.gif)
Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn)
Encyclopedia
Fourth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the New York City
borough
of Brooklyn
. It stretches for 6 miles (9.7 km) south from Times Plaza
, which is the triangle intersection created by Atlantic
and Flatbush
Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn
, to Shore Road and the Belt Parkway
in Bay Ridge
.
While southwestern Brooklyn is well served by expressways, Fourth Avenue provides an alternate for local traffic as it directly links the neighborhoods of Park Slope
, Sunset Park
and Bay Ridge
with Downtown Brooklyn. Traffic signals along the avenue are coordinated for green wave
in the peak direction.
, the triangle intersection it forms with Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues at the foot of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower
and Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn. The avenue extends south with three traffic lanes in each direction and a one-lane-wide concrete divider that providess a left-turn lane. The concrete divider is actually part of the ventilation system for the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
, which lies directly underneath. While six lanes are provided, only four lanes get full use, since the outer two are used by double-parked vehicles and as a right-turn lane.
The borough has a thoroughfare named Church Avenue (named for an 18th century church
) that does not rival the large number of later churches located along Fourth Avenue. At Fourth Avenue's intersection with 54th Street in Sunset Park, there are four houses of worship either directly at the corner of the intersection or within a building of it. Two of the churches stand side by side.
( trains) of the New York City Subway
runs the length of Fourth Avenue. Stations are located at Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street, Union Street
, Ninth Street, Prospect Avenue
, 25th Street
, 36th Street
, 45th Street
, 53rd Street
, 59th Street
, Bay Ridge Avenue
, 77th Street
, 86th Street
and at Bay Ridge – 95th Street. (The stations in bold are express stations.)
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. It stretches for 6 miles (9.7 km) south from Times Plaza
Times Plaza
Times Plaza is the historical name for the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, Fourth Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area came to be called Times Plaza for the nearby offices of the Brooklyn Daily Times...
, which is the triangle intersection created by Atlantic
Atlantic Avenue (New York City)
Atlantic Avenue is an important street in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It stretches from the Brooklyn waterfront on the East River all the way to Jamaica, Queens...
and Flatbush
Flatbush Avenue (Brooklyn)
Flatbush Avenue is one of the major avenues in the New York City Borough of Brooklyn. It runs from the Manhattan Bridge south-southeastward to Jamaica Bay, where it joins the Marine Parkway Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens...
Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
, to Shore Road and the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
in Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
.
While southwestern Brooklyn is well served by expressways, Fourth Avenue provides an alternate for local traffic as it directly links the neighborhoods of Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Park Slope is a neighborhood in western Brooklyn, New York City's most populous borough. Park Slope is roughly bounded by Prospect Park West to the east, Fourth Avenue to the west, Flatbush Avenue to the north, and 15th Street to the south, though other definitions are sometimes offered. Generally...
, Sunset Park
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
and Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
with Downtown Brooklyn. Traffic signals along the avenue are coordinated for green wave
Green wave
A green wave is an intentionally induced phenomenon in which a series of traffic lights are coordinated to allow continuous traffic flow over several intersections in one main direction....
in the peak direction.
North to south
Fourth Avenue begins at Times PlazaTimes Plaza
Times Plaza is the historical name for the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, Fourth Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area came to be called Times Plaza for the nearby offices of the Brooklyn Daily Times...
, the triangle intersection it forms with Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues at the foot of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower
Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower
The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower at 1 Hanson Place is the second tallest building in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City and a familiar Brooklyn landmark....
and Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn. The avenue extends south with three traffic lanes in each direction and a one-lane-wide concrete divider that providess a left-turn lane. The concrete divider is actually part of the ventilation system for the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
, which lies directly underneath. While six lanes are provided, only four lanes get full use, since the outer two are used by double-parked vehicles and as a right-turn lane.
Park Slope
On its course through Park Slope, Fourth Avenue is home to several condominiums and homes but is dominated by service stations and automotive repair centers.Sunset Park
Upon entering Sunset Park, Fourth Avenue passes under the Prospect Expressway NY-27 and offers indirect access to it through local side streets. The avenue continues to serve the automotive trade as far as the street numbered in the low 40s, where it becomes flanked by large wall-to-wall apartment buildings.Bay Ridge
After crossing under the Gowanus Expressway viaduct into Bay Ridge, the arterial boulevard gives way to a four-lane street bordered by four- to five- story apartment buildings until it reaches Shore Road and the Belt Parkway under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.Brooklyn's church avenue
Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church Complex
Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church Complex, also referred to more simply as the Flatbush Reformed Church, is a historic Dutch Reformed church at 890 Flatbush Avenue and 2101-2103 Kenmore Terrace in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. The complex consists of the church, church house, parsonage, and cemetery....
) that does not rival the large number of later churches located along Fourth Avenue. At Fourth Avenue's intersection with 54th Street in Sunset Park, there are four houses of worship either directly at the corner of the intersection or within a building of it. Two of the churches stand side by side.
Public transportation
As stated, the BMT Fourth Avenue LineBMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
( trains) 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...
runs the length of Fourth Avenue. Stations are located at Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street, Union Street
Union Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
Union Street is a local station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. It is located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Union Street in Brooklyn, New York City, serving the communities of Park Slope and Carroll Gardens...
, Ninth Street, Prospect Avenue
Prospect Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
Prospect Avenue is a local station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line in Brooklyn of the New York City Subway. Located at Prospect Avenue and Fourth Avenue near the border of Sunset Park and Park Slope, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the D and N assume local service...
, 25th Street
25th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
25th Street is a local station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 25th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the D and N trains assume local service along Fourth...
, 36th Street
36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
36th Street is an express station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at 36th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn....
, 45th Street
45th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
45th Street is a local station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at 45th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights northbound and the N train late nights only.This underground station, opened on...
, 53rd Street
53rd Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
53rd Street is a local station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at 53rd Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights northbound and the N train late nights only.This underground station, opened on...
, 59th Street
59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
59th Street is an express station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at 59th Street and Fourth Avenue, in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Sunset Park, it is served by the N and R trains at all times....
, Bay Ridge Avenue
Bay Ridge Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
Bay Ridge Avenue 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....
, 77th Street
77th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
77th Street is a station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times and is located at 77th Street and Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn....
, 86th Street
86th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
86th Street is a station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at 86th Street and Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It is served by the R train at all times....
and at Bay Ridge – 95th Street. (The stations in bold are express stations.)
External links
- Going Fourth Forgotten-NY