosition=1 live1918-08-02 New "H" System Brings Worst Subway Jam 1, 6 New-York Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-new-h-system-brings-w/125572944/ 2023-05-30 The cost of the extension from Grand Central was $58 million (US 58000000 1918 eq).July 11, 1918 Finish a New Link of the Dual Subway; Lexington Avenue Line North of Forty-second Street to Begin Local Service Wednesday. Branch Extends to Bronx Through service, with Times SquareGrand Central Shuttle Connections, to Open Soon. Changes in the Bronx. 20 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1918/07/11/archives/finish-a-new-link-of-the-dual-subway-lexington-avenue-line-north-of.html live January 8, 2017 0362-4331 May 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220504021118/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/07/11/archives/finish-a-new-link-of-the-dual-subway-lexington-avenue-line-north-of.html?searchResultPosition=1 Later years 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 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 In 1981, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) listed the 103rd Street station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.Gargan Edward A. 1981-06-11 AGENCY LISTS ITS 69 MOST DETERIORATED SUBWAY STATIONS https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/11/nyregion/agency-lists-its-69-most-deteriorated-subway-stations.html 2024-02-28 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 A renovation of the 103rd Street station was funded as part of the MTA's 1980–1984 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 May 4, 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 The MTA received a $106 million (US 106000000 1984 eq) grant from the Urban Mass Transit Administration in October 1983; most of the grant would fund the renovation of eleven stations,Moses Charles T. October 3, 1983 TA Gets Funds to Fix Subways 3 Newsday 2574-5298 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/124100045/ta-gets-funds-to-fix-subwayscharles-t/ May 5, 2023Gargan Edward A. October 3, 1983 City Speeding Its Subway Repairs en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/03/nyregion/city-speeding-its-subway-repairs.html May 5, 2023 0362-4331 April 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220428025331/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/03/nyregion/city-speeding-its-subway-repairs.html live including 103rd Street. This station was renovated in 1990. The Downtown platform was renovated in 2015, with the placement of new white wall tiles, new floor tiles and benches. From January 26, 2016, to May 23, 2016, the Uptown platform was closed for renovation and was done in the same style as the Downtown platform. This was completed about a month earlier than planned.http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/planned_servChanges_46_Jan2015.htm 103rd Street - Full Service Restored - Planned Service Changes May 23, 2016 mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority dead https://web.archive.org/web/20190211211811/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/planned_servChanges_46_Jan2015.htm February 11, 2019 March 29, 2020 Station layout thumb|225px|Wall tiles prior to 2015 renovation This underground station has four tracks and two side platforms. The two center express tracks are used by the 4 and 5 trains during daytime hours.trackref trackbook3 The 6 stops here at all times, and the 4 stops here during late nights.timetable 4timetable 6 The station is between NYCS 110th Street Lexington to the north and NYCS 96th Street Lexington to the south.map All other stations between Grand Central–42nd Street and 125th Street on the line, except 110th Street, have the local tracks on an upper level and express ones on the lower level, with emergency exits provided at local stations for emergency egress. Both platforms have their original trim line, which has "103" tablets on it at regular intervals, and name tablets, which read "103RD STREET" in the original mosaic. Prior to the 1990 station renovation, mosaic tiles were used so as to depict the 103rd Street mosaic as a sign hanging down from a horizontal support beam above. These "signholders" were covered over in 1990. An emergency phone is present immediately to the south of the southbound local platform. The 1990 ceramic artwork here is called Neo-Boriken by Nitza Tufiño, based on the neighborhood's Caribbean and Latin American heritage. According to the accompanying plaque, P.R.O.M.I.S.E. (Puerto Rican Organization for Growth Research Education and Self Sufficiency) helped to fund the murals.http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=6&artist=1&station=14 103rd Street – Nitza Tufiño – Neo-Boriken, 1990 web.mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority live https://web.archive.org/web/20190901060003/http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=6&artist=1&station=14 September 1, 2019 March 30, 2020 This is one of two projects Tufiño made for MTA Arts & Design; the other, Westside Views – a community project for which she was the lead artist – can be found at 86th Street.86th Street – Nitza Tufiño – Westside Views, 1989 web.mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=1&artist=1&station=7 April 16, 2020 August 19, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200819081614/http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=1&artist=1&station=7 live thumb|left|Stair entrance — note the staggered fences due to the steep incline Exits The station's only entrance/exit is a mezzanine above the platforms and tracks near the south end. It has two staircases from each platform, a waiting area that can be used as a crossover, turnstile bank, token booth, and two street stairs going up to the southeast and southwest corners of 103rd Street and Lexington Avenue.https://new.mta.info/document/2106 103rd Street Neighborhood Map April 2018 mta.info Metropolitan Transportation Authority December 28, 2020 December 27, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211227192527/https://new.mta.info/document/2106 live The mezzanine has mosaics indicating uptown and downtown directions. The fences surrounding each exit stairway are unusual as each section of the fence is at a different elevation, as they are located on Duffy's Hill, a sharp incline, on Lexington Avenue between 102nd and 103rd Streets. References External links http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?5:3110 IRT East Side Line 103rd Street nycsubway.org — Neo-Boriken Artwork by Nitza Tufino (1990) Station Reporter — 4 Train Station Reporter — 6 Train MTA's Arts For Transit — 103rd Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) 103rd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View Platforms from Google Maps Street View y y yes Category:IRT Lexington Avenue Line stations Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1918 Category:1918 establishments in New York City Category:East Harlem