View source for 116th Street station (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)

{{Short description|New York City Subway station in Manhattan}}
{{Other uses|116th Street (disambiguation){{!}}116th Street}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NYCS
| name = 116 Street
| image = 116th St Lenox IRT SB Platform.jpg
| image_caption = Southbound platform
| address = West 116th Street &amp; Malcolm X Boulevard<br>New York, New York
| borough = [[Manhattan]]
| locale = [[Harlem]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.802|N|73.95|W|display=inline,title}}
| division = IRT
| line = [[IRT Lenox Avenue Line]]
| service = Lenox south
| connection = {{bus icon}} [[NYCT Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|M7|M102|M116}}
| platforms = 2 [[side platform]]s
| tracks = 2
| structure = Underground
| open_date = {{start date and age|1904|11|23}}
| adjacent_stations = {{Adjacent stations|system=New York City Subway
|line=Lenox|left=125th Street|right=Central Park North–110th Street}}
| legend = {{NYCS infobox legend|alltimes}}
| layout = {{NYCS 2-tracked side platform station|inline=y
|1=125th Street
|2=Central Park North–110th Street
|code=IRT Lenox Avenue Line
|code2=
|deg=330
}}
}}

The '''116th Street station''' is a [[metro station|station]] on the [[IRT Lenox Avenue Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]]. Located at the intersection of 116th Street and [[Lenox Avenue (Manhattan)|Lenox Avenue]] in [[Harlem]], it is served by the [[2 (New York City Subway service)|2]] and [[3 (New York City Subway service)|3]] trains at all times.

The 116th Street station was constructed for the [[Interborough Rapid Transit Company]] (IRT) as part of the [[Early history of the IRT subway|city's first subway line]], which was approved in 1900. Construction on the tunnel segment that includes the 116th Street station started on October 2 of the same year. The station opened on November 23, 1904. The station platforms were lengthened in 1910.

The 116th Street station contains two [[side platform]]s and two tracks. The station was built with tile and mosaic decorations. The platforms contain exits to Lenox Avenue's intersection with 116th Street and are not connected to each other within [[fare control]].

==History==

=== Construction and opening ===
Planning for a [[rapid transit|subway]] line in New York City dates to 1864.<ref name="Walker 1918" />{{Rp|21}} However, development of what would become the [[Early history of the IRT subway|city's first subway line]] did not start until 1894, when the [[New York State Legislature]] passed the Rapid Transit Act.<ref name="Walker 1918">{{cite book|last1=Walker|first1=James Blaine|url=https://archive.org/details/fiftyyearsrapid00walkgoog|title=Fifty Years of Rapid Transit — 1864 to 1917|date=1918|publisher=Law Printing|location=New York, N.Y.|access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>{{Rp|139–140}} The subway plans were drawn up by a team of engineers led by [[William Barclay Parsons]], the Rapid Transit Commission's chief engineer. It called for a subway line from [[New York City Hall]] in [[lower Manhattan]] to the [[Upper West Side]], where two branches would lead north into [[the Bronx]].<ref name="NYCL-1096">{{cite web|date=October 23, 1979|title=Interborough Rapid Transit System, Underground Interior|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1096.pdf|access-date=November 19, 2019|publisher=[[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]]|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921135400/https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1096.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|3}} A plan was formally adopted in 1897, and legal challenges were resolved near the end of 1899.<ref name="Walker 1918" />{{Rp|148}} The Rapid Transit Construction Company, organized by [[John B. McDonald]] and funded by [[August Belmont Jr.]], signed the initial Contract 1 with the Rapid Transit Commission in February 1900,<ref name="Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners 1905">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924022794253/page/n253/mode/2up?q=april+28|title=Report of the Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners for the City of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1904 Accompanied By Reports of the Chief Engineer and of the Auditor|publisher=Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners|year=1905|pages=229–236}}</ref> in which it would construct the subway and maintain a 50-year operating lease from the opening of the line.<ref name="Walker 1918" />{{Rp|165}} In 1901, the firm of [[Heins & LaFarge]] was hired to design the underground stations.<ref name="NYCL-1096" />{{Rp|4}} Belmont incorporated the [[Interborough Rapid Transit Company]] (IRT) in April 1902 to operate the subway.<ref name="Walker 1918" />{{Rp|182}}

The 116th Street station was constructed as part of the IRT's East Side Branch (now the [[IRT Lenox Avenue Line|Lenox Avenue Line]]). Farrell & Hopper began building the section from 110th Street to 135th Street on August 30, 1900, subcontracting the section north of 116th Street to John C. Rodgers.<ref name="Board of Rapid Transit Railroad Commissioners 1905" /><ref name="HAER CE">{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Charles|date=1978|title=Design and Construction of the IRT: Civil Engineering|url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=December 20, 2020|website=|publisher=Historic American Engineering Record|pages=208&ndash;282 (PDF pp. 209&ndash;283)|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}</ref>{{Rp|252}} The excavation was relatively easy because the subway was under one side of Lenox Avenue and there were no street railway tracks to work around.<ref name="HAER CE" />{{Rp|252&ndash;253}}

On November 23, 1904, the East Side Branch opened to [[145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)|145th Street]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKUlAQAAIAAJ&q=november+26%2C+1904+subway+extension&pg=PA191|title=Report of the Public Service Commission For The First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1909|date=1910|publisher=Public Service Commission|location=Albany|language=en|page=191|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205172826/https://books.google.com/books?id=kKUlAQAAIAAJ&q=november+26%2C+1904+subway+extension&pg=PA191|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/23/100479050.pdf|title=East Side Subway Open — Train from 145th Street to Broadway in 9 Minutes and 40 Seconds|date=November 23, 1904|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 27, 2016|page=1|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123113320/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/23/100479050.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially, the station was served by East Side local and express trains. Local trains ran from [[City Hall (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)|City Hall]] to [[145th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)|Lenox Avenue (145th Street)]]. Express trains had their southern terminus at [[South Ferry loops (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|South Ferry]] or [[Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (IRT Eastern Parkway Line)|Atlantic Avenue]] and had their northern terminus at 145th Street or [[West Farms, Bronx|West Farms]] ([[180th Street–Bronx Park (IRT White Plains Road Line)|180th Street]]).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/pocketguidetone00yorkgoog|title=The Merchants' Association of New York Pocket Guide to New York|date=March 1906|publisher=Merchants' Association of New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/pocketguidetone00yorkgoog/page/n42 19]–26|language=en}}</ref> Express trains to 145th Street were eliminated in 1906, and West Farms express trains operated through to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151|title=Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac|publisher=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|year=1916|pages=119|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511155639/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081730503;view=1up;seq=151|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Service changes and station renovations===
To address overcrowding, in 1909, the [[New York Public Service Commission]] proposed lengthening the platforms at stations along the original IRT subway.<ref name="HAER Impact">{{cite web|last=Hood|first=Clifton|date=1978|title=The Impact of the IRT in New York City|url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|access-date=December 20, 2020|publisher=Historic American Engineering Record|pages=146–207 (PDF pp. 147–208)|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|168}} As part of a modification to the IRT's construction contracts made on January 18, 1910, the company was to lengthen station platforms to accommodate ten-car express and six-car local trains. In addition to $1.5 million (equivalent to ${{inflation|fmt=c|index=US|value=1.5|start_year=1910|r=1}} million in {{inflation/year|index=US}}) spent on platform lengthening, $500,000 (equivalent to ${{inflation|fmt=c|index=US|value=0.5|start_year=1910|r=1}} million in {{inflation/year|index=US}}) was spent on building additional entrances and exits. It was anticipated that these improvements would increase capacity by 25 percent.<ref name="Report 1911">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=+zoological+station&pg=PA596|title=Report of the Public Service Commission for the First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1910|date=1911|publisher=Public Service Commission|language=en|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205172820/https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=+zoological+station&pg=PA596|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|15}} The platforms at the 116th Street station were extended {{convert|55|ft}} to both the north and south.<ref name="Report 1911" />{{rp|112}} On January 23, 1911, ten-car express trains began running on the East Side Branch.<ref name="HAER Impact" />{{Rp|168}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html|title=Ten-car Trains in Subway to-day; New Service Begins on Lenox Av. Line and Will Be Extended to Broadway To-morrow.|date=January 23, 1911|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-access=subscription|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405224750/https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:116th Street Station (IRT Lenox Avenue Line) (3438775199).jpg|left|thumb|Southbound street stair]]
In 1918, the [[IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line|Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line]] opened south of [[Times Square–42nd Street (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|Times Square–42nd Street]], and the original line was divided into an H-shaped system. Local trains were sent to [[South Ferry loops (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|South Ferry]], while express trains used the new [[Clark Street Tunnel]] to Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 2, 1918|title=Open New Subway Lines to Traffic; Called a Triumph — Great H System Put in Operation Marks an Era in Railroad Construction — No Hitch in the Plans — But Public Gropes Blindly to Find the Way in Maze of New Stations — Thousands Go Astray — Leaders in City's Life Hail Accomplishment of Great Task at Meeting at the Astor|page=1|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 6, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106233417/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/08/02/archives/open-new-subway-lines-to-traffic-called-a-triumph-great-h-system.html?searchResultPosition=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1940-06-13 |title=City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107193115/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p1248134780">{{cite news |date=June 13, 1940 |title=Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration |page=25 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1248134780}}}}</ref> The IRT routes were given numbered designations with the introduction of [[List of New York City Subway R-type contracts|"R-type" rolling stock]]. These fleet contained [[rollsign]]s with numbered designations for each service. The first such fleet, the [[R12 (New York City Subway car)|R12]], was put into service in 1948.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Nicole | title=How did the MTA subway lines get their letter or number? NYCurious | website=amNewYork | date=May 17, 2019 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subway-name-1-31116195/ | access-date=January 27, 2021 | archive-date=March 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302020704/https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subway-name-1-31116195/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The route to White Plains Road, formerly the route to West Farms, became known as the [[2 (New York City Subway service)|2]], while the route to Lenox Avenue–145th Street became the [[3 (New York City Subway service)|3]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Friedlander|first=Alex|last2=Lonto|first2=Arthur|last3=Raudenbush|first3=Henry|date=April 1960|title=A Summary of Services on the IRT Division, NYCTA|url=https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1960/1960-01-bulletin.pdf|journal=New York Division Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|volume=3|issue=1|page=2|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914232631/https://erausa.org/pdf/bulletin/1960/1960-01-bulletin.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[New York City Transit Authority]] (NYCTA) announced plans in 1956 to add [[Fluorescent lamp|fluorescent lights]] above the edges of the station's platforms.<ref name="nyt-1956-01-27">{{Cite news |last=Katz |first=Ralph |date=1956-01-27 |title=Subway Stations to Get New Lights; $3,750,000 to Be Spent on Fluorescents for I.R.T. and B.M.T. Transfer Points |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/01/27/archives/subway-stations-to-get-new-lights-3750000-to-be-spent-on.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511214254/https://www.nytimes.com/1956/01/27/archives/subway-stations-to-get-new-lights-3750000-to-be-spent-on.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1959, all 2 and 3 trains became express.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 7, 1959|title=Wagner Praises Modernized IRT — Mayor and Transit Authority Are Hailed as West Side Changes Take Effect|page=21|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/07/archives/wagner-praises-modernized-irt-mayor-and-transit-authority-are.html|access-date=November 6, 2016|issn=0362-4331|url-access=subscription|archive-date=January 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101082503/http://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/07/archives/wagner-praises-modernized-irt-mayor-and-transit-authority-are.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

Starting on March 2, 1998, the tunnel was reconstructed along with the cracked tunnel floor, and the 116th Street station was closed for a complete renovation. This was done to correct a major water problem that had existed for many years due to the presence of the Harlem Creek and other [[subterranean river|underground streams]], which caused extensive flooding, water damage, and seepage problems that occasionally contributed to severe service disruptions.<ref name="MTA-Chronology">{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffhist.htm|title=New York City Transit - History and Chronology|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324081453/http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffhist.htm|archive-date=March 24, 2020|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lii|first=Jane H.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/28/nyregion/tunnel-work-to-cut-service-on-2-subways.html|title=Tunnel Work To Cut Service On 2 Subways|date=February 28, 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 17, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328161534/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/28/nyregion/tunnel-work-to-cut-service-on-2-subways.html|archive-date=March 28, 2020|page=B-4|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The project cost $82 million and was finished on October 12, 1998.<ref name="MTA-Chronology" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lueck|first=Thomas J.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/13/nyregion/beating-deadline-normal-service-returns-for-the-nos-2-and-3-subway-lines.html|title=Beating Deadline, Normal Service Returns for the Nos. 2 and 3 Subway Lines|date=October 13, 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 17, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328161535/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/13/nyregion/beating-deadline-normal-service-returns-for-the-nos-2-and-3-subway-lines.html|archive-date=March 28, 2020|page=B-3|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the reconstruction, many {{NYCS|2}} trains were rerouted via the [[IRT Lexington Avenue Line]], while the {{NYCS|3}} trains were rerouted to the [[137th Street–City College (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|137th Street–City College]] station on the [[IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line]]. Each of the two Lenox Avenue Line tracks were alternately taken out of service and supplemental shuttle bus service connecting to other lines in the area were provided for much of this time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Andy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/nyregion/repairs-to-lenox-ave-tunnel-to-affect-many-subway-lines.html|title=Repairs to Lenox Ave. Tunnel To Affect Many Subway Lines|date=December 12, 1997|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=July 31, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328161538/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/12/nyregion/repairs-to-lenox-ave-tunnel-to-affect-many-subway-lines.html|archive-date=March 28, 2020|page=B-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-lenox-rehab.html|title=Lenox Rehab '98 2 3 Lenox Line Service Guide March 2-October 1998|date=1998|website=thejoekorner.com|publisher=New York City Transit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328161536/http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-lenox-rehab.html|archive-date=March 28, 2020|access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Station layout==
{|table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=50|'''Ground'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=100|Street level
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=550|Exit/entrance
|-
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" rowspan=4 valign=top|'''Platform level'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;border-bottom:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan=2|<small>[[Side platform]]</small>
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|red}}">'''Northbound'''</span>
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|← {{rint|newyork|2}} toward {{stl|NYCS|Wakefield–241st Street}} <small>({{stl|NYCS|125th Street|Lenox}})</small><br>← {{rint|newyork|3}} toward {{stl|NYCS|Harlem–148th Street}} <small>(125th Street)</small>
|-
|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|red}}">'''Southbound'''</span>
|{{0|→}} {{rint|newyork|2}} toward {{stl|NYCS|Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College}} <small>({{stl|NYCS|Central Park North–110th Street}})</small> →<br>{{0|→}} {{rint|newyork|3}} toward {{stl|NYCS|New Lots Avenue|New Lots}} ({{stl|NYCS|Times Square–42nd Street|Broadway-Seventh}} late nights) <small>(Central Park North–110th Street)</small> →
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;border-top:solid 2px black;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan=2|<small>[[Side platform]]</small>
|}
The station has two tracks and two [[side platform]]s.<ref name="tracks">{{NYCS const|trackref|trackbook3}}</ref> The [[2 (New York City Subway service)|2]] and [[3 (New York City Subway service)|3]] trains stop here at all times.<ref>{{NYCS const|timetable|2}}</ref><ref>{{NYCS const|timetable|3}}</ref> The station is between [[Central Park North–110th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)|Central Park North–110th Street]] to the south and [[125th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)|125th Street]] to the north.<ref name="submap">{{NYCS const|map}}</ref> The platforms were originally {{convert|350|ft}} long, like at other stations north of [[96th Street (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)|96th Street]].<ref name="NYCL-1096" />{{Rp|4}}<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|8}} The platform extensions are at the north ends of the original platforms.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|41}} [[Fare control]] is at platform level. There are no crossovers or crossunders between the two side platforms to allow free transfer between directions.

===Design===
As with other stations built as part of the original IRT, the station was constructed using a [[cut-and-cover]] method.<ref name="HAER CE"/>{{rp|237}} The tunnel is covered by a U-shaped trough that contains utility pipes and wires. The bottom of this trough contains a [[Foundation (engineering)|foundation]] of [[concrete]] no less than {{Convert|4|in||abbr=}} thick.<ref name="HAER Designs">{{cite web|last=Framberger|first=David J.|date=1978|title=Architectural Designs for New York's First Subway|url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|access-date=2020-12-20|publisher=Historic American Engineering Record|pages=1–46 (PDF pp. 367–412)|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|9}} The platforms consist of {{Convert|3|in|cm|-thick|abbr=|adj=mid}} concrete slabs, beneath which are drainage basins. The original platforms contain circular, cast-iron [[Doric order|Doric]]-style columns spaced every {{Convert|15|ft||abbr=}}, while the platform extensions contain [[I-beam]] columns. Additional columns between the tracks, spaced every {{convert|5|ft}}, support the [[Jack arch|jack-arched]] concrete station roofs.<ref name="NYCL-1096" />{{Rp|4}}<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|9}} There is a {{Convert|1|in||abbr=|adj=on}} gap between the trough wall and the platform walls, which are made of {{Convert|4|in||abbr=|adj=on}}-thick brick covered over by a tiled finish.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|9}}

The original decorative scheme consisted of blue tile station-name tablets, buff tile bands, a light blue terracotta cornice, and dark blue terracotta plaques.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|41}} The mosaic tiles at all original IRT stations were manufactured by the American Encaustic Tile Company, which subcontracted the installations at each station.<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|31}} The decorative work was performed by tile contractor Manhattan Glass Tile Company and terracotta contractor [[Atlantic Terra Cotta Company]].<ref name="HAER Designs"/>{{rp|41}} It features extensive mosaics featuring Harlem history and famous African-Americans. It was fully renovated as part of the 1998 Lenox Avenue subway reconstruction project. The reconstruction project gave this station all new wall tiling and restored the "116" terra cotta wall cartouches.

The artworks here are ''Minton's Playhouse'' on the uptown platform, and ''Movers and Shakers'' on the downtown platform (both by Vincent Smith, 1999).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=3&station=4&xdev=184|title=116th Street - Vincent Smith - Minton's Playhouse (uptown), The Movers and Shakers (downtown), 1999|website=web.mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408083825/http://web.mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=3&station=4&xdev=184|archive-date=April 8, 2020|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>

===Exits===
Two staircases from each platform lead to the intersection of Lenox Avenue and West 116th Street. The staircases from the southbound platform lead to the western corners, while those from the northbound platform lead to the eastern corners.<ref name="MTA-Maps">{{Cite NYC neighborhood map|Harlem/East Harlem}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{NYCS ref|http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?199:3151|IRT White Plains Road Line|116th Street}}
* nycsubway.org — [http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?26 Minton's Playhouse/Movers and Shakers Artwork by Vincent Smith (1999)]
* Station Reporter — [https://web.archive.org/web/20141203073216/http://www.stationreporter.net/2train.htm 2 Train]
* Station Reporter — [https://web.archive.org/web/20141006181936/http://www.stationreporter.net/3train.htm 3 Train]
* The Subway Nut — [http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/116n2/index.php 116th Street Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214752/http://www.subwaynut.com/irt/116n2/index.php |date=March 3, 2016 }}
* MTA's Arts For Transit — [https://web.archive.org/web/20110606070649/http://mta.info/mta/aft/permanentart/permart.html?agency=nyct&line=2&station=20&xdev=2145 116th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)]
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.801352,-73.95171&spn=0.004061,0.013379&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.802046,-73.949732&panoid=CfvxzufGQx0EqbJzDiGwVg&cbp=12,157,,0,4.64 116th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View]
* [http://www.google.com/maps/@40.8021715,-73.9495328,3a,75y,158.91h,84.9t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-Ou60kcq-KQs%2FV5btKwHzJfI%2FAAAAAAAAMms%2FJq2aQgz9ubQEFpZuMbDZrlqnjAFqFvSiQCLIB!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2F-Ou60kcq-KQs%2FV5btKwHzJfI%2FAAAAAAAAMms%2FJq2aQgz9ubQEFpZuMbDZrlqnjAFqFvSiQCLIB%2Fw203-h100-p-k-no%2F!7i9728!8i4864!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1!6m1!1e1 Platforms from Google Maps Street View]

{{NYCS stations navbox by service|l2=y|l3=y}}
{{NYCS stations navbox by line|lenox=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:116th Street (Irt Lenox Avenue Line)}}
[[Category:1904 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Harlem]]
[[Category:IRT Lenox Avenue Line stations]]
[[Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1904]]