Bay Ridge Avenue station

The Bay Ridge Avenue station is a station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Bay Ridge Avenue and Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It is served by the R train at all times.

Bay Ridge Avenue
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Bay Ridge-bound platform after renovation
Station statistics
Address	Bay Ridge Avenue & Fourth Avenue Brooklyn, NY
Borough	Brooklyn
Locale	Bay Ridge
Coordinates	40°38′05″N 74°01′25″W / 40.63472°N 74.02361°W / 40.63472; -74.02361
Division	B (BMT)^[1]
Line	BMT Fourth Avenue Line
Services	R  (all times)
Transit	NYCT Bus: B9, B64; B37 (on Third Avenue); B63 (on Fifth Avenue)^[2]
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	January 15, 1916 (108 years ago) (1916-01-15)^[3]
Closed	April 29, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-04-29) (reconstruction)
Rebuilt	October 13, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-13)
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	1,784,703^[4]  17.4%
Rank	178 out of 423^[4]
Services Preceding station New York City Subway Following station 59th Street toward Forest Hills–71st Avenue 77th Street toward Bay Ridge–95th Street
Location Show map of New York City Subway Show map of New York City Show map of New York
Track layout Legend to 59th Street to 77th Street
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times

The Bay Ridge Avenue station was constructed as part of the Fourth Avenue Line, which was approved in 1905 and subsequently modified. Construction on the segment of the line that includes Bay Ridge Avenue started on January 24, 1913, and was completed in 1915. The station opened on January 15, 1916, as part of an extension of the BMT Fourth Avenue Line from 59th Street to 86th Street. The station's platforms were lengthened in 1926–1927, and again in 1970. The station was also renovated during the 1970s and in 2017.

History

Construction and opening

 

Manhattan-bound prior to renovation

The Bay Ridge Avenue station was constructed as part of the Fourth Avenue Line. The plan for the line was initially adopted on June 1, 1905, before being approved by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York on June 18, 1906 after the Rapid Transit Commission was unable to get the necessary consents of property owners along the planned route.^[5] The Rapid Transit Commission was succeeded by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) on July 1, 1907, and the PSC approved the plan for the line in October and November 1907.^[6][7]

As part of negotiations between New York City and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT), and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company for the expansion of the city's transit network, the line was leased to a subsidiary of the BRT. The agreement, known as Contract 4 of the Dual Contracts, was signed on March 19, 1913.^[6] In 1912, during the Dual System negotiations, the construction of an extension of the Fourth Avenue subway from 43rd Street to 89th Street, just south of the 86th Street station, was recommended. This recommendation was approved by the Board of Estimate on February 15, 1912. The PSC directed its chief engineer to create plans on June 14, 1912. The two contracts for the extension, Route 11B, were awarded on September 16, 1912, to the Degnon Construction Company for a combined $3.8 million (equivalent to $120 million in 2023).^[6]

On January 24, 1913, construction began on Route 11B2, which includes this station and extends between 61st Street and 89th Street. Construction was completed on this section in 1915.^[5] Bay Ridge Avenue opened on January 15, 1916, as part of an extension of the BMT Fourth Avenue Line from 59th Street to 86th Street.^[3][8]

Station renovations

1920s

On June 27, 1922, the New York State Transit Commission commissioned its engineers to examine platform-lengthening plans for 23 stations on the lines of the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), the successor to the BRT, to accommodate eight-car trains. As part of the project, Bay Ridge Avenue's platforms would have been lengthened from 495 feet (151 m) to 530 feet (160 m).^[9][10] Progress on the extensions did not occur until February 16, 1925, when the New York City Board of Transportation (NYCBOT) commissioned its engineers to examine platform-lengthening plans for this and eleven other stations along the Fourth Avenue Line. It estimated the project would cost $633,000 (equivalent to $10,998,000 in 2023) (equivalent to $10,997,624 in 2023). The BMT had been ordered by the Transit Commission to lengthen these platforms since September 1923.^[11] The NYCBOT received bids for the project on February 25, 1926.^[12] The contract was awarded to the Corson Construction Company for $345,021 (equivalent to $5,937,993 in 2023).^[13] The extensions opened on August 1, 1927.^[14]

1960s

The city government took over the BMT's operations on June 1, 1940.^[15][16] In the 1960s, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) started a project to lengthen station platforms on its lines in Southern Brooklyn to 615 feet (187 m) to accommodate 10-car trains.^[17] On July 14, 1967, the NYCTA awarded a contract to conduct test borings at eleven stations on the Fourth Avenue Line, including Bay Ridge Avenue, to the W. M. Walsh Corporation for $6,585 (equivalent to $60,172 in 2023) in preparation of the construction of platform extensions (equivalent to $60,172 in 2023).^[18] The NYCTA issued an invitation for bids on the project to extend the platforms at stations along the Fourth Avenue Line between 45th Street station and Bay Ridge–95th Street, including this station, on May 3, 1968.^[19]

However, work had already started on the platform extension project in February. As part of the renovation project, the station's platforms were extended at its northern and southern ends, for a total of 85 feet (26 m),^[17][20] and the station's elaborate mosaic tile walls were covered over with 8-by-16-inch (20 by 41 cm) white cinderblock tiles. The latter change, which was also made to 15 other stations on the BMT Broadway and Fourth Avenue Line, was criticized for being dehumanizing. The NYCTA spokesman stated that the old tiles were in poor condition and that the change was made to improve the appearance of stations and provide uniformity. Furthermore, it did not consider the old mosaics to have "any great artistic merit".^[21]

2017

 

Bay Ridge Avenue station entrance after the renovation

As part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's 2015–2019 Capital Program, the station, along with thirty other New York City Subway stations, were scheduled to undergo a complete overhaul as part of the Enhanced Station Initiative. Updates were to include cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps, improved signage, and improved station lighting.^[22][23] From January to May 2016, Grimshaw Architects worked on a design for the station's renovation, with Arup Group acting as a consultant. The award for Package 1 of the renovations, which covered renovations at the Prospect Avenue, 53rd Street, and Bay Ridge Avenue stations on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line, was awarded on November 30, 2016.^[24] Citnalta-Forte Joint Venture was selected to renovate the three stations under a $72 million design–build contract, the first such contract in the subway system's history.^[25] The station closed on April 29, 2017 for these renovations^[26][27] and reopened on October 13, 2017.^[28]

Station layout

G	Street level	Exit/entrance
B1	Mezzanine	Fare control, station agent
B2 Platform level	Side platform
	Northbound	←   toward Forest Hills–71st Avenue (Whitehall Street–South Ferry late nights) (59th Street)
	Southbound	→   toward Bay Ridge–95th Street (77th Street) →
	Side platform

 

A view of the southern end of the Manhattan-bound platform, where the platform was extended in 1970

This underground station has two tracks and two side platforms.^[29] The R stops here at all times.^[30] The station is between 59th Street to the north and 77th Street to the south.^[31]

While the 95th Street-bound platform has columns along its full length,^[32] the Manhattan-bound platform is mostly columnless, with only a few columns located in the middle of the platform and at its southern end.^[33][34] The columns on the 95th Street-bound platform are curved, except for those at the ends of the platform, which are typical I-beams, and are where the platform was extended in 1970.^[35][36] All of the columns are painted blue and have "Bay Ridge Av" signs on them.^[37]

Prior to the station's 1970 renovation, it was finished all in white and marble tile, and it had its own color scheme to allow regular passengers to identify the station based only on the color of the marble trimmings.^[6] Since that renovation, the station walls have consisted of white cinderblock tiles, except for small recesses in the walls, which contain blue-painted cinderblock tiles. The blue cinderblock field contains the station-name signs and white text pointing to the exits.^[38] During the 2017 renovation, the cinderblock tiles were refurbished and colored white with small recesses containing blue tiles.^[39]

The landing in the southbound platform's second entrance had been the only area in the station that contained the original 1915 trim line with "B.R." tiled on it.^[40][41][42] These tiles were all removed during the 2017 renovation, and were replaced with blue rectangular tiling.^[43]

The 2017 artwork at this station called Strata consists of a set of tile mosaics by Katy Fischer, which commemorate the Native American, Dutch, and English colonial histories of the area.^[28]

 

The northbound platform at the station is mostly columnless and is wider as a provision for an express trackway.

Provisions

The Fourth Avenue Line south of 59th Street, including the Bay Ridge Avenue and 77th Street stations, was built as a two-track structure under the west side of Fourth Avenue with plans for two future tracks on the east side of the street. The bridge across the Long Island Rail Road's Bay Ridge Branch to the north of this station, but under Fourth Avenue, was built for four tracks, but only the space for the two west tracks were ever used.^[44] The tunnel leading up to each side of the bridge was built for two tracks only.^[5][45] Daylight can briefly be seen from the bridge.^[46]

The station is designed to allow the northbound platform to become the Manhattan-bound express trackway if the two additional tracks were built. To facilitate the conversion, the northbound platform is mostly columnless and is wider than the southbound platform. Furthermore, there is space underneath the platform for the trackway.^[29][47][5]

 

The 68th Street exit-only staircase before reconstruction

Exits

The station's mezzanine is above the platforms with two staircases leading to each.^[48][49]

From the mezzanine outside of fare control, two staircases lead to either southern corners of Bay Ridge and Fourth Avenues.^[50]

The southbound platform has an additional entrance near its north end. Prior to the 2017 renovation, the entrance was exit-only, and consisted of one high entry-exit turnstile on the platform.^[42][51][52] Two platform level turnstiles lead to a small landing, where a double-flight staircase goes up to the northwest corner of 68th Street and Fourth Avenue.^[53][54]

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. "Brooklyn Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
3. "Subway Running To Eighty-Sixth Street Starts Building Boom In Bay Ridge". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 15, 1916. Retrieved June 29, 2015 – via newspapers.com  .
4. "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
5. Rogoff, David (May 1961). "The Fourth Ave. Subway". New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–10. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
6. Fourth Avenue Subway, Brooklyn's New Transportation Line: A Part of the Dual System of Rapid Transit of the City of New York. New York City: Public Service Commission. June 19, 1915. p. 18. hdl:2027/uiug.30112067596715 – via HathiTrust.
7. "Fourth Avenue Subway Is Sent To A Committee". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 20, 1908. pp. 1–2. Retrieved May 4, 2017 – via newspapers.com  .
8. Report of the Public Service Commission For The First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1916. Vol. II. Statistics of Transportation Companies For The Year Ending June 30, 1916. New York State Public Service Commission. 1917. p. 136.
9. Second Annual Report of the Transit Commission (For the Calendar Year 1922). New York State Transit Commission. 1923. p. 100.
10. Proceedings of the Transit Commission, State of New York Volume III From January 1 to December 31, 1923. New York State Transit Commission. 1923. p. 1277.
11. "12 B-M. T. Stations To Be Lengthened". The New York Times. February 17, 1925. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
12. "Board Receives Platform Bids For B.M.T. Lines. Six Companies Submit Prices for Extending Subway Stations". The Brooklyn Citizen. February 26, 1926. p. 5. Retrieved April 7, 2020 – via newspapers.com  .
13. "Brooklyn Wins Big Improvement Fund". Brooklyn Standard Union. March 18, 1926. p. 20. Retrieved April 7, 2020 – via newspapers.com  .
14. "B.M.T. Stations Ready For Eight-Car Trains". Brooklyn Standard Union. August 1, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2020 – via newspapers.com  .
15. "B.M.T. Lines Pass to City Ownership; $175,000,000 Deal Completed at City Hall Ceremony-- Mayor 'Motorman No. 1'". The New York Times. June 2, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
16. "City Takes Over B. M. T. System; Mayor Skippers Midnight Train". New York Herald Tribune. June 2, 1940. p. 1. ProQuest 1243059209.
17. New York City Transit Authority Annual Report For The Year June 30, 1960. New York City Transit Authority. 1960. pp. 16–17.
18. Minutes and Proceedings. New York City Transit Authority. 1967. pp. 379–380.
19. Engineering News-record. McGraw-Hill. 1968. p. 75.
20. Rogoff, Dave (February 1969). (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. 12 (1). Electric Railroaders' Association: 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
21. Burks, Edward C. (February 21, 1970). "Subways' Colored Tile Gets Cover-Up Job". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
22. Whitford, Emma (January 8, 2016). . Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
23. "MTAStations" (PDF). governor.ny.gov. Government of the State of New York. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
24. "Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 2016. p. 54. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
25. . mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
26. Spivack, Caroline (January 16, 2017). "Shuttle scuttle: Riders demand extra buses during three subway stations' closure". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
27. "MTA will close these Brooklyn subway stops to facilitate upgrades". Curbed NY. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
28. Mascali, Nikki M. (October 13, 2017). "MTA unveils new Bay Ridge Avenue R station". Metro US. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
29. Dougherty, Peter (2020). Tracks of the New York City Subway 2020 (16th ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 1056711733.
30. "R Subway Timetable, Effective August 28, 2023". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
31. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
32. Hermann, Marc A. (September 2, 2016). "Bay Ridge Av station before renewal". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
33. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "Looking across the tracks to the columnless Manhattan-bound platform at Bay Ridge Av". subwaynut.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
34. Dorante, Thomas (September 19, 2018). "A Forest Hills–71st Avenue-bound R train leaving the Manhattan-bound platform of the Bay Ridge Avenue BMT station, under 4th Avenue and Bay Ridge Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
35. Hermann, Marc A. (September 2, 2016). "Bay Ridge Av station before renewal". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
36. Hermann, Marc A. (September 2, 2016). "Bay Ridge Av station before renewal". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
37. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "A close up of a Bay Ridge Av column sign". subwaynut.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
38. Hermann, Marc A. (September 2, 2016). "Bay Ridge Av station before renewal". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
39. Hermann, Marc A. (October 13, 2017). "Reopening of Bay Ridge Av ESI". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
40. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). . subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
41. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). . subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
42. Hermann, Marc A. (September 2, 2016). "Bay Ridge Av station before renewal". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
43. Hermann, Marc A. (October 13, 2017). "Reopening of Bay Ridge Av ESI". Flickr.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
44. Video on YouTube
45. Anastasio, Joe (June 12, 2006). "The Ridge Bridge". LTV Squad. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
46. "Bay Ridge Bridge". Photobucket. 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
47. "Brooklyn Subway Extension Plan: Fourth Ave. Line to 86th St., Tunnel to Staten Island, and Eventually a Through Route to Coney Island" (PDF). The New York Times. February 16, 1912. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
48. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "Looking towards a boring 1970s cinderblocked wall and the two staircases down to the 95 St-bound platform at Bay Ridge Avenue". subwaynut.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
49. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "Looking across to the Manhattan-bound platform with the two staircases that lead up to the mezzanine at Bay Ridge Avenue visible". subwaynut.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
50. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). . subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
51. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "The area outside of the High Exit Turnstile at the exit to 68 Street, still with its original trim line at Bay Ridge Avenue". subwaynut.com. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
52. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). "The No entry exit at Street level at 68 Street is in desperate need of a paint job". subwaynut.com. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
53. Cox, Jeremiah (June 9, 2009). . subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
54. "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Bay Ridge" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bay Ridge Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line).

• nycsubway.org – BMT 4th Avenue Line: Bay Ridge Avenue
• Station Reporter —
• The Subway Nut — Bay Ridge Avenue Pictures January 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
• Bay Ridge Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View
• 68th Street exit only stairs from Google Maps Street View
• Platforms from Google Maps Street View