72nd Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)

For other uses, see 72nd Street (disambiguation).

The 72nd Street station is a local station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. It is located at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the Upper West Side. It is served by the B on weekdays, the C train at all times except nights, and the A train during late nights only.

72 Street  ​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Uptown platform on the upper level
Station statistics
Address	West 72nd Street & Central Park West New York, NY 10023
Borough	Manhattan
Locale	Upper West Side
Coordinates	40°46′34″N 73°58′34″W / 40.776154°N 73.976011°W / 40.776154; -73.976011
Division	B (IND)^[1]
Line	IND Eighth Avenue Line
Services	A  (late nights) ​   B  (weekdays until 11:00 p.m.) ​   C  (all except late nights)
Transit	NYCT Bus: M10, M72 MTA Bus: BxM2
Structure	Underground
Levels	2
Platforms	2 side platforms (1 on each level)
Tracks	4 (2 on each level)
Other information
Opened	September 10, 1932 (91 years ago) (1932-09-10)^[2]
Closed	May 7, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-05-07) (reconstruction)
Rebuilt	October 4, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-04)
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2022	1,904,998^[4]  39.1%
Rank	161 out of 423^[4]
Services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station 81st Street–Museum of Natural History A  ​B  ​C  via 145th Street Local 59th Street–Columbus Circle A  ​B  ​C  services split does not stop here
Location Show map of New York City Subway Show map of New York City Show map of New York
Track layout Legend Upper level to 81st St–Museum of Natural History Lower level to 59th Street–Columbus Circle
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops weekdays during the day

History

 

R68 B train on the lower level, prior to renovation

New York City mayor John Francis Hylan's original plans for the Independent Subway System (IND), proposed in 1922, included building over 100 miles (160 km) of new lines and taking over nearly 100 miles (160 km) of existing lines. The lines were designed to compete with the existing underground, surface, and elevated lines operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and BMT.^[5][6] On December 9, 1924, the New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) gave preliminary approval for the construction of the IND Eighth Avenue Line.^[7] This line consisted of a corridor connecting Inwood, Manhattan, to Downtown Brooklyn, running largely under Eighth Avenue but also paralleling Greenwich Avenue and Sixth Avenue in Lower Manhattan.^[7][8] The BOT announced a list of stations on the new line in February 1928, with a local station at 70th Street.^[9]

In October 1928, the BOT awarded a $444,000 contract to Charles Mead & Co. for the completion of the 50th Street, 59th Street, and 72nd Street stations on the Eighth Avenue Line.^[10] The finishes at the three stations were 20 percent completed by May 1930.^[11] By that August, the BOT reported that the Eighth Avenue Line was nearly completed and that the three stations from 50th to 72nd Street were 99.9 percent completed.^[12] The entire line was completed by September 1931, except for the installation of turnstiles.^[13]

A preview event for the new subway was hosted on September 8, 1932, two days before the official opening.^[14][15] The 72nd Street station opened on September 10, 1932, as part of the city-operated IND's initial segment, the Eighth Avenue Line between Chambers Street and 207th Street.^[16][17] Construction of the whole line cost $191.2 million (equivalent to $4,101 million in 2022. While the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line already provided parallel service, the new Eighth Avenue subway via Central Park West provided an alternative route.^[18]

Under the 2015–2019 Metropolitan Transportation Authority 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.^[19][20] A request for proposals for the 72nd Street, 86th Street, Cathedral Parkway–110th Street, and 163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue stations was issued on June 1, 2017,^[21] and the New York City Transit and Bus Committee officially recommended that the MTA Board award the $111 million contract to ECCO III Enterprises in October 2017.^[22] As part of the renovations, the station was closed from May 7, 2018,^[23] to October 4, 2018.^[24]

Station layout

Ground	Street level	Exit/entrance
Basement 1	Northbound express	←    do not stop here
	Northbound local	←   weekdays toward Bedford Park Boulevard or 145th Street (81st Street–Museum of Natural History) ←   toward 168th Street (81st Street–Museum of Natural History) ←   toward Inwood–207th Street late nights (81st Street–Museum of Natural History)
	Side platform
	Mezzanine	Fare control, station agent, MetroCard machines
Basement 2	Southbound express	→    do not stop here →
	Southbound local	→   weekdays toward Brighton Beach (59th Street–Columbus Circle) → →   toward Euclid Avenue (59th Street–Columbus Circle) → →   toward Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue late nights (59th Street–Columbus Circle) →
	Side platform

This underground station has two levels, each of which has from west to east, one side platform, one local track and one express track. Northbound trains stop on the upper level while southbound trains stop on the lower level.^[25]

Both platforms lack a trim line, but have mosaic name tablets reading "72ND ST." in white sans-serif lettering on a midnight blue background and black border, as well as small "72" tile captions in white numbering on a black background at regular intervals.^[26] Directional signs in white lettering on a black background are below the name tablets.^[27] Mosaic signs in white lettering on a blue background on the upper level direct passengers to the staircases going down to the lower level.^[28] Grey (previously blue) I-beam columns run along the platforms at regular intervals, alternating ones having the standard black station name plate with white lettering.

72nd Street is the closest station to both the Dakota apartment building (which is immediately outside the station) and the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park.^[29][30] The 2018 artwork at this station is "Sky", a ceramic artwork by Yoko Ono, who lived in the Dakota. The artwork consists of clouds against a blue backdrop. "Sky" commemorates Ono's late husband John Lennon, who was killed in 1980 outside the Dakota.^[31][29]

Exits

 

Entrance at 72nd Street following the renovations

 

Closed 71st Street entrance

Both fare control areas are on the upper-level platform and two staircases, one adjacent to each area, go down to the lower level. The full-time one at 72nd Street is at the north end of the platform.^[30] A staircase of four steps go down to a bank of three turnstiles that lead to a token booth. The other fare control area at 70th Street, at the station's south end, is unstaffed, containing High Entry/Exit Turnstiles.

Two staircases connect the two platforms, one at each fare control area, and one more used to connect the platforms in the center of the station. There are staircases to both western corners of West 72nd Street and Central Park West. The northwest staircase, outside the Dakota apartment building, is made of stone and is embedded within the Dakota's recessed areaway.^[32] In addition, there is an entrance to the southwestern corner of West 70th Street and Central Park West.^[30] This entrance had previously been closed,^[33] but reopened in September 2002.^[34][35]

Blue plywood walls and new tiling with a door^[36] on the upper level indicate there was a third exit that led to West 71st Street.^[37][38] Prior to the renovation of the station, further evidence of this exit's existence included directional signs with "71" that were covered or replaced with newer tiling and a fenced off staircase on the lower level.^[39][40] During the renovation of the station, the exit and its accompanying staircase between the two platform levels was temporarily uncovered and used as an area to haul out construction debris; the street staircase has since been re-sealed and the staircase between the two platform levels was closed again.

References

1. "Glossary". (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. "List of the 28 Stations on the New 8th Av. Line". The New York Times. September 10, 1932. p. 6. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
3. "Annual Subway Ridership (2017–2022)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
4. "Annual Subway Ridership (2017–2022)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
5. "Two Subway Routes Adopted by City". The New York Times. August 4, 1923. p. 9. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
6. "Plans Now Ready to Start Subways". The New York Times. March 12, 1924. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
7. "Hylan Subway Plan Links Four Boroughs at $450,000,000 Cost". The New York Times. December 10, 1924. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
8. 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.
9. "Express and Local Stations For New Eighth Avenue Line". New York Herald Tribune. February 5, 1928. p. B1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1113431477.
10. "Subway Awards Made; Contracts Let for Brooklyn and Bronx and for 8th Av. Stations". The New York Times. October 31, 1928. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
11. "Progress is Rapid on 8th Av. Subway; Board's Engineers Report Spurt in Building Is Likely to Open the Line in July, 1930". The New York Times. May 26, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
12. "Eighth Av. Subway Nearly Completed; Basic Construction Work From Chambers to 207th St. Done Except on Few Short Stretches". The New York Times. August 24, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
13. O'Brien, John C. (September 9, 1931). "8th Ave. Line Being Rushed For Use Jan. 1: Turnstile Installation on Subway Begins Monday; Other Equipment Ready for Start of Train Service City Has Yet to Find Operating Company Transit Official on Trip, 207th to Canal Street, Inspects Finished Tube". New York Herald Tribune. p. 1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1331181357.
14. "Sightseers Invade New Subway When Barricade Is lifted". The New York Times. September 9, 1932. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
15. "8th Av. Subway Gets First 5c. by Woman's Error: She Peers Into a Station, Hears Train, Pays for Ride, but Is Day Too Early Preparing for Tomorrow's Rush on 8th Ave. Subway". New York Herald Tribune. September 9, 1932. p. 1. ProQuest 1125436641.
16. Crowell, Paul (September 10, 1932). "Gay Midnight Crowd Rides First Trains In The New Subway: Throngs at Station an Hour Before Time, Rush Turnstiles When Chains are Dropped" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
17. Sebring, Lewis B. (September 10, 1932). "Midnight Jam Opens City's New Subway: Turnstiles Click Into Action at 12:01 A. M. as Throngs Battle for Places in 'First' Trains Boy, 7, Leads Rush At 42d St. Station City at Last Hails 8th Ave. Line After 7-Year Wait; Cars Bigger, Clean Transit Commissioner Officially Opening New Subway at Midnight". New York Herald Tribune. p. 1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1114839882.
18. Duffus, R. l (September 9, 1932). "NEW LINE FIRST UNIT IN CITY-WIDE SYSTEM; 8th Av. Tube to Ease West Side Congestion at Once -- Branches to Link 4 Boroughs Later. LAST WORD IN SUBWAYS Run From 207th to Chambers St. Cut to 33 Minutes -- 42d St. Has World's Largest Station. COST HAS BEEN $191,200,000 Years of Digging Up City Streets, Tunneling Rock and Building Road Finally Brought to Completion". The New York Times. p. 12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
19. Whitford, Emma (January 8, 2016). . Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
20. "MTAStations" (PDF). governor.ny.gov. Government of the State of New York. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
21. "Enhanced Stations Initiative Program; Contract A·36622C (Package 3) for Design & Construction at 72nd Street, 86th Street, Cathedral Parkway (110th Street), and 163rd Street - Amsterdam Avenue Stations on the 8th Avenue Line (IND), Manhattan" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 1, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
22. (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 23, 2017. p. 131. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
23. Warerkar, Tanay (February 19, 2018). "MTA will shutter 4 Upper Manhattan subway stations for repairs". Curbed NY. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
24. . mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 4, 2018. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
25. Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
26. Cox, Jeremiah (June 24, 2011). "The tiled off area of the former 71 Street entrance". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
27. Cox, Jeremiah (June 22, 2009). "A 72ND St name tablet". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
28. Cox, Jeremiah (June 22, 2009). "A downtown mosaic (the stop has none for uptown since fare control is on that platform)". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
29. "MTA - Arts & Design | NYCT Permanent Art". web.mta.info. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
30. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Upper West Side" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
31. Martinez, Jose (October 8, 2018). "The New 72nd Street Subway Station Features Art Designed by Yoko Ono". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
32. Alpern, Andrew (2015). The Dakota: A History of the World's Best-Known Apartment Building. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-61689-437-5. OCLC 915135755.
33. (PDF). pcac.org. New York City Transit Riders Council. November 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
34. MTA Neighborhood Map Upper West Side (Map). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 1999.
35. Gottfried, Dick (November 2002). "Assembly Member Dick Gottfried - Community Update - November 2002". New York State Assembly. from the original on September 19, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
36. "72nd St".
37. (PDF) (Report). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 11, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
38. Cox, Jeremiah (June 24, 2011). "A 72ND St name tablet with a 71 arrow that has had its sign covering removed beneath". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
39. Cox, Jeremiah (June 22, 2009). "The dirty closed off staircase from the downtown platform to 71 Street". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
40. Cox, Jeremiah. "The newer less yellowed wall with doors in it that was once the exit to 71 Street". subwaynut.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 72nd Street (IND Eighth Avenue Line).

• nycsubway.org – IND Eighth Avenue Line: 72nd Street
• Station Reporter —
• Station Reporter —
• 72nd Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 70th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Upper platform from Google Maps Street View