TheIND Crosstown LineorBrooklyn–Queens Crosstown Lineis arapid transitline of theB Divisionof theNew York City SubwayinBrooklynandQueens,New York City,United States.It provides crosstown service between western Brooklyn and southwestern Queens and is the only non-shuttle subway line that does not carry trains to and fromManhattan.

IND Crosstown Line
"G" train
TheG,which uses the Crosstown Line throughBrooklynandQueens,is colored lime green.
Overview
OwnerCity of New York
Termini
Stations13
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemNew York City Subway
Operator(s)New York City Transit Authority
Daily ridership70,453[1]
History
Opened1933–1937
Technical
Number of tracks2-4
CharacterUnderground
Track gauge4 ft8+12in(1,435 mm)
Electrification600V DCthird rail
Route map

Court Square
21st Street
Greenpoint Avenue
Nassau Avenue
Lorimer Street
Metropolitan Avenue
Broadway
Flushing Avenue
Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues
Bedford–Nostrand Avenues
Classon Avenue
Clinton–Washington Avenues
Fulton Street
Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets

Extent and service

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The following service uses part or all of the IND Crosstown Line,[2]whose bullet is colored lime green:

Time period Section of line
all times south ofCourt Square
Metropolitan Avenue station

The only service to use the Crosstown Line is theG.The line north ofCourt Squarehas not been in regular use since 2010.[3]

The north end of the Crosstown Line is aflying junctionwith theIND Queens Boulevard Lineand60th Street Tunnel Connectionjust south ofQueens Plaza.The line then travels south as a two-track line, except for a center relay track south of Court Square. At the turn from Marcy Avenue to Lafayette Avenue, two center tracks appear, merging into one after crossovers to the main tracks. These tracks were to be used for a split to another line ina 1931 expansion plan.This center track continues throughBedford–Nostrand Avenuesand then ends with crossovers to the main tracks, but space remains in the center throughClasson Avenuefor the third track.[3]

AtHoyt–Schermerhorn Streets,the Crosstown Line passes through the middle of the four-trackIND Fulton Street Line.Cross-platform interchangeis available between the lines, but no track connections exist. After Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets, the line turns south and ends as a merge into the local tracks of theIND Culver Line,just south of the split of that line into local and express tracks.[3]

History

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Development and 20th century

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Plans for a crosstown subway line were floated as early as 1912.[4][5]In 1923, a plan for such a line, to be operated by theBrooklyn Rapid Transit Company(BRT) from theQueensboro Bridgeunder Jackson Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, Roebling Street, Bedford Avenue, and Hancock Street toFranklin Avenueat the north end of theBMT Franklin Avenue Line,[6]was adopted by the city.[7]However, the following year,Mayor Hylanannounced his opposition to it.[8]In addition, residents of central Brooklyn, which was already heavily developed, opposed an elevated line because of noise and aesthetic concerns, but the BRT would not build a subway because an elevated was the cheapest option.[5]

Eventually, the line was moved and incorporated into the city'sIndependent Subway System(IND).[9]The junction with theIND Queens Boulevard Linein Long Island City was originally supposed to have a secondwye,with service from Manhattan via the53rd Street Tunnelplanned to feed into the Crosstown Line. This would have been part of a loop service between the Crosstown andEighth Avenue Lines.[9][10]

1920 proposal

The first contract to build the Crosstown Line, for a section north ofNassau Avenuein Brooklyn, was awarded in 1928.[11]The portion of the line crossingNewtown Creekbetween Brooklyn and Queens, now known as the Greenpoint Tubes, was built without the use of atunneling shieldor compressed air, contrary to the convention of the time. The tunnel was bored through solid rock, crossing under theEast River Tunnelsof theLong Island Rail Roadand theIRT Flushing Line,then lined with concrete.[12]

On August 19, 1933, the line was opened north of Nassau Avenue, and theGGbegan operation toQueens Plaza.[13]The entire Crosstown Line was completed and connected to theIND Culver Lineon July 1, 1937, whereupon the GG was extended in both directions toSmith–Ninth StreetsandForest Hills–71st Avenue.[14]

In 1946, as part of a $1 billion plan issued by theNew York City Board of Transportation,a branch of the IND Crosstown Line was to be built, with the routing via Franklin Avenue and connecting with theBMT Brighton Line.This would have replaced theBMT Franklin Avenue Line.[15]

In 1986, theNew York City Transit Authoritylaunched a study to determine whether to close 79 stations on 11 routes, including the entire Crosstown Line, due to low ridership and high repair costs.[16][17]Numerous figures, including New York City Council memberCarol Greitzer,criticized the plans.[17][18]

Service history

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Over the years, the termini for the GG (relabeled G in 1985)[19]varied, including being extended toJamaica–179th Street[20]or cut back toQueens Plaza.On December 16, 2001, a new weekdays-onlyVtrain (replaced in 2010 by theM) running local on theQueens Boulevard Linerequired the truncation of the G toLong Island City–Court Squareduring weekdays.[21][22]G service was extended to Forest Hills–71st Avenue at all other times until April 19, 2010, when G service was permanently cut back from the Queens Boulevard Line due to budget cuts and closures for repair work.[23]

Service was also extended toChurch Avenueseveral times, the most recent extension being in 2009. During weekend service disruptions on theFservice between Jay and Bergen Streets, trains were extended beyond Church Avenue toConey Island.

21st century

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Repairs of the Greenpoint Tubes from Hurricane Sandy

In 2012, flood waters fromHurricane Sandycaused significant damage to the Greenpoint Tubes under theNewtown Creek.Although the G was back in service days after the hurricane, the tube needed permanent repairs. To allow for these repairs, G service was curtailed for twelve weekends between July and December 2013, as well as daily between July 25 and September 2, 2014.[24]

The 2015–2019MTACapital Plan called for the Crosstown Line'sClasson AvenueandFlushing Avenuestations, along with 31 others, to undergo a complete overhaul as part of theEnhanced Station Initiative.Updates would include cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps, improved signage, and improved station lighting.[25][26]However, in April 2018, it was announced that cost overruns had forced the MTA to reduce the number of subway stations included in the program from 33 stations to 20. The stations to be renovated along the IND Crosstown Line were among the 13 stations without funding, which will be pushed back to the 2020–2024 Capital Plan.[27]

CBTC installation

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The MTA announced in early 2022 that it planned to put the contract to installcommunications-based train control(CBTC) on the Crosstown Line toHoyt–Schermerhorn Streets stationand modify the three interlockings on the line up for bid. The cost of the project is estimated to be $556.4 million.[28]On May 16, 2022, the MTA put out the RFP for the design-build contract to install CBTC on the Crosstown Line. Court Square Interlocking will be modified to interface with CBTC while mechanical interlockings at Nostrand Avenue and Nassau Avenue will be replaced. Relay rooms and towers at Nostrand Avenue and Nassau Avenue will be decommissioned as part of the project. This project will include the use of axle counters instead of track circuits. Work on the project is expected to take four years.[29]In December 2022, the MTA announced that it would award a $368 milliondesign–buildcontract to Crosstown Partners, a joint venture between Thales Group and TC Electric LLC.[30][31]The contract includes not only the Crosstown Line between Court Square and Bergen Street, but also the Culver Line between Bergen Street and Church Avenue.[31]The project also included addingWi-Fi in the tunnels.[32]

Crosstown Partners formally received the CBTC contract in March 2023.[33]The installation of CBTC required nighttime closures of parts of the line in late 2023 and early 2024.[34]To accommodate the CBTC upgrades, the Crosstown Line was partially closed in three phases starting on June 28, 2024, and G service was partially suspended. Initially, the northern half of the line was closed, followed by the southern half.[35][36]Additionally,5Gcellular infrastructure was added during the partial shutdown.[37][38]The line fully reopened on September 3, 2024.[39][40]

Station listing

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Every station is served by theGtrain.

Station service legend
Stops all times
Stops all times except late nights
Stops late nights and weekends only
Stops weekdays during the day
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Time period details
Station is compliant with theAmericans with Disabilities Act
Station is compliant with theAmericans with Disabilities Act
in the indicated direction only
Elevator access to mezzanine only
Neighborhood
(approximate)
Station Services Opened Transfers and notes
Queens
Long Island City Splits from theIND Queens Boulevard Linelocal tracks (no regular service)
Court Square G August 19, 1933[13] IRT Flushing Line(7<7>​)
IND Queens Boulevard Line(EM)
21st Street G August 19, 1933[13] Connection toLIRRatHunterspoint Avenue
Brooklyn
Greenpoint Greenpoint Avenue G August 19, 1933[13]
Nassau Avenue G August 19, 1933[13]
Williamsburg Metropolitan Avenue G July 1, 1937[14] BMT Canarsie Line(L) atLorimer Street
Broadway G July 1, 1937[14]
Williamsburg/
Bedford–Stuyvesant
Flushing Avenue G July 1, 1937[14]
Bedford–Stuyvesant Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues G July 1, 1937[14]
Bedford–Nostrand Avenues G July 1, 1937[14] Center track between the two island platforms
Clinton Hill Classon Avenue G July 1, 1937[14] Additional space for a center track
Clinton–Washington Avenues G July 1, 1937[14]
Fort Greene Fulton Street G July 1, 1937[14]
Downtown Brooklyn Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets G July 1, 1937[14] IND Fulton Street Line(AC)
Merges with theIND Culver Line(G)

References

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  1. ^"Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)".Metropolitan Transportation Authority.2023.RetrievedApril 20,2024.
  2. ^"Subway Service Guide"(PDF).Metropolitan Transportation Authority.September 2019.RetrievedSeptember 22,2019.
  3. ^abcDougherty, Peter (2006) [2002].Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006(3rd ed.). Dougherty.OCLC49777633– viaGoogle Books.
  4. ^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.ISBN978-0-82325-369-2.
  5. ^abvanshnookenraggen (September 23, 2015)."Mysteries of the Queens Boulevard Subway".vanshnookenraggen.RetrievedOctober 4,2015.
  6. ^Transit Commission,New Subways: Proposed Additions to Rapid Transit System,1922
  7. ^"Two Subway Routes Adopted by City".The New York Times.August 4, 1923. p. 9.RetrievedDecember 18,2011.
  8. ^"Hylan About Faced, Says Citizens Union".The New York Times.April 6, 1924. p. 13.RetrievedDecember 18,2011.
  9. ^ab"New Subway Routes in Hylan Program to Cost $186,046,000"(PDF).The New York Times.March 21, 1925. p. 1.
  10. ^"Bids for Test Boring in L. I. City For Crosstown Line Due May 22".Queens Daily Star.May 6, 1925.RetrievedMay 1,2016– via Fulton History.
  11. ^"SUBWAY EXTENSIONS FOR LONG ISLAND; Three Contracts for Work in the Greenpoint Section for Over Five Miles of Track. WILL COST-OVER $15,000,000 The New Fifty-third Street Terminal Under East River Now 45Per Cent. Completed".The New York Times.January 22, 1928.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
  12. ^Snapp, Fletcher G. (April 24, 1929)."Newtown Creek Tunnel First Tube of Kind Bored Without Compressed Air".Brooklyn Daily Eagle.p. 3.RetrievedAugust 28,2016– viaNewspapers.
  13. ^abcde"Two Subway Units Open at Midnight – Links in City-Owned System in Queens and Brooklyn to Have 15 Stations"(PDF).The New York Times.August 18, 1933.RetrievedNovember 7,2015.
  14. ^abcdefghij"New Crosstown Subway Line Is Opened".Brooklyn Daily Eagle.July 1, 1937.RetrievedDecember 24,2015– viaNewspapers.
  15. ^"Borough Subway Relief Still 2 to 3 Years Off".Brooklyn Daily Eagle.December 6, 1946. p. 5.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016– viaNewspapers.Beginning of text, p. 1:[1]
  16. ^Brooke, James (April 29, 1986)."Subway Aides to Weigh Cuts on 11 Routes".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.
  17. ^abGordy, Margaret (April 29, 1986)."MTA Studies Citywide Cuts in Subway Lines, Stations".Newsday.pp. 3,27.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024– viaNewspapers.
  18. ^Finder, Alan; Connelly, Mary (May 4, 1986)."The Region; On Shrinking The Subways".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.
  19. ^"The JoeKorNer Brochures".thejoekorner.RetrievedMay 1,2016.
  20. ^"Service Changes September 30, 1990"(PDF).subwaynut.New York City Transit Authority. September 30, 1990. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 26, 2014.RetrievedMay 1,2016.
  21. ^"Review of the G Line"(PDF).mta.info.Metropolitan Transportation Authority.July 10, 2013.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 26, 2015.RetrievedAugust 2,2015.
  22. ^Kennedy, Randy (May 25, 2001)."Panel Approves New V Train but Shortens G Line to Make Room".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 20,2010.
  23. ^Haddon, Heather (April 13, 2010)."G train taking a hit before service cuts roll out".AM New York.Archived fromthe originalon April 24, 2010.RetrievedApril 16,2010.
  24. ^"G Line Review".mta.info.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2015.RetrievedOctober 29,2015.
  25. ^Whitford, Emma (January 8, 2016)."MTA Will Completely Close 30 Subway Stations For Months-Long" Revamp "".Gothamist. Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2016.RetrievedJuly 18,2016.
  26. ^"MTAStations"(PDF).governor.ny.gov.Government of the State of New York.RetrievedJuly 18,2016.
  27. ^Berger, Paul (April 3, 2018)."New York Subway Cuts Back Plans to Renovate Stations".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.RetrievedApril 3,2018.
  28. ^"MTA 2022 Adopted Budget February Financial Plan 2022 – 2025 February 2022".mta.info.Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 18, 2022. p. V-3.RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  29. ^"Solicitation Title: S48012 Design-Build Services for Communication Based Train Control Crosstown Line" B "Division in Brooklyn and Queens".mta.info.Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 16, 2022.RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  30. ^Brachfeld, Ben (December 20, 2022)."MTA set to award $368 million contract to modernize G line signals".amNewYork.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  31. ^ab"Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting December 2022".mta.info.Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 19, 2022. pp. 99–101.RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  32. ^Burkett, N.J. (August 7, 2024)."Exclusive look at MTA's G train modernization and what it means for riders in New York City".ABC7 New York.RetrievedAugust 8,2024.
  33. ^"Crosstown Partners awarded New York Subway CBTC contract".Railway Gazette International.March 7, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 16,2024.
  34. ^Rahhal, Emily (November 27, 2023)."G Train Service To Be Suspended Overnight Between Bed-Stuy & Queens".Bed-Stuy, NY Patch.RetrievedJanuary 16,2024.
    Fishman, Melissa (November 28, 2023)."Overnight G train service to be partially suspended for signal modernization starting Nov. 30".Brooklyn Paper.RetrievedJanuary 16,2024.
  35. ^"NYC commuter alert: G train service partially suspended starting Friday night in Brooklyn for MTA signal modernization project".ABC7 New York.June 28, 2024.RetrievedJuly 7,2024.
  36. ^Zanger, Jesse (May 30, 2024)."G train service will be partially shut down throughout the summer. Here's what to expect".CBS New York.RetrievedJuly 7,2024.
  37. ^Khalifeh, Ramsey (September 4, 2024)."MTA rolls out cell service between stations on Midtown's 42nd Street Shuttle".Gothamist.RetrievedSeptember 4,2024.
  38. ^Rahhal, Emily (September 4, 2024)."Times Square shuttle will be NYC's first subway line with cell service".PIX11.RetrievedSeptember 4,2024.
  39. ^Medgie, Raegan (September 3, 2024)."NYC Subway: G train back to full service after summer repairs and modernization project".ABC7 New York.RetrievedSeptember 4,2024.
  40. ^Simko-Bednarski, Evan (September 3, 2024)."G train reopens as MTA crews wrap up subway signaling work".New York Daily News.RetrievedSeptember 4,2024.
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