Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line)

Coordinates: 40°44′00″N 73°52′13″W / 40.73347°N 73.870397°W / 40.73347; -73.870397
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 Woodhaven Blvd
 
QM42
StructureUnderground
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks4
Other information
OpenedDecember 31, 1936; 87 years ago (1936-12-31)
Accessiblenot ADA-accessible; accessibility planned
Opposite-
direction
transfer
Yes
Former/other namesWoodhaven Boulevard–Slattery Plaza
Woodhaven Boulevard–Queens Mall
Traffic
20223,872,081[3]Increase 18.3%
Rank62 out of 423[3]
Services
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
Grand Avenue–Newtown
E late nightsF late nightsR all times except late nights
63rd Drive–Rego Park
E late nightsF late nightsR all times except late nights
"F" express train does not stop here
Location
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line) is located in New York City Subway
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line) is located in New York City
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line) is located in New York
Woodhaven Boulevard station (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Track layout

Street map

Map

Station service legend
Symbol Description
Stops all times except late nights Stops all times except late nights
Stops late nights only Stops late nights only
Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekdays during the day

The Woodhaven Boulevard station is a local

Queens Center Mall
, as well as numerous bus lines.

Woodhaven Boulevard was opened on December 31, 1936, as Woodhaven Boulevard–Slattery Plaza. At the time, the station was part of the

Queens Center, an adjacent shopping mall
. The station was renovated in the 1990s.

History

Mosaic name tablet

Construction and opening

The

cut-and-cover tunneling method, and to allow pedestrians to cross, temporary bridges were built over the trenches.[8]

The first section of the line opened on August 19, 1933 from the connection to the Eighth Avenue Line at

Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights.[9] Later that year, a $23 million loan was approved to finance the remainder of the line, along with other IND lines.[10] The remainder of the line was built by the Public Works Administration.[11][12] In 1934 and 1935, construction of the extension to Jamaica was suspended for 15 months and was halted by strikes.[13] Construction was further delayed due to a strike in 1935, instigated by electricians opposing wages paid by the General Railway Signal Company.[14] By August 1935, work had resumed on the Woodhaven Boulevard station and three other stations on the Queens Boulevard Line.[15]

During the station's construction, the main road of Queens Boulevard was depressed into underpasses at the intersections with Woodhaven Boulevard and Horace Harding Boulevard (also known as Nassau Boulevard). The easternmost underpass now carries Queens Boulevard below the

Long Island Expressway (LIE), which replaced Horace Harding Boulevard.[16]

In August 1936, tracks were installed all the way to 178th Street, and the stations to Union Turnpike were completed.[13] On December 31, 1936, the IND Queens Boulevard Line was extended by eight stops, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km), from its previous terminus at Roosevelt Avenue to Union Turnpike.[17][18][19] As a result of the extension, areas in Elmhurst were accessible by subway.[20] The E train, which initially served all stops on the new extension, began making express stops in April 1937,[21] and local GG trains began serving the extension at the time.[22]

Later years

The station was originally named "Woodhaven Blvd–Slattery Plaza", after Slattery Plaza, the area where four main Queens thoroughfares (Eliot Avenue and Horace Harding, Woodhaven, and Queens Boulevards) intersected.[23][24] The plaza, which no longer exists, featured several "mom-and-pop" small businesses.[24] The plaza and subway station were named after Colonel John R. Slattery,[23] former New York City Board of Transportation chief engineer who died in 1932 while supervising the construction of the IND Eighth Avenue Line.[25] The construction of the LIE along the Horace Harding corridor in the 1950s resulted in the demolition of Slattery Plaza, although the name tablets retained the original name even after the plaza's demolition.[23][24][26]

Renovation

Queens Center Mall first opened in 1973,[27] but the name convention on subway maps was not in use until the mid-to-late 1980s.[a] The station became dilapidated by the 1980s due to lack of maintenance over the years, and in 1981, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) listed the station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.[28] The station was also heavily used, serving 15,000 passengers per weekday by 1993.[29]

In April 1991, the entrance at the north side of Queens Boulevard near an overpass of the Long Island Expressway was closed, along with fifteen other entrances across the subway system to reduce crime. In June 1992, subway riders held a protest rally, demanding the reopening of the entrance. In 1993, the Woodhaven Boulevard station began a three-year renovation project as part of a general refurbishment of seventy New York City Subway stations.[30] The refurbishment added a new token booth, new signage and platform edge strips, replaced platform tiles, staircase components, and lighting, and restored the station's restrooms. Four new turnstiles were added at the east end of the station, a new east-end staircase was added to the north side of Queens Boulevard and the west-end staircase was widened. A new public address system was added to the station, the west end token booth was moved closer to the turnstiles and turnstiles equipped for the Automated Fare Collection system were installed. The project was expected to be completed in September 1996.[29][31] After the renovation, the station retained the now out-of-date "Woodhaven Blvd–Slattery Plaza" name tablets.[26]

In 2019, as part of an initiative to increase the accessibility of the New York City Subway system, the MTA announced that it would install elevators at the Woodhaven Boulevard station as part of the MTA's 2020–2024 Capital Program.[32] In November 2022, the MTA announced that it would award a $965 million contract for the installation of 21 elevators across eight stations,[33] including Woodhaven Boulevard.[34][35]: 81  A joint venture of ASTM and Halmar International would construct the elevators under a public-private partnership.[34][35]: 80 

Station layout

Ground Street level Exit/entrance
Mezzanine Fare control, station agent, MetroCard machines
Platform level Side platform
Southbound local "R" train toward Bay Ridge–95th Street (Grand Avenue–Newtown)
"E" train toward World Trade Center late nights (Grand Avenue–Newtown)
"F" train toward Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue late nights (Grand Avenue–Newtown)
Southbound express "E" train"F" train"F" express train do not stop here
Northbound express "E" train"F" train"F" express train do not stop here →
Northbound local "R" train toward Forest Hills–71st Avenue (63rd Drive–Rego Park)
"E" train toward Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer late nights (63rd Drive–Rego Park)
"F" train toward Jamaica–179th Street late nights (63rd Drive–Rego Park)
Side platform

There are four tracks and two

63rd Drive–Rego Park to the east.[41]

At either end of both platforms are

The name tablets on this station still retain the original name of Woodhaven Boulevard–Slattery Plaza.

Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue, the next express station to the west, while a different tile color is used at Forest Hills–71st Avenue, the next express station to the east. Blue tiles are similarly used at the other local stations between Roosevelt Avenue and 71st Avenue.[50][51] Near the edges of the platforms, I-beam piers are located every 15 feet (4.6 m) and support girders above the platforms. The roof girders are also connected to columns in the walls adjoining each platform.[52]
: 3 

Mezzanine, with In Memory of The Lost Battalion artwork

The station's full-length

77th Infantry Division during World War I.[54][55]

The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The outer walls of this trough are composed of columns, spaced approximately every 5 feet (1.5 m) with concrete infill between them. There is a 1-inch (25 mm) gap between the tunnel wall and the platform wall, which is made of 4-inch (100 mm)-thick brick covered over by a tiled finish. The columns between the tracks are also spaced every 5 feet (1.5 m), with no infill.[52]: 3 

One of the "orphaned" station entrances, at the southeast corner of Woodhaven Boulevard and Queens Boulevard

Exits

The full-time side at the west end of the mezzanine has three street stairs. One leads to the northeast corner of

Long Island Expressway in the mid-1950s, leads only to a sidewalk isolated between two entrance ramps to the expressway, requiring passengers to cross traffic signals on all sides.[56][57]

The part-time portion at the former Horace Harding Boulevard on the east end has a closed and removed booth and one street stair to the north side of Queens Boulevard at 92nd Street. This entrance abuts two expressway ramps and leads to the former Horace Harding Boulevard, now replaced by the LIE exit ramp.[53][56][57] This exit still has a directional mosaic pointing to it, listing the exit as 60th Avenue and 92nd Street on the north side of Queens Boulevard.[57] The construction of the Long Island Expressway removed this intersection.[53][56] This is also a staircase that dates to the station's opening.[16]

There is a closed exit to the south side of Queens Boulevard underneath the Long Island Expressway, between the ramp to the eastbound expressway and Eliot Avenue. It is covered with a trapdoor.[57][58]

Bus service

Q53 Limited Bus via Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards prior to its 2017 conversion to a Select Bus Service route

The station and the nearby

Woodside – 61st Street Station. Except for the Q88, Rego Park-bound Q59, Jamaica-bound Q60, and Corona-bound Q38, all northbound buses stop at the mall entrance, while all southbound buses as well as the QM10 and QM11 express buses stop at Hoffman Drive adjacent to Hoffman Park. The Q88 terminates at 92nd Street, in between the two halves of the mall.[53][59]

Route Stop location North/West Terminal[59] South/East Terminal[59] via[59] notes[59]
Local Bus Routes
Q11
Queens Boulevard (northbound); Hoffman Drive (southbound) Woodhaven Boulevard
Hamilton Beach
Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards
Q21
Howard Beach Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards, 155th Avenue, 157th Avenue
Q29
82nd Street Station
)
Glendale (81st Street and Myrtle Avenue) 90th/92nd Streets, Dry Harbor Road, 80th Street Some AM rush northbound service terminates here.
59th Avenue; Hoffman Drive Corona (60th Avenue and Otis Avenue) Rego Park (62nd Drive and 108th Street) Eliot Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Penelope Avenue, 63rd Drive Via
Middle Village–Metropolitan Avenue Station
Q52
Queens Boulevard (northbound); Hoffman Drive (southbound) Woodhaven Boulevard Arverne Q53 trips: Select Bus Service
Q53
61st Street Station
)
Beach 116th Street Station
)
Queens Boulevard Williamsburg, Brooklyn
63rd Drive Station
)
Grand Street and Grand Avenue, Queens Boulevard
East Midtown, Manhattan
South Jamaica Queensboro Bridge, Queens Boulevard, Sutphin Boulevard
Q88
92nd Street and 59th Avenue 92nd Street
Queens Village LIRR Station
)
Horace Harding Expressway, 188th Street, 73rd Avenue, Springfield Boulevard
Express Bus Routes
QM10
Woodhaven Boulevard (near Hoffman Drive) Midtown Manhattan Rego Park / Elmhurst Loop (Drop-off Only) 3rd or 6th Avenue
QM11
Downtown Manhattan
Downtown Loop

Notes

  1. ^ According to scans of 1980s subway maps:
    • "1983 Subway Map". New York City Transit Authority. 1983. Retrieved July 10, 2016. Woodhaven Blvd–Slattery Plaza
    • "1987 Subway Map". New York City Transit Authority. 1987. Retrieved July 10, 2016. Woodhaven Blvd–Queens Center

References

  1. ^ "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "Annual Subway Ridership (2017–2022)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Annual Subway Ridership (2017–2022)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  4. ^ See:
  5. ^ "Queens Lauded as Best Boro By Chamber Chief". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 23, 1929. p. 40. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  6. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  7. . Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  8. .
  9. . Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  10. The New York Sun
    . December 13, 1933. p. 47. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Trains Testing Jamaica Link Of City Subway". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 10, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  12. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Neufeld, Ernest (August 23, 1936). "Men Toil Under Earth to Build Subway" (PDF). Long Island Daily Press. p. 2 (Section 2). Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  14. ^ See:
  15. ProQuest 101425888
    .
  16. ^ a b c "PLANS ARE CHANGED FOR QUEENS SUBWAY: Traffic Crossings at Nassau and Woodhaven Boulevards Altered to Avoid Congestion. VIADUCT PROJECT DROPPED Main Driveway to Be Depressed, Side Routes to Be at Grade-- New Bids Due Soon. How Plans Were Changed. Elimination Plans Received". The New York Times. June 22, 1930. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  17. .
  18. . Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  19. .
  20. . Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  21. ^ "Trains Testing Jamaica Link Of City Subway". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 10, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "Jamaica Will Greet Subway" (PDF). The New York Sun. April 23, 1937. p. 8. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  23. ^
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Christina; Walsh, Kevin (March 5, 2006). "REGO PARK, Queens". Forgotten NY. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  25. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  26. ^ a b c For more information on the current tablets that state "Woodhaven Blvd–Slattery Plaza", see the following sources:
  27. ^ Siwolop, Sana (March 3, 2004). "Commercial Real estate: Regional MarketT – Queens; Renovations And Renewal For a Mall". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Built in 1973
  28. ^ Gargan, Edward A. (June 11, 1981). "Agency Lists Its 69 Most Deteriorated Subway Stations". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  29. ^ a b Hernandez, Raymond (November 21, 1993). "Neighborhood Report: Elmhurst/East Elmhurst; An Offer of Help for the Tired Woodhaven Blvd. Station". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  30. ^ Leahy, Jack (June 22, 1992). "Straphangers to rally for access: Riders want Woodhaven entrance open". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  31. ^ "The New Woodhaven Blvd Station Woodhaven Blvd station Built in the 30s Renewed for the 90s". New York City Transit. 1993. Retrieved March 31, 2019 – via Flickr.
  32. ^ "Press Release - MTA Headquarters - MTA Announces 20 Additional Subway Stations to Receive Accessibility Improvements Under Proposed 2020-2024 Capital Plan". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  33. ^ Nessen, Stephen (November 28, 2022). "MTA to spend more than $1B on accessibility upgrades". Gothamist. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  34. ^ a b Brachfeld, Ben (November 29, 2022). "MTA to spend $1 billion on subway, commuter rail accessibility upgrades". amNewYork. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting November 2022". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 29, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  36. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books
    .
  37. ^ "Late Night Subway Service" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 23, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  38. ^ "E Subway Timetable, Effective December 4, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  39. ^ "F Subway Timetable, Effective August 28, 2023". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  40. ^ "R Subway Timetable, Effective August 28, 2023". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  41. ^ "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  42. ^ "The Express Stop That Never Was". ltvsquad.com. LTV Squad. June 2, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  43. ^ Kihss, Peter (April 13, 1967). "3 Routes Proposed to Aid Growing Queens Areas" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  44. Newspapers.com
    .
  45. Newspapers.com
    .
  46. Newspapers.com
    .
  47. ^ Cox, Jeremiah. "Woodhaven Blvd". The Subway Nut. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  48. ^ "IND Queens Boulevard Line: Woodhaven Boulevard-Queens Mall". www.nycsubway.org. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  49. from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  50. ^ Carlson, Jen (February 18, 2016). "Map: These Color Tiles In The Subway System Used To Mean Something". Gothamist. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  51. ^ Gleason, Will (February 18, 2016). "The hidden meaning behind the New York subway's colored tiles". Time Out New York. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  52. ^ a b "New York MPS Elmhurst Avenue Subway Station (IND)". Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006, Series: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017, Box: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: New York, ID: 05000672. National Archives.
  53. ^ a b c d e "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Forest Hills" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  54. ^ "MTA Arts & Design: Woodhaven Boulevard". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  55. ^ Cook, Lauren. "NYC subway art you need to check out". am New York. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  56. ^ a b c d *"SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM IV ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES" (PDF). transalt.org. New York City Department of City Planning. November 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  57. ^ a b c d Cox, Jeremiah. "Woodhaven Blvd (G,R,V)". The SubwayNut. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  58. ^ "Picture of the closed subway entrance". Google Maps. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  59. ^ a b c d e "Queens Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.

External links