Kingston Avenue station

The Kingston Avenue station is a local station on the IRT Eastern Parkway Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Kingston Avenue and Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, it is served by the 3 train at all times except late nights and the 4 train during late nights. There is also limited rush hour 2 and 5 service here.

The station opened on August 23, 1920, as part of an extension of the IRT Eastern Parkway Line by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. The station's platforms were extended in the 1964—1965 fiscal year so they could accommodate ten-car trains.

History

Mosaic name tablets

Background

Kingston Avenue station was constructed as part of the Eastern Parkway Line. The line's section to Atlantic Avenue was part of Contract 2 of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT)'s plan to construct an extension of the original subway, Contract 1. Contract 2 extended the original line from City Hall in Manhattan to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The Board of Rapid Transit Commissioners approved the route on September 27, 1900,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and the contract was signed on September 11, 1902. Construction commenced on Contract 2 on March 4, 1903.<ref name="Atlantic">Template:Cite news</ref> The first section opened on January 9, 1908, extending the subway from Bowling Green to Borough Hall.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journalTemplate:Dead link</ref> On April 28, 1908, the IRT formally applied with the New York Public Service Commission for permission to open the final section of the Contract 2 line from Borough Hall to Atlantic Avenue near the Flatbush Avenue LIRR station. The application was approved, and the IRT extension opened on May 1, 1908.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Atlantic" />

Staircase to the mezzanine on the Brooklyn-bound platform

On March 19, 1913, New York City, the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, and the IRT reached an agreement, known as the Dual Contracts, to drastically expand subway service across New York City. As part of Contract 3 of the agreement, between New York City and the IRT, the original subway opened by the IRT in 1904 to City Hall,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and extended to Atlantic Avenue in 1908,<ref name="Atlantic22">Template:Cite news</ref> was to be extended eastward into Brooklyn.<ref name="NYTimes-618Miles-19132">Template:Cite news</ref> The line was to be extended along Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway to Buffalo Street as a four-track subway line, and then along East 98th Street and Livonia Avenue to New Lots Avenue as an elevated two-track line, with provisions for the addition of a third track. In addition, a two-track branch line along Nostrand Avenue branching off east of the Franklin Avenue station was to be constructed.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The underground portion of the line became known as the Eastern Parkway Line, or Route 12, while the elevated portion became known as the New Lots Line.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Construction and opening

The IRT Eastern Parkway Line was built as part of Route 12 from 1915 to 1918.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On August 23, 1920, the Eastern Parkway Line was extended from Atlantic Avenue to Crown Heights–Utica Avenue, with the Kingston Avenue station opening at this time. The new trains would be served by trains from Seventh Avenue.<ref name="BrooklynIRT">Template:Cite news</ref>

Later years

During the 1964–1965 fiscal year, the platforms at Kingston Avenue, along with those at four other stations on the Eastern Parkway Line, were lengthened to Template:Convert to accommodate a ten-car train of Template:Convert IRT cars.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="New York City Transit Authority 1964 p. "/> The work was performed by the Arthur A. Johnson Corporation.<ref name="New York City Transit Authority 1964 p. ">Template:Cite book</ref>

Station layout

Platform extension sign

Entrance on the south side of Eastern Parkway

This underground local station has two levels. The upper level serves New Lots Avenue-bound trains while the lower level serves Manhattan-bound trains. From north to south, each level has an express track, a local track, and one side platform.<ref name="tracks">Template:NYCS const</ref> 3 trains stop here at all times except late nights and 4 trains stop here during late nights. Other times, 4 trains as well as limited rush hour 5 trains run on the express track to the north of the local track on each level to bypass the station. Limited rush hour 2 trains in the reverse-peak direction and one weekday morning northbound 5 train also serve this station.<ref name="tt2">Template:NYCS const</ref><ref name="tt3">Template:NYCS const</ref><ref name="tt4">Template:NYCS const</ref><ref name="tt5">Template:NYCS const</ref> The station is between Nostrand Avenue to the west (railroad north) and Crown Heights–Utica Avenue to the east (railroad south).<ref>Template:NYCS const</ref>

Both platforms have their original Dual Contracts-era IRT trim line and name tablets. The trim line has a golden-yellow center, line green border, and a spec of blue in-between. "K" tablets on a blue border run along the trim line at regular intervals. The name tablets read "KINGSTON AVE." in serif font in gold lettering on a blue background, a gold center, and lime green border.Template:Citation needed

The platform extensions at either end have signs with the station's name in white sans serif lettering on a black border.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Exits

The upper level has one fare control at the center with two staircases going down to the lower level. It has a turnstile bank, token booth, and two staircases going up to the south side mall of Eastern Parkway (between the main and service roads) and Kingston Avenue. One staircase goes to the southeast corner while the other goes to the southwest corner.<ref name="maps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Nearby points of interest

• Brooklyn Children's Museum<ref name=maps/>
• Brower Park<ref name=maps/>
• Jewish Children's Museum<ref name=maps/>
• 770 Eastern Parkway<ref name=maps/>

External links

• Template:NYCS ref