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Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)
Encyclopedia
Gates Avenue is a skip-stop
station
on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line
of the New York City Subway
, located at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn
. It is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction and the J train at all other times.
(which closed upon the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge
tracks to Essex Street) or Lexington Avenue, eventually merging onto the Myrtle Avenue El. The Dual Contracts expanded the BMT Jamaica Line, including Gates Avenue, to three tracks, allowing for express service, as well as expanding service in Manhattan down Nassau Street
. In 1950, the Lexington Avenue El closed, resulting in the redirection of all trains to the Williamsburg Bridge.
Despite the station name, it has no longer has an entrance from Gates Avenue. It is now an emergency exit only, containing a single double flight staircase from each platform at their east ends. The station's only entrance is an elevated station house beneath the tracks at Quincy Street and Broadway. It has two street stairs (one leading to the southern corner of the aforementioned intersection and one along the north side of Broadway), a token booth, turnstile bank, and single staircase from each platform at their west end. Both staircase landings have an exit-only turnstile that allow passengers to exit the subway without having to go through the station house.
The 2002 artwork here is called Dream Train by Chris Robinson and features mass transit-related stained glass windows in the station house and the windscreens.
South of this station, the BMT Jamaica Line connected to the BMT Lexington Avenue Line
before it ceased operation on October 13, 1950 and some remains are visible. The next stop on the Lexington Avenue El was Reid Avenue
on its way to Downtown Brooklyn
and Park Row, Manhattan.
Skip-stop
Skip-stop is a public transit service pattern which reduces travel times and increases capacity by not having all vehicles make all designated stops along a route. Skip-stops are used in both rail transit and bus transit operations.-Rail operation:...
station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line
BMT Jamaica Line
The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to...
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...
, located at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood, formerly Brooklyn's 18th Ward, is now part of Brooklyn Community Board 4...
. It is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction and the J train at all other times.
History
The oldest remaining subway station in the entire system, Gates Avenue opened on May 13, 1885. As of 2011, it has been in continuous operation for over 125 years. Prior to the Dual Contracts, trains either operated down Broadway to Broadway FerryBroadway Ferry (BMT Jamaica Line)
Broadway Ferry was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform. It closed due in part to the mainline BMT Jamaica Line providing direct service to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge after 1908. The next stop to the north was Driggs Avenue.-...
(which closed upon the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway...
tracks to Essex Street) or Lexington Avenue, eventually merging onto the Myrtle Avenue El. The Dual Contracts expanded the BMT Jamaica Line, including Gates Avenue, to three tracks, allowing for express service, as well as expanding service in Manhattan down Nassau Street
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
. In 1950, the Lexington Avenue El closed, resulting in the redirection of all trains to the Williamsburg Bridge.
Station layout
This station has two side platforms on three tracks with the center track not used in revenue service. Each platform has beige windscreens and red canopies (both with green frames) that run along the entire length except for a small section at both ends.Despite the station name, it has no longer has an entrance from Gates Avenue. It is now an emergency exit only, containing a single double flight staircase from each platform at their east ends. The station's only entrance is an elevated station house beneath the tracks at Quincy Street and Broadway. It has two street stairs (one leading to the southern corner of the aforementioned intersection and one along the north side of Broadway), a token booth, turnstile bank, and single staircase from each platform at their west end. Both staircase landings have an exit-only turnstile that allow passengers to exit the subway without having to go through the station house.
The 2002 artwork here is called Dream Train by Chris Robinson and features mass transit-related stained glass windows in the station house and the windscreens.
South of this station, the BMT Jamaica Line connected to the BMT Lexington Avenue Line
BMT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Elevated was the first standard elevated railway in Brooklyn, New York, operated in its later days by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation, and then the City of New York.The original line, as it existed at the end of 1885, traveled...
before it ceased operation on October 13, 1950 and some remains are visible. The next stop on the Lexington Avenue El was Reid Avenue
Reid Avenue (BMT Lexington Avenue Line)
Reid Avenue was a station on the demolished BMT Lexington Avenue Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms. It was located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Reid Avenue in Brooklyn. It closed on October 13, 1950. The next southbound stop was Sumner Avenue. The next northbound stop was...
on its way to 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...
and Park Row, Manhattan.
External links
- Station Reporter — J train
- The Subway Nut — Gates Avenue Pictures
- MTA's Arts For Transit — Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)
- Quincy Street entrance from Google Maps Street View