57th Street station (IND Sixth Avenue Line)

For other uses, see 57th Street station.

57 Street
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
The 57th Street station in December 2018.
Station statistics
Address	West 57th Street & Sixth Avenue New York, NY
Borough	Manhattan
Locale	Midtown Manhattan
Coordinates	40°45′51″N73°58′38″W / 40.764259°N 73.977213°W / 40.764259; -73.977213
Division	B (IND) [1]
Line	IND Sixth Avenue Line
Services	F   (all times) <F>  (two rush hour trains, peak direction)
Transit	NYCT Bus: M5, M7, M31, M57
Structure	Underground
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	July 1, 1968;55 years ago (1968-07-01)
Closed	July 9, 2018;5 years ago (2018-07-09) (reconstruction)
Rebuilt	December 19, 2018;5 years ago (2018-12-19)
Accessible	not ADA-accessible; accessibility planned
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	2,582,091 [2]   13.7%
Rank	137 out of 423 [2]
Services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station Lexington Avenue–63rd Street F   <F> toward Jamaica–179th Street Local 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center F   <F> via Broadway–Lafayette Street
Former services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station Lexington Avenue toward 21st Street–Queensbridge JFK Express 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center toward Howard Beach–JFK Airport
Location Show map of New York City Subway Show map of New York City Show map of New York
Track layout Legend to Lexington Avenue–63rd Street to 47th–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekends and weekday evenings Stops rush hours in the peak direction only (limited service)

The 57th Street station is a station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 57th Street and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Manhattan, it is served by the F train at all times and the <F> train during rush hours in the reverse peak direction. North of the station, the Sixth Avenue Line turns east and becomes the IND 63rd Street Line.

First announced in 1962, the 57th Street station was opened on July 1, 1968, at the cost of $13.2 million. The station was a terminal station until 1989, after which all service was extended to 21st Street–Queensbridge. The station was temporarily served by shuttle trains in the 1990s during the 63rd Street Line's reconstruction. From July to December 2018, the station was closed for an extensive five-month renovation.

History

Construction and 20th century

The station in 2016, prior to renovations

The station was built as part of the Chrystie Street Connection, which expanded train capacity on the Sixth Avenue Line. The Sixth Avenue extension to the new terminal at 57th Street was announced in 1962. ^[3] The next year, the contract to construct the IND Sixth Avenue Line between 52nd and 58th Streets, including the 57th Street station, was awarded to Slattery Construction Company for $7.5 million (equivalent to $75,500,000in 2023). ^[4] Construction of the spur ultimately cost $13.2 million (equivalent to $115,654,737in 2023). ^[5]

The 57th Street station opened on July 1, 1968, ^{[3] [5]} as one of two stations added during construction of the Chrystie Street Connection, the other being Grand Street. ^[6] The opening of the station was celebrated by a 300-guest lunch on the platform on June 27, which was attended by Deputy Mayor Robert W. Sweet; MTA Chairman William J. Ronan; and Avenue of the Americas Association president Eyssell. The new station was intended to serve the new residential and commercial developments being built in the immediate area. ^[5] Upon its opening, the 57th Street station acted as the terminus of two services, the B during rush hours and KK during off-peak hours. ^{[6] [7] [3] [5]} The KK was renamed the K in 1974 and eliminated in 1976. ^{[8] [9]} From 1978 ^{[10] [11]} to 1990, this station was also served by the JFK Express service to the eponymous airport. ^[12]

When the north side of the Manhattan Bridge was closed for construction from 1986 to 1998 and again from July to December 2001, this station was only served by a shuttle train along Sixth Avenue, which traveled to Grand Street. ^[13] Starting in 1988, this station was served by Q trains on weekdays, B trains on weekday evenings and weekends, and F trains during late nights. This was the terminal for all services until the IND 63rd Street Line to 21st Street–Queensbridge opened on October 29, 1989. ^{[14] [15]} Late night F train service was replaced by a shuttle in 1997. Since December 2001, when the 63rd Street Tunnel Connector opened in Queens, the F route has served this station at all times, ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} simultaneous with the withdrawal of all other services from the 63rd Street Line. ^{[16] [18] [19]}

Renovation and service changes

Under the 2015–2019 MTA Capital Plan, the station underwent a complete overhaul as part of the Enhanced Station Initiative and was entirely closed for several months. Updates included cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps. ^{[20] [21]} In January 2018, the NYCT and Bus Committee recommended that Judlau Contracting receive the $125 million (equivalent to $151,669,759in 2023) contract for the renovations of 57th and 23rd Streets on the IND Sixth Avenue Line; 28th Street on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, and 34th Street–Penn Station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and IND Eighth Avenue Line. ^[22] However, the MTA Board temporarily deferred the vote for these packages after city representatives refused to vote to award the contracts. ^{[23] [24]} The contract was put back for a vote in February, where Judlau's contract was ultimately approved. ^[25] The station was closed for renovations on July 9, 2018, ^[26] and reopened on December 19, 2018. ^[27]

In June 2021, Turkish developer Sedesco released plans for a 1,100-foot-tall (340 m) supertall skyscraper at 41-47 West 57th Street, within the nearby Billionaires' Row. ^{[28] [29]} The developer plans to construct two elevators—one between the street and the mezzanine, and one between the mezzanine and the platform—at the 57th Street station to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. ^[30] In exchange, Sedesco would receive additional floor area for its skyscraper as part of the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility program. ^{[28] [31]} The plans were confirmed in December 2021, ^{[32] [33]} and construction began shortly afterward. The elevator between the street and the mezzanine will be constructed on the southwestern corner of 56th Street and Sixth Avenue. ^[34] The project is funded by Sedesco. ^{[32] [33]}

From August 28, 2023, through April 1, 2024, F trains were rerouted via the 53rd Street Tunnel between Queens and Manhattan due to track replacement and other repairs in the 63rd Street Tunnel. The M train was rerouted from the 53rd Street Tunnel, running to a temporary northern terminus at 57th Street. ^{[35] [36]} In 2023, a short barrier was installed at the center of the platforms to reduce the probability of passengers being pushed into the tracks. ^[37]

Station layout

Ground	Street level	Exit/entrance
Mezzanine	Mezzanine	Fare control, station agent, MetroCard vending machines
Platform level	Northbound	← toward Jamaica–179th Street (Lexington Avenue–63rd Street)
	Island platform
	Southbound	→ toward Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center) →

Street entrances before renovation (left) and afterward (right)

This underground station contains two tracks and a single island platform serving both tracks. ^[38] The F train serves the station at all times, while the <F> train serves the station northbound during AM rush hours and southbound during PM rush hours. ^[39] The next station to the north is Lexington Avenue–63rd Street, while the next station to the south is 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center. ^[40]

The platform is 615 feet (187 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) wide. The station stretches from 55th Street to 58th Street. From the full-length mezzanine, which is 48 feet (15 m) wide, ^[41] there are six staircases to the platform. The station walls are plain white, with "57th St" stenciled on long, narrow tiles along the wall. ^[42] The platform is approximately 35 feet (11 m) below ground. ^[5] Prior to the 2018 renovation of the station, the "Next Train" indicator lights still hung from the platform ceiling, dating from the period when the station was a terminal two decades prior. ^[43] There is an unused tower and crew area at the southern end of the platform. ^[44]

A plaque of Colonel John T. O'Neill is located in the station

The station contains a bronze plaque of Colonel John T. O'Neill, a former chief engineer of the New York City Transit Authority. ^[45]

Exits

There are eight street staircases spread on both sides of Sixth Avenue from 56th to 57th Streets. ^[46] Before the station's renovation, these entrances had an unusual design compared to older stations, with lit posts reading "SUBWAY" on their side rather than the lighted red-or-green globes typical to other station entrances. ^[47] The station has staircases to the western corners and northeastern corners of 6th Avenue and 57th Street, two stairs to the east side of 6th Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets, and stairs to the western corners and southeastern corner of 6th Avenue and 56th Street. ^[46]

During the 57th Street station's renovation, glass barrier fences, next-train arrival "countdown clocks", and digital neighborhood wayfinding maps were installed around all of the exit stairs at street level, similar to at other stations renovated as part of the Enhanced Station Initiative. The two exits at the southern corner of 56th Street also received canopies similar to other Enhanced Station Initiative stations. ^[48]

Notable places nearby

The 57th Street station is within one block of numerous notable locations. Attractions to the west include: ^{[49] [50]}

• 111 West 57th Street ^[51]
• 130 and 140 West 57th Street studio buildings ^{[50] : 305}
• 165 West 57th Street ^{[50] : 306}
• 1345 Avenue of the Americas ^[51]
• Carnegie Hall ^{[49] [50] : 305}
• Carnegie Hall Tower ^{[50] : 305}
• CitySpire Center ^{[50] : 305}
• Metropolitan Tower ^{[50] : 305}
• New York City Center ^{[49] [50] : 305}
• One57 ^[51]
• Parker New York and The Quin hotels ^{[50] : 305}
• Russian Tea Room ^{[50] : 305}

Attractions to the east include:

• 712 Fifth Avenue ^{[50] : 334}
• Bergdorf Goodman Building ^[49]
• Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church ^{[49] [50] : 334}
• Houses at 10, 12, 17, 26, and 30 West 56th Street; 46 West 55th Street ^{[50] : 336}
• Peninsula Hotel ^{[50] : 334}
• Rockefeller Apartments ^{[50] : 333–334}
• Solow Building ^{[50] : 337}

In addition, the New York Hilton Midtown is one block south, ^{[50] : 305} and the Trump Parc and Hotel St. Moritz are one block north. ^[51]

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 (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
3. Raskin, Joseph B. (2013). The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System. New York, New York: Fordham University Press. doi:10.5422/fordham/9780823253692.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-82325-369-2.
4. "IND Contract Awarded". The New York Times. December 27, 1963. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 18, 2017.
5. "Luncheon in Subway Opens Station". The New York Times. June 27, 1968. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 18, 2017.
6. Perlmutter, Emanuel (November 16, 1967). "SUBWAY CHANGES TO SPEED SERVICE: Major Alterations in Maps, Routes and Signs Will Take Effect Nov. 26" (PDF). The New York Times . Retrieved July 7, 2015.
7. Perlmutter, Emanuel (November 27, 1967). "BMT-IND CHANGES BEWILDER MANY; Transit Authority Swamped With Calls From Riders as New System Starts". The New York Times . Retrieved August 23, 2015.
8. 1972 system map NYCSubway Retrieved August 12, 2009
9. Burks, Edward C. (August 14, 1976). "215 More Daily Subway Runs Will Be Eliminated by Aug. 30". The New York Times . Retrieved July 7, 2015.
10. Grynbaum, Michael M. (November 25, 2009). "If You Took the Train to the Plane, Sing the Jingle" . Retrieved July 3, 2016.
11. "New "JFK Express" Service Begun in Howard Beach". New York Leader Observer. Fultonhistory.com. September 28, 1978. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
12. Pitt, David E. (October 22, 1989). "Transit Agency Wants to End Airport Express". The New York Times . Retrieved May 13, 2009.
13. 1987 system map NYCSubway Retrieved August 12, 2009
14. Lorch, Donatella (October 29, 1989). "The 'Subway to Nowhere' Now Goes Somewhere". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
15. Kershaw, Sarah (December 17, 2001). "V Train Begins Service Today, Giving Queens Commuters Another Option". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
16. "Review of F Line Operations, Ridership, and Infrastructure" (PDF). nysenate.gov . MTA New York City Transit Authority. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 31, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
17. "Review of the G Line" (PDF). mta.info . Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 10, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
18. "E,F Detour in 2001, F trains via 63 St, E no trains running, take R instead". The Subway Nut. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
19. Kennedy, Randy (May 25, 2001). "Panel Approves New V Train but Shortens G Line to Make Room". The New York Times . Retrieved March 20, 2010.
20. Whitford, Emma (January 8, 2016). "MTA Will Completely Close 30 Subway Stations For Months-Long "Revamp"". Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
21. "MTAStations" (PDF). governor.ny.gov. Government of the State of New York. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
22. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (January 22, 2018). "NYCT/Bus Committee Meeting" (PDF). p. 135. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
23. Barone, Vincent (January 24, 2018). "Controversial cosmetic subway improvement plan falters". am New York. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
24. Siff, Andrew (January 24, 2018). "MTA Shelves Plan to Modernize Subway Stations Amid Criticism". NBC New York. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
25. "Foes Hit Gov's Station Fix Plan". NY Daily News. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
26. "Repairs and Improvements Coming to Three Manhattan 6FM Subway Stations". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 15, 2018. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
27. "Planned Service Changes for: Wednesday, December 19, 2018". www.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
28. "Turkish Developer Sedesco Seeks Zoning Authorization". The Real Deal New York. June 17, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
29. "New Rendering by OMA Highlights 41-47 West 57th Street's Height, In Midtown Manhattan". New York YIMBY. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
30. "CEQR No. 77DCP751M SEDESCO Subway Bonus Environmental Assessment Statement". New York City Department of City Planning. June 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
31. "Sedesco offers transit elevators for square footage on Billionaires Row skyscraper". Crain's New York Business. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
32. Hallum, Mark (December 8, 2021). "Sedesco to Pay for Subway Station Elevators to Build Larger Project". Commercial Observer. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
33. Duggan, Kevin (December 7, 2021). "Billionaire's Row developer Sedesco to build elevators for MTA subway stop in Midtown". amNewYork. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
34. "MTA Announces First ADA Improvements Under Zoning for Accessibility Coming to 57 St F Station". MTA. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
35. "Service changes on the F and M lines starting August 28". MTA. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
36. "F, M changes start Monday: What to know about the subway interruptions lasting until 2024". NBC New York. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
37. Mocker, Greg (October 27, 2023). "MTA testing new safety measures on subway platforms". PIX11. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
38. Dougherty, Peter (2020). Tracks of the New York City Subway 2020 (16th ed.). Dougherty. OCLC   1056711733.
39. "FSubway Timetable, Effective August 28, 2023". Metropolitan Transportation Authority . Retrieved August 26, 2023.
40. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
41. "For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 5, 1964" (PDF). New York City Office of the Mayor. February 5, 1964. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
42. Cox, Jeremiah (May 20, 2010). 57th Sts on the off white track walls (image). Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017– via The Subway Nut.
43. Cox, Jeremiah (May 20, 2010). A now unused Next Train indicator the first 21 years of the station it served as a terminal as well as when the 63 Street line had to be rebuilt due to the track bed having a faulty new design (image) – via The Subway Nut.
44. Cox, Jeremiah (May 20, 2010). At one end of the platform is an unused tower (image) – via The Subway Nut.
45. Frattini, Dave (April 1, 2000). The Underground Guide to New York City Subways. Macmillan. p. 135. ISBN   9780312253844 – via Google Books.
46. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Midtown West" (PDF). mta.info . Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
47. Cox, Jeremiah (May 20, 2010). Old Subway text on the side of one of the posts on a street stair (image) – via The Subway Nut.
48. "Enhanced Stations Initiative: Community Board 6" (PDF). cbsix.org . Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 13, 2018. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
49. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: 57 St (F)". mta.info. Metropolitan Transit Authority. April 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
50. White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19538-386-7.
51. "NYCityMap". NYC.gov. New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications . Retrieved March 20, 2020.

External links

• nycsubway.org – IND 6th Avenue: 57th Street
• The Subway Nut – 57 Street Archived November 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
• Station Reporter — F Train
• 57th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 56th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Platform from Google Maps Street View