BMT 63rd Street Line
Encyclopedia
The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit
line of the BMT
division of the New York City Subway
system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line
from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends. Two diamond crossovers are located just west of the station on both levels to enable trains to switch between this line and the IND 63rd Street Line
, where the F
train currently runs.
The line is being continued east towards Second Avenue. It will turn north to connect with the under construction IND Second Avenue Line tracks.
to Lower Manhattan
.
From May to November 1995, the north side of the Manhattan Bridge
was closed for reconstruction and the Q
train was routed via Broadway at this time. It used the BMT 63rd Street Line to connect to the IND 63rd Street Line and serve Lexington Avenue, Roosevelt Island
, and 21st Street – Queensbridge stations.
During reconstruction on the IND side from February 1998 to May 1999, 63rd Street Shuttle
trains operated via this line between 21st Street – Queensbridge and 57th Street – Seventh Avenue, later running further to 34th Street – Herald Square.
, tracks G3 and G4 to distinguish them from the pre-existing G1 and G2 tracks associated with the 60th Street Tunnel
and Astoria Line
.
service under Central Park and eastward to the stop at Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street before turning north at Second Avenue to merge with the under construction Second Avenue Subway
. This will create direct service between the Upper East Side
and the existing BMT Broadway Line
.
The double-decked Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street station will allow cross-platform interchange
between the two 63rd Street lines. It is being renovated to remove the walls on the platforms and open a new entrance on the Third Avenue side of the station. East-bound trains to Queens (and later Upper Manhattan
) use the lower level; south-bound trains to Midtown
and Lower Manhattan
use the upper level.
The tunnel boring machine
being used to create the Second Avenue Line, broke through the wall into the lower level of the BMT 63rd Street Line on September 22, 2011.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line of the BMT
Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation
The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation was an urban transit holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, and incorporated in 1923. The system was sold to the city in 1940 and today, together with the IND subway system, form the B Division of the New York City Subway...
division of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line
BMT Broadway Line
The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends. Two diamond crossovers are located just west of the station on both levels to enable trains to switch between this line and the IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...
, where the F
F (New York City Subway service)
The F Sixth Avenue Local is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored orange on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map, since it runs on the IND Sixth Avenue Line through Manhattan....
train currently runs.
The line is being continued east towards Second Avenue. It will turn north to connect with the under construction IND Second Avenue Line tracks.
Past Service
The BMT 63rd Street line opened on October 29, 1989. It was built for future service options, including a connection to the Second Avenue Subway for service from the Upper East SideUpper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
to Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
.
From May to November 1995, the north side of the Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
was closed for reconstruction and the Q
Q (New York City Subway service)
The Q Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. It is colored yellow on the route sign, on station signs and the official subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line through Manhattan....
train was routed via Broadway at this time. It used the BMT 63rd Street Line to connect to the IND 63rd Street Line and serve Lexington Avenue, Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island (IND 63rd Street Line)
Roosevelt Island is a station on the IND 63rd Street Line of the New York City Subway. Located on Roosevelt Island in the East River, between Manhattan and Queens, it is served by the F train at all times. The station opened in 1989 in conjunction with the partial completion of the 63rd Street...
, and 21st Street – Queensbridge stations.
During reconstruction on the IND side from February 1998 to May 1999, 63rd Street Shuttle
63rd Street Shuttle
The 63rd Street Shuttle was a name given to three shuttle trains that served the IND 63rd Street Line on the New York City Subway during various times from 1997 to 2001.-63rd Street Shuttle – 1997:...
trains operated via this line between 21st Street – Queensbridge and 57th Street – Seventh Avenue, later running further to 34th Street – Herald Square.
Current Service
The BMT 63rd Street line is not currently used for regular service, except for detours due to construction or emergencies. The tracks are coded as BMT chainingNew York City Subway chaining
New York City Subway chaining is a method to precisely specify locations along the New York City Subway lines. It measures distances from a fixed point, called chaining zero, following the twists and turns of the railroad line, so that the distance described is understood to be the "railroad...
, tracks G3 and G4 to distinguish them from the pre-existing G1 and G2 tracks associated with the 60th Street Tunnel
60th Street Tunnel
The 60th Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.The tunnel was built as part of the Dual Contracts period of New York City subway construction...
and Astoria Line
BMT Astoria Line
The Astoria Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. It runs from Ditmars Boulevard to 39th Avenue along 31st Street. It then serves Queensboro Plaza along 27th Street. It was built as part of the Dual Contracts and...
.
Planned Service
MTA plans to extend the QQ (New York City Subway service)
The Q Broadway Express is a service of the New York City Subway. It is colored yellow on the route sign, on station signs and the official subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line through Manhattan....
service under Central Park and eastward to the stop at Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street before turning north at Second Avenue to merge with the under construction Second Avenue Subway
Second Avenue Subway
The Second Avenue Subway is a planned rapid transit subway line, part of the New York City Subway system. Phase I, consisting of two miles of tunnel and three stations, is currently under construction underneath Second Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.A plan for more than 75 years, the Second...
. This will create direct service between the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
and the existing BMT Broadway Line
BMT Broadway Line
The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
.
The double-decked Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street station will allow cross-platform interchange
Cross-platform interchange
A cross-platform interchange is a type of interchange between different lines in a metro system. The term originates with the London Underground; such layouts exist in other networks but are not commonly so named...
between the two 63rd Street lines. It is being renovated to remove the walls on the platforms and open a new entrance on the Third Avenue side of the station. East-bound trains to Queens (and later Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street...
) use the lower level; south-bound trains to Midtown
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
and Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
use the upper level.
The tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
A tunnel boring machine also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through anything from hard rock to sand. Tunnel diameters can range from a metre to almost 16 metres to date...
being used to create the Second Avenue Line, broke through the wall into the lower level of the BMT 63rd Street Line on September 22, 2011.
Station listing
| Station | Services | Opened | Transfers & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merges with the IND Second Avenue Line | ||||
| Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street | October 29, 1989 | The side of the station dedicated to the BMT 63rd Street Line is incomplete. It is under construction and scheduled to open in the late 2010s with Phase 1 the Second Avenue Subway. (IND 63rd Street Line IND 63rd Street Line The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens... ) MetroCard transfer to IRT Lexington Avenue Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York... at 59th Street MetroCard transfer to BMT Broadway Line BMT Broadway Line The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks... at Lexington Avenue / 59th Street |
||
| connecting tracks to IND 63rd Street Line IND 63rd Street Line The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens... (No Regular service) |
||||
| Merges with BMT Broadway Line BMT Broadway Line The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks... express tracks |
||||