Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue station

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The Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue station (formerly Westchester Square station) is a local station on the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of East Tremont and Westchester Avenues in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx, it is served by the 6 train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction, when the <6> train takes over.

History

This station was built as part of the Pelham Line, which was part of the Dual Contracts, signed on March 19, 1913, and also known as the Dual Subway System.<ref>nycsubway.org—The Dual Contracts</ref> The Pelham Line was proposed to be a branch of the Lexington Avenue Line running northeast via 138th Street, Southern Boulevard and Westchester Avenue to Pelham Bay Park.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This station opened on October 24, 1920 as the line's new terminal with the line's extension from East 177th Street.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1922">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Moody Manual Company 1922">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Service was initially served by a mix of through and shuttle trains during the 1920s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

In 1981, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) listed the station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Under the 2015–2019 MTA Capital Program, the station, along with thirty other New York City Subway stations, was to undergo a complete overhaul and would have been entirely closed for up to six months. Updates would have included cellular service, Wi-Fi, charging stations, improved signage, and improved station lighting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, these renovations were deferred due to a lack of funding.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Regardless, the station was closed in one direction for approximately two months (one month per direction) to facilitate ADA accessibility renovations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As part of a revision to the Capital Program in April 2018, the MTA announced that the station would have elevators installed, making the station ADA-accessible.<ref name="mta.info 2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By February 2021, funding had been committed to accessibility renovations at the station.<ref name="feb21">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2021, the MTA awarded a contract for the installation of elevators at eight stations, including the Westchester Square station.<ref name="Duggan 2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project, which also included structural repairs and restoration of historic features, cost $122.5 million, of which $98.6 million was funded by the Federal Transit Administration.<ref name="Russo-Lennon x035">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition, four new stairways were added, eight stairways were renovated, and new fire alarm and communication systems, and CCTV cameras were installed. Template:As of, the project was scheduled to be completed in May 2024,<ref name="MTA-CPOC-Jul2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but the elevators did not open until January 2025.<ref name="mta.info 2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Station layout

This elevated station has three tracks and two side platforms. The center track is not used in regular service.<ref name=tracks>Template:NYCS const</ref> The 6 local train serves the station at all times except rush hours in the peak direction, when the <6> express train serves the station instead.<ref name=tt6>Template:NYCS const</ref> The next stop to the south is Zerega Avenue, while the next stop to the north is Middletown Road.<ref name=submap>Template:NYCS const</ref>

As part of the MTA Arts & Design program, the station features a stained glass artwork by Romare Bearden, which is known variously as City of Light<ref name="Rosenfeld Harrison i600">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> or City of Glass.<ref name="MTA y333">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The artwork, a triptych measuring Template:Convert across,<ref name="Rosenfeld Harrison i600" /> depicts a subway train traveling past a skyline.<ref name="MTA y333" /> It was designed in 1982 but not installed until 1993, after Bearden died.<ref name="Rosenfeld Harrison i600" /><ref name="MTA y333" /> The station also has eight painted steel panels in the station walls on the platforms that is intended to honor the area's native inhabitants. This artwork, titled The Land Between Open Water, is by Shervone Neckles, and was installed in 2024.<ref name="mta.info 2025" />

There are glass block tile and "uptown" and "downtown" directional mosaics in the mezzanine. From the northbound platform, there is a good view of the Bronx–Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges. Westchester Yard is located railroad north of the station, to the west of the Pelham Line itself. There are no windscreens.

Exit

The station's only exit is a mezzanine beneath the tracks in Westchester Square. Outside fare control, a stair and an elevator lead to the northeast corner of Westchester Avenue and Lane Avenue.<ref name="maps">Template:Cite NYC neighborhood map</ref>

Nearby points of interest

• Herbert H. Lehman High School<ref name="maps" />
• Huntington Free Library and Reading Room<ref name="maps" />
• Montefiore Medical Center<ref name="maps" />
• St. Peter's Church, Chapel and Cemetery Complex<ref name="maps" />
• Westchester Creek<ref name="maps" />

External links

• Template:NYCS ref
• nycsubway.org — City of Light Artwork by Romare Bearden (1993)
• nycsubway.org — Unknown Artwork (unknown artist and date)
• Station Reporter — 6 Train
• The Subway Nut — Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue Pictures Template:Webarchive
• MTA's Arts For Transit — Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue (IRT Pelham Line)
• Westchester Square entrance from Google Maps Street View