View source for BMT Fourth Avenue Line

{{short description|New York City Subway line}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name = BMT Fourth Avenue Line
|image = {{rint|nycs|D|size=50}} {{rint|nycs|N|size=50}} {{rint|nycs|R|size=50}}
|image_width = 225
|caption  = {{NYCS|D}} and {{NYCS|N}} trains serve the majority of the BMT Fourth Avenue Line, while the {{NYCS|R}} serves its entirety.<br />The {{NYCS|W}} provides occasional service during rush hours.
|type = [[Rapid transit]]
|system = [[New York City Subway]]
|status = Operational
|locale = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|NY]]
|start = [[Court Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Court Street]]
|end = [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge–95th Street]]
|stations = 16
|routes =
|daily_ridership = 162,253 (2023)<ref name="ridership">{{NYCS const|riderref|weekday}}</ref>
|open        = 1915–1925
|close       = 
|owner       = New York City
|operator    = New York City Transit Authority
|character   = Underground
|stock       = 
|linelength  = 
|tracklength = 
|tracks      = 2–6
|gauge       = {{track gauge|ussg}}
|electrification = [[List of current systems for electric rail traction|600V DC third rail]]
|speed       = 
|elevation   = 
|map         = {{BMT Fourth Avenue Line|inline=1}}
|map_state   = collapsed
}}The '''BMT Fourth Avenue Line''' is a [[rapid transit]] line of the [[New York City Subway]], mainly running under [[Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn)|Fourth Avenue]] in [[Brooklyn]]. The line is served by the [[D (New York City Subway service)|D]], [[N (New York City Subway service)|N]], and [[R (New York City Subway service)|R]] at all times; the R typically runs local, while the D and N run express during the day and local at night. During rush hours, select [[W (New York City Subway service)|W]] trains also serve the line.<ref name="59N">{{cite web|url=https://transitfeeds.com/p/mta/79/latest/stop/R41N/20210806|title=59 St – OpenMobilityData|date=August 6, 2021|website=transitfeeds.com|access-date=August 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808085828/https://transitfeeds.com/p/mta/79/latest/stop/R41N/20210806|archive-date=August 8, 2021}}</ref> Northbound D and N trains run local along the line after 6:45 p.m. during weekdays as well. The line was originally built by the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]] (BRT; later [[Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation]], or BMT) and is now internally operated as part of the New York City Subway's [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]].

The fully underground line starts as a two-track line in [[Downtown Brooklyn]] west of [[Court Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Court Street]], connecting to the [[BMT Broadway Line]] and [[BMT Nassau Street Line]] in [[Manhattan]] via the [[Montague Street Tunnel]] under the [[East River]]. It travels east under Montague and Willoughby Streets to [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]], where it then turns southeast under [[Flatbush Avenue]]. At DeKalb Avenue, the express tracks, which continue from the [[Manhattan Bridge]] to the northwest, split off from the [[BMT Brighton Line]] and join the Fourth Avenue Line. At [[Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center]], the line curves southwest under Fourth Avenue to the end of the line at [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge–95th Street]]. Going south from Atlantic Avenue, the [[BMT West End Line]] splits from both the local and express tracks south of [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]], while the express tracks continue as the [[BMT Sea Beach Line]] south of [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59th Street]].

Fourth Avenue never had a [[streetcar line]] or [[elevated railway]] due to the provisions of the [[Tax assessment|assessment]] charged to neighboring property owners when the street was widened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50381296|title=Bold Schemes|date=June 4, 1892|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 5, 2017|page=6|language=en|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807023554/http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50381296/|url-status=live}}</ref> Construction of the line was only undertaken because of the efforts of the local communities. After the line was opened, development resulting from the line's construction transformed communities such as [[Dyker Heights, Brooklyn|Dyker Heights]], [[Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn|Fort Hamilton]], [[Bay Ridge, Brooklyn|Bay Ridge]], and [[Sunset Park, Brooklyn|Sunset Park]]. One station, [[Myrtle Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Myrtle Avenue]], was abandoned in 1956 as part of the reconfiguration of the busy DeKalb Avenue Junction.

==Route==
[[Image:4th Avenue trestle vc.jpg|left|thumb|This is the Fourth Avenue Line Bridge over the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Bay Ridge Branch]]. This bridge has space for two additional trackways.]]

Coming south from [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]] and off of [[Fulton Street (Brooklyn)|Fulton Street]], the four-track line runs entirely under Fourth Avenue to just past [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59th Street]]. South of [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]], the [[BMT West End Line|West End Line]], formerly the New Utrecht Avenue elevated line, branches off eastward, running to its terminus at [[Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (BMT West End Line)|Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue]].<ref name=":10" />{{Rp|17–18}} Until 1954, the [[BMT Culver Line]] also branched off from here, replaced by the [[Culver Shuttle]] until 1975, when it was discontinued.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=http://thethirdrail.net/0007/culver.htm|title=The Third Rail – BMT Culver Shuttle Closes|last=Matus|first=Paul|date=April–June 1975|website=thethirdrail.net|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215064232/http://thethirdrail.net/0007/culver.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=http://www.culvershuttle.com/news/culver-end-of-the-line.htm|title=End of Line for Culver Shuttle|last=Kelly|first=John|date=May 9, 1975|work=The New York Daily News|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629172315/http://www.culvershuttle.com/news/culver-end-of-the-line.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> At 64th Street, after the [[BMT Sea Beach Line|Sea Beach Line]] branches off eastward towards Coney Island via an open-cut right-of-way, the line becomes two-tracked and continues under Fourth Avenue to its terminus at [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge–95th Street]]. Between 86th Street and 95th Street there is a third track available for train storage.<ref name="tracks2">{{NYCS const|trackref|trackbook3}}</ref> While this section of the line was built with two tracks, there are provisions to add two additional express tracks between 59th and 85th Streets if the need ever arises.<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912">{{cite news|title=Brooklyn Subway Extension Plan: Fourth Ave. Line to 86th St., Tunnel to Staten Island, and Eventually a Through Route to Coney Island|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/02/16/104891453.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=February 16, 1912|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603090423/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/02/16/104891453.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The line's northernmost section serves [[Brooklyn Heights]] and [[Downtown Brooklyn]].<ref>{{Cite NYCS map|neighborhood|Downtown Brooklyn}}</ref> The central section serves [[Park Slope]] east of Fourth Avenue and north of [[Prospect Expressway]]; [[Boerum Hill]] and [[Gowanus]] west of Fourth Avenue and north of Prospect Expressway; and [[Sunset Park, Brooklyn|Sunset Park]] to the south of Prospect Expressway.<ref>*{{Cite NYCS map|neighborhood|Park Slope}}
*{{Cite NYCS map|neighborhood|Sunset Park}}</ref> The southernmost section serves the communities of [[Bay Ridge]] and [[Fort Hamilton]].<ref>{{Cite NYCS map|neighborhood|Bay Ridge}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==Services==
The following services use the Fourth Avenue Line:<ref>{{NYCS const|serviceguide}}</ref>[[Image:Linea BMT Fourth Avenue.png|thumb|alt=Map displaying station stops on the Fourth Avenue Line|Fourth Avenue Line map]]
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Route
! colspan="5" |Stops
|-
!&nbsp;
!Time period
!West of [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Ave]]
!DeKalb Ave
!Between <br />[[Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Atlantic Ave]]<br />and [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36 St]]
!Between 36 St<br />and [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59 St]]
!Between 59 St<br />and [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|95 St]]
|-
| rowspan="2" width="10" |{{Rint|newyork|D}}
|All except nights
|colspan=2 {{N/A|no service}}
| align="center" |express
|colspan=2 {{N/A|no service}}
|-
|Nights
|{{N/A|no service}}
| colspan="2" align="center" |local
|colspan=2 {{N/A|no service}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{Rint|newyork|N}}
|All except nights<br />and off-peak rush
|colspan=2 {{N/A|no service}}
| colspan="2" align="center" |express
|{{N/A|no service}}
|-
|Off-peak rush<br />(limited service)
|{{N/A|no service}}
| colspan="3" align="center" |local
|{{N/A|no service}}
|-
|Nights
| colspan="4" align="center" |local
|{{N/A|no service}}
|-
|{{Rint|newyork|Q}}
|Limited rush hours<br />(northbound only)
|colspan=2 {{N/A|no service}}
| colspan="2" align="center" |express
|{{N/A|no service}}
|-
|{{Rint|newyork|R}}
|All times
| colspan="5" align="center" |local
|-
|{{Rint|newyork|W}}
|Limited rush hours
| colspan="4" align="center" |local
|{{N/A|no service}}
|}

The line normally carries the Fourth Avenue {{NYCS service|R}} service on the local tracks and the Sea Beach {{NYCS service|N}} and West End {{NYCS service|D}} services on the express tracks. During weekdays, five local N trains per day are designated as {{NYCS service|W}} trains,<ref name="59N"/><ref name="59S">{{cite web|url=https://transitfeeds.com/p/mta/79/latest/stop/R41S/20210806|title=59 St – OpenMobilityData|date=August 6, 2021|website=transitfeeds.com|access-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807014047/https://transitfeeds.com/p/mta/79/latest/stop/R41S/20210806|archive-date=August 7, 2021}}</ref> while six express N trains in the northbound direction are designated as {{NYCS service|Q}} trains.<ref name="59N"/> Manhattan-bound from [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]], the local tracks run via the [[Montague Street Tunnel]] to [[Lower Manhattan]], serving either [[Whitehall Street – South Ferry (BMT Broadway Line)|Whitehall Street]] on the [[BMT Broadway Line]] (N, R) or [[Broad Street (BMT Nassau Street Line)|Broad Street]] on the [[BMT Nassau Street Line]] (no service; the last service to use these tracks was the {{NYCS service|M}}, rerouted in 2010). The express tracks go to Manhattan via the [[Manhattan Bridge]] to either the [[BMT Broadway Line]]'s [[Canal Street (BMT Manhattan Bridge Line)|Canal Street]] express station (N) or the [[IND Sixth Avenue Line]]'s [[Grand Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Grand Street]] station (D).<ref name="tracks2" />

==History==

=== Background ===

==== Context ====
Transportation to the area was first provided in 1889 with the establishment of the [[39th Street Ferry]], which connected the area to Manhattan. Between 1888 and 1893, a new elevated line was opened along [[Fifth Avenue Line (Brooklyn elevated)|Fifth Avenue]]. Initially, the line terminated at 27th Street where people could transfer to horse cars. In 1892, the first trolley line was built in Brooklyn, starting at the ferry and running via Second Avenue to 65th Street, and then via Third Avenue. The Fifth Avenue Elevated was then extended to Third Avenue and 65th Street.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53154484|title=Future of South Brooklyn And Its Suburbs|date=March 18, 1906|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 5, 2017|pages=35–36|language=en|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807073023/http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53154484/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A building boom in South Brooklyn started in about 1902 and 1903. Thousands of people started coming to the area from Manhattan and from other places. In 1905 and 1906 realty values increased by about 100 percent, and land values increased. This growth was spurred by the promise of improved transportation access. The improved transportation access transformed the community from an isolated farm community to a center of industrial and commercial life.<ref name=":7" />

==== Planning ====
The Fourth Avenue Line was built as part of the [[Dual Contracts (New York City Subway)|Dual Contracts]]. It replaced the parallel elements of an old, now long-ago-demolished elevated system running above [[Fifth Avenue Line (Brooklyn elevated)|Fifth Avenue and Third Avenue]].<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /> In 1902, a committee of the West End Board of Trade announced their support for a subway line from [[The Battery (Manhattan)|the Battery]] to [[Coney Island]] via Atlantic or Hamilton Avenues in front of the [[Rapid Transit Commission]].<ref name=":1" /> The first definite plans for a subway under Fourth Avenue were proposed by Rapid Transit Commission engineer [[William Barclay Parsons]] in 1903.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/clip/34616306/|title=Parsons' Great Transit Plan for Brooklyn; New Tunnels, Subways and Elevated Lines|date=March 12, 1903|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=August 6, 2019|page=1|via=Brooklyn Public Library; newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> On April 10, 1905, a citizens' committee was created to aid the creation of the subway line.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53895638/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|title=Building of Fourth Ave. Subway Crowns Decade of Civic Struggle|date=June 21, 1911|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|page=10|language=en|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222457/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53895638/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1906, the plan for the Fourth Avenue subway included a spur via 86th Street running through [[Dyker Heights, Brooklyn|Dyker Heights]] and [[Bensonhurst, Brooklyn|Bensonhurst]]. At this time the spur was not authorized, but at the time it was viewed as a necessary part of the transportation plan for the area. The line was planned as a four-track line from Dean Street to Fort Hamilton, before being fed by a subway line going under the [[East River]], and by a line over the [[Manhattan Bridge]]. An additional two-track spur was to begin at 37th Street before running under private property and 38th Street, before connecting with the [[South Brooklyn Railway]]. An additional two-track spur would branch off between 63rd and 64th Streets before connecting with the [[Sea Beach Railway]]. South of 65th Street the main line was planned to continue as a four-track line to 100th Street. Another proposal for a branch line was for a subway via New Utrecht Avenue. The line, consisting of four tracks, would have branched off at 40th Street before turning under New Utrecht Avenue and 86th Street to a point between 23rd and 24th Avenues. From there the line would have become an elevated line running to Coney Island. A spur of the Fourth Avenue line via 86th Street would have merged in here.<ref name=":7" />

As a possible alternative to subway construction, engineer F. H. Behr proposed a [[monorail]] system for Brooklyn. Each car was proposed to carry 80 to 120 passengers and attain a speed of {{Convert|100|mph|kph|abbr=}}. An application was filed with the [[Board of Aldermen of New York City|Board of Alderman]] for franchises for four routes, with the first running to South Brooklyn. It would have run from the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue and down Fourth Avenue to 85th or 86th Streets, where it would turn eastward to Stillwell Avenue, where it would turn onto West 12th Street and continue to a terminal loop at Coney Island.<ref name=":7" />

On June 1, 1905, the Rapid Transit Commission adopted the Fourth Avenue route to Fort Hamilton. The proposal, on July 7, 1905, was presented to the [[New York City Board of Estimate|Board of Estimate]], and was approved by them on July 14. The Mayor signed the bill on July 28. On June 18, 1906, the route was approved by the [[Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York|Appellate Division of the Supreme Court]] after the Rapid Transit Commission was unable to get the necessary consents of property owners along the planned route. This plan included a connection between the line and the [[Interborough Rapid Transit Company]] (IRT)'s extension into Brooklyn which was then planned to run under Flatbush Avenue. A track connection was also planned to another proposed route: this route would have run under Pacific Street, Court Street, and Montague Street, before running under the East River to Manhattan. That route was never built, but provisions were built for it in the south wall of the Montague Street Tunnel south of the Whitehall Street station.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last=Rogoff|first=David|date=May 1961|title=The Fourth Ave. Subway|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzKvSWhrQBW4d3pvOGZaSERiZEhpQ24xT19DTktkQUVlLW5j/view|journal=New York Division Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroaders' Association|pages=2–10|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806175227/https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzKvSWhrQBW4d3pvOGZaSERiZEhpQ24xT19DTktkQUVlLW5j/view|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 7, 1906, the Board of Estimate recommended that two bids be let: one for the construction of the line, and one for the construction, equipment, and operation of the line. A spur to Coney Island was added to the plan after the persistency of Frank Hudson. On May 31, 1907, the Rapid Transit Commission requested that the Board of Estimate rescind the above resolution so that bids of construction alone might be asked for, and it authorized the preparation of the plans and contracts. On June 4, 1907, a resolution was passed by the Board of Estimate that authorized the Rapid Transit Commission that rescinded the resolution and authorized the Rapid Transit Commission to let out bids of construction only. On June 27, 1907, the Rapid Transit Commission approved the plans and contracts with the exception of the section between Ashland Place and Fulton Street to Sackett Street and Fourth Avenue.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /> The Rapid Transit Commission was succeeded by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on July 1, 1907, and the new commission hesitated to approve the plan for the line.<ref name=":1" /> People in South Brooklyn were angered by the delay, and 3,000 people from the area showed up to a meeting on September 11, 1907, urging the PSC to act. In October and November 1907, the PSC approved the plans and contracts with modifications concerning grades and an increase in the height of the subway to fifteen feet.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XoxBAQAAMAAJ&q=4th+Avenue+line&pg=PA18|title=Fourth Avenue Subway, Brooklyn's New Transportation Line: A Part of the Dual System of Rapid Transit of the City of New York|date=June 19, 1915|publisher=New York State Public Service Commission|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> [[Image:4th Av Garfield Pl Substa jeh.JPG|thumb|left|A view of the Garfield Place substation, which is used to power the Fourth Avenue Line]]

The commissioners, from the PSC, adopted plans for the line on March 10, 1908, and proposed contracts for the line. On March 20, 1908, at a meeting of the Board of Estimate, Controller Metz sent the plan to a committee within the Board for study, angering five hundred supporters of the line at the meeting. Coler, the Brooklyn Borough President, objected to the committee, citing that Mr. Lewis, the Chief Engineer, was against the construction of the project.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53875480|title=Fourth Avenue Subway Is Sent To A Committee|date=March 20, 1908|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|pages=1–2|language=en|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807021017/http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53875480/|url-status=live}}</ref> This resolution was defeated, and the main resolution failed to get a two-thirds majority. Afterwards, Metz procured an injunction that restrained the Board from acting until the [[debt limit]] was established: this blocked any immediate action. After hearings, General Tracy announced that the project was $150,000,000 within the debt limit, and [[George B. McClellan Jr.|Mayor George McClellan]] and Controller Metz joined with their colleagues to vote unanimously in favor of the Fourth Avenue subway line on March 27, 1908.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":10" />

In 1908, detailed plans were created by the PSC. The plan was changed to not have the line run via IRT trackage. In having it run via its own trackage, the line could be operated by railroads other than the IRT as standard 10 foot-wide railroad cars could fit through the tunnels. To connect to Manhattan without using IRT trackage the line would use part of contracts given for other lines. The line would use the Manhattan Bridge–Revised route, which was approved in 1909 and was originally conceived to connect the [[IRT Eastern Parkway Line|IRT Brooklyn Line]] at Flatbush Avenue, east of the [[Nevins Street (IRT Eastern Parkway Line)|Nevins Street]] station, to the Canal Street Subway and the proposed Third Avenue Subway going both north and south under the Bowery. The tracks would have used both the north and south tracks on the Manhattan Bridge.<ref name=":12" />

==== Construction ====
Contracts were awarded on May 22, 1908, for the section between 43rd Street and the Manhattan Bridge, but the Board of Estimate did not approve them until a taxpayer's lawsuit regarding the city's debt was settled. They were approved on October 29, 1909. During the time between the award and approval of the contracts, a non-partisan political body, with the backing of 25,000 South Brooklyn residents, was created that would only support candidates in the municipal election that pledged support for the Fourth Avenue subway.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53922207/|title=Fourth Avenue Subway To Be Political Issue|date=December 11, 1908|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|page=1|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507222340/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53922207/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heyridge.com/2016/01/crappy-100th-birthday-bay-ridge-subway/|title=Crappy 100th Birthday, R Train! Love, Bay Ridge|date=January 14, 2016|website=www.heyridge.com|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-date=May 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527224818/https://www.heyridge.com/2016/01/crappy-100th-birthday-bay-ridge-subway/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Groundbreaking for the first section of the subway, between [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]] and 43rd Street (ending at [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]]), took place on November 13, 1909, at [[DeKalb Avenue]] and [[Flatbush Avenue]], after the plans and surveys for the line were completed.<ref name="NYTImes-BMT4Av-DirtFly-1909">{{cite news|title=Fourth Ave. Subway Dirt Begins to Fly|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/11/14/101031065.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=November 14, 1909|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810055920/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/11/14/101031065.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This section was completed in 1916.<ref name=":12" /> In June 1911, more than 70 percent of the excavation was completed. The line did not have to be excavated through tough bedrock like in Manhattan; in fact, there was not much difficulty, since Brooklyn soil is sandy. The construction of the first portion of the line was broken up into six sections. The construction of the line was expected to transform communities in South Brooklyn, such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach, and Coney Island.<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /><ref name=":1" />

Construction on the section between 27th Street and 43rd Street, Route 11A4, began on December 10, 1909, and it was completed in October 1912. Construction began on Route 11A3, the section between 10th Street and 27th Street, on December 20, 1909. It was completed in May 1912. The section between 10th Street and Sackett Street, Route 11A2, had construction started on it on December 20, 1909, and was completed in September 1912. Four days after the construction of that segment began, construction began on the segment under Ashland Place and under Fourth Avenue between Fulton Street and Sackett Street. Known as Route 11A1 and 11E1, it was completed in 1915. On March 18, 1910, construction began on the four tracks over the Manhattan Bridge. It was completed in September 1912.<ref name=":12" />
[[Image:1924 BMT dual contracts map.jpg|thumb|The extent of the BMT's Dual Contract lines in 1924]]
Not long after the contracts were awarded, the PSC started negotiating with the BRT and the IRT in the execution of the [[Dual Contracts]]. A lease to the Fourth Avenue subway was given to the New York Municipal Railway Corporation, a subsidiary of the BRT, for forty-nine years as part of Contract 4. The Dual Contracts were signed on March 19, 1913.<ref name=":10" /> In 1912, during the Dual System negotiations, the construction of an extension of the Fourth Avenue subway was recommended as part of the Dual System, and this recommendation was approved by the Board of Estimate on February 15, 1912. The PSC directed its Chief Engineer to create plans on June 14, 1912, and the contracts for the extension, Route 11B, was awarded on September 16, 1912. Later on, the plan for the extension was modified to include a connection with the [[BMT Sea Beach Line|Sea Beach Railroad]] between 64th and 65th Streets.<ref name=":10" />

Construction on the southernmost section of the line to 89th Street, just south of the [[86th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|86th Street station]], began in late October 1912.<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /><ref name="NYTimes-4AvExtGroundbrk-1912">{{cite news|title=Bay Ridge Turns Out For Start of Subway|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/10/27/100596548.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=October 27, 1912}}</ref> The lower section of the line was constructed along with several branch lines, which replaced former surface railroads. These lines are the [[BMT West End Line]] splitting south of 36th Street, and the [[BMT Sea Beach Line]] leaving south of [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59th Street]].<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /> In anticipation of the opening of the subway, several housing and development booms occurred along Fourth Avenue, particularly in [[Bay Ridge, Brooklyn|Bay Ridge]].<ref name="NYTimes-4AvOpening-1915">{{cite news|title=Two Subway Branches Open Up New Era of Prosperity for Brooklyn and Queens|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/27/301808882.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=June 27, 1915|archive-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324162734/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/27/301808882.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 24, 1913, construction begun on Route 11B2, the section between 61st Street and 89th Street. This section was built as a two-track structure under the west side of Fourth Avenue with plans for two future tracks on the east side of the street. The bridge across the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Bay Ridge Branch]], but under Fourth Avenue, was built for four tracks, but only the space for the two west tracks were ever used. The 86th Street station was designed for eventual conversion into a four-track, two island platform express station. If the two additional tracks were built, the east platform on all local stops south of 59th Street would be removed. Construction was completed on this section in 1915.<ref name=":12" /> On March 15, 1913, construction began on Route 11B1, the section between 43rd Street and 61st Street. Originally, this section was planned to have two tracks, but after the connection to the Sea Beach Line was added to the plan during the middle of construction, the plan was changed to four tracks. This section was completed in 1915.<ref name=":12" />

==== Differences with the original subway ====
The dimensions of the Fourth Avenue Line are different from those of the original subway opened by the IRT in 1904. The height of the roof above the base rail in IRT lines was {{Convert|12.83|feet|meters}}, while the height is {{Convert|15|feet|meters}} on the Fourth Avenue Line, allowing for the possible operation of larger subway cars. Precautions were taken to keep out water, as evidenced by the placement of waterproofing under the floor, along the sides, and over the roof of the tunnel. This was expected to make the subway cooler in hot weather than the original subway. Partitions were created in between the tracks to allow for improved ventilation, and to allow for the safety of employees, niches were provided in the partitions. All of the platforms, both express and local, were built to be straight to avoid the inconvenience of curved platforms. The local stations were originally {{Convert|435|feet|meters}}, while the express stations were originally {{Convert|480|feet|meters}} long, allowing for eight-car expresses and six-car locals. The stations were all finished in white and marble tile; each station had its own color scheme to allow for regular passengers to identify their station based only on the color of the marble trimmings.<ref name=":10" />

=== Early years ===

==== Opening ====<!-- Add information on the impact of the subway line on the adjacent communities. -->
The first train to run via the entirety of the line was a test train that operated on June 15, 1915.<ref name=":3" /> The trip used the local tracks as the express tracks were not yet completed due to the reconstruction of the DeKalb Avenue station.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041821/the_new_york_times/|title=To Open New Subway Link. Trains on Saturday Will Run to 86th Street in 4th Avenue.|date=January 14, 1916|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150259/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041821/the_new_york_times/|url-status=live}}</ref> A trial trip that ran earlier in the day ripped a piece off of the platform at DeKalb Avenue as it was too broad. At this time, the line was scheduled to be inaugurated with a ceremonial trip on June 19, before being opened to the public on June 21.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/16/100162758.pdf|title=Steinway Tunnel Tested By Shonts; After Inspection with Engineers He Says Tracks Are the Best He Has Ever Tried. Party Rides Through Tube Interborough's Chief and Other Officials Are Hoisted from a Subway Shaft in a Dirt Bucket.|date=June 16, 1915|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726221633/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/16/100162758.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the opening was delayed a day to June 22, 1915, when the line opened from the Manhattan Bridge through to the Sea Beach Line.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/23/100163384.pdf|title=Queensboro Tunnel Officially Opened; Subway, Started Twenty-three Years Ago, Links Grand Central and Long Island City. Speeches Made In Station Belmont, Shonts, and Connolly Among Those Making Addresses – $10,000,000 Outlay.|date=June 23, 1915|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719094623/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/23/100163384.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The ceremonial trip took place three days prior.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/20/104647917.pdf|title=New Subway Opens; Mayor Not Present; Refuses to Attend 4th Av. Line Ceremony Because He Feels He Was Slighted. Bay Ridge Celebrates 10,000 School Children Give Pageant In Honor of the Event – Traffic Starts Tuesday.|date=June 20, 1915|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=March 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318123633/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/20/104647917.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially, service only ran via the [[BMT Nassau Street Line|Nassau Loop]] tracks to [[Chambers Street (BMT Nassau Street Line station)|Chambers Street]] as the new subway under [[BMT Broadway Line|Broadway]] was not yet open. Construction on the initial portion of the line cost about $30 million.<ref name=":10" /> The opening of the line reduced congestion on the elevated lines operating over the Brooklyn Bridge, and on the [[Early history of the IRT subway|Original Subway]], though to a lesser extent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041590/the_sun/|title=New Subways To Be Used This Year|date=January 2, 1916|work=The Sun|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150350/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041590/the_sun/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to the line's opening, the line was expected to not be open until around July 4 due to problems with the signaling system. One major change to the line's construction was completed: the conversion of [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]] to an express station. Originally, DeKalb Avenue was going to be a local station. However, during the middle of construction, it was changed to an express station and track crossovers had to be installed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/06/11/100161481.pdf|title=Subway To Queens Will Open June 15; Test Train to be Run on Tuesday and Regular Service Starts a Week Later. Beats B. R. T. By Four Days Fourth Avenue Subway Will Be Tested on June 19 and Opened to Traffic by July 4.|date=June 11, 1915|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en}}</ref> The reasoning for this is due to changes required by the Dual Contracts. An additional line, the Whitehall–Montague Street route, was to be built connecting the Broadway Line in Manhattan and the Fourth Avenue subway under the Flatbush Avenue Extension to the west of the DeKalb Avenue station. By making the station express, express trains that would be operated through the Montague Street line could stop at the station. Crossovers connecting the express and local tracks would allow for this.<ref name=":10" /> Construction continued even after the line opened, necessitating that service only use the line's local tracks for a few weeks.<ref name=":3" /> One other change was required during the middle of construction. As part of the original plan the connection to the [[BMT West End Line|West End Line]] was to be at 40th Street. However, the connection had to be moved to 38th Street to obey the requirements of Contract 4, and the already completed connection had to be changed. To do so, the [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]] station had to be partially reconstructed. Work was almost completely finished in June 1915.<ref name=":10" />

The 45th and 53rd Street stations initially remained closed,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49706640/|title=Celebration of Opening Fourth Ave. Subway|date=June 23, 1915|work=Home Talk the Item|access-date=April 9, 2020|page=1|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> despite being technically complete, since the stations were being used by a contractor to haul dirt out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stations Ready, But Are Not Available|date=July 21, 1915|work=Home Talk the Item|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49708674/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49708748/ 2]|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> The stations opened on September 22, 1915.<ref name="Station Opening2">{{cite news|title=Stations of Subway are Now Opened|date=September 22, 1915|work=Home Talk the Item|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49708570/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49708833/ 14]|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref>

==== Expansion ====
The line opened from [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59th Street]] to [[86th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|86th Street]] on January 15, 1916.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rpglAQAAIAAJ&q=culver+line&pg=PA252|title=Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|date=January 1, 1917|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05clAQAAIAAJ|title=Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|date=January 1, 1917|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55570664/?terms=fourth+avenue+line+opening|title=Public Service Commission Promises To Complete Contract Awards This Year|date=January 16, 1916|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=November 5, 2016|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106123253/http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55570664/?terms=fourth+avenue+line+opening|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55570240/?terms=fourth+avenue+line+opening|title=Subway Running To Eighty–Sixth Street Starts Building Boom In Bay Ridge|date=January 15, 1916|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=November 5, 2016|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106122758/http://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55570240/?terms=fourth+avenue+line+opening|url-status=live}}</ref> Trains from 86th Street ran to Chambers Street in Manhattan via the Fourth Avenue Line local tracks. On this date, the express tracks opened for service, with Sea Beach Line trains running express between 59th Street and Chambers Street at all times except late nights, when they ran local.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041651/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|title=Subway, Saturday To Fort Hamilton. B.R.T. Announces Regular Operation of Trains on 4th Avenue Extension. Express on Sea Beach. Fort Hamilton Trains to Make All Stops Between Eighty-sixth Street and Chambers Street.|date=January 12, 1916|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150241/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30041651/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:BMT Fourth Avenue Lawrence Street With R160 R Train.jpg|alt=The Lawrence Street station (now Jay Street–Metrotech), which was built after that section of the line had already been completed|thumb|The [[Jay Street–MetroTech (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Lawrence Street]] station (now Jay Street–MetroTech) was built after that section of the line had already been completed.]]
Even though the contract was approved for the [[Montague Street Tunnel]], and the subway line connecting to it, in 1916, it was decided to add an [[infill station]] at [[Lawrence Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line station)|Lawrence Street]] and Willoughby Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Standard%2520Union%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Standard%2520Union%25201916%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Standard%2520Union%25201916%2520%25281054%2529.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D14602d1e%26DocId%3D4576743%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D19%26hits%3D12%2B13%2B14%2B15%2B4f%2B50%2B74%2B8b%2Bc1%2B176%2B199%2B1ac%2B1c1%2B251%2B28c%2B2b0%2B2dd%2B33c%2B3d7%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|title=Promise Jay Street Subway Station|date=March 17, 1916|work=The Daily Standard Union: Brooklyn, New York|access-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> In 1917, the original contract was modified and a provision for the station was added.<ref name="era-aug-2010">{{Cite journal|date=August 2010|title=Two River Tunnels Opened 90 Years Ago|url=https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/the_era_bulletin_2010-08|journal=The Bulletin|publisher=New York Division, Electric Railroaders' Association|volume=53|issue=8|access-date=August 26, 2016|via=Issuu|archive-date=October 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017111847/https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/the_era_bulletin_2010-08|url-status=live}}</ref> Work started in October 1917, but construction halted on May 18, 1918, because of a wartime shortage of materials and men due to [[World War I]], and about half the station was completed.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fg4KAQAAMAAJ&q=DeKalb+Avenue+Junction|title=A History of the New York City Subway System|last1=Cunningham|first1=Joseph|last2=DeHart|first2=Leonard O.|date=1993|publisher=J. Schmidt, R. Giglio, and K. Lang|language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|51}} Service running through the Montague Tunnel and this station began on August 1, 1920, while the station was being construction alongside in-service trains.<ref name="era-aug-2010" /> The line was called the Montague Street Tunnel Line.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXcBAAAAYAAJ&q=18th+avenue+culver+line&pg=PA387|title=Annual Report for the Year Ended ...|publisher=New York (State) Public Service Commission|date=January 1, 1921|language=en}}</ref>

Construction resumed on May 18, 1922, and entailed the construction of an island platform between the two cast iron-lined tunnels, a mezzanine, and a station entrance, which required excavation from the street. On June 11, 1924, the Lawrence Street station opened<ref name="era-aug-2010" /> with the Lawrence Street entrances; the Bridge Street entrances opened later.<ref name=":6">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/57545945/|title=Announcing the Opening of the Lawrence Street (BMT) Subway Station|date=June 11, 1924|publisher=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|page=8|access-date=September 11, 2016|archive-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327094352/https://www.newspapers.com/image/57545945/|url-status=live}}</ref> A special train to [[Prospect Park (BMT Brighton Line)|Prospect Park]] operated for the station's opening. A unique feature at the west end of the station was a folding platform edge that was necessary to clear a crossover switch that was partially underneath the platform.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|51}}

On August 25, 1922, the Transit Commission directed its chief engineer, [[Robert Ridgway (engineer)|Robert Ridgeway]], to plan an extension of the Fourth Avenue Line from 87th Street to Fort Hamilton. Initially, multiple stations along the extension were considered. This extension was to be the first part of an extension to [[Staten Island]] through a [[Staten Island Tunnel|tunnel]] under [[The Narrows]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/08/26/99061314.pdf|title=To Extend Subway To Fort Hamilton; Transit Commission Orders Plans for Lengthening the Fourth Avenue Line. Would Aid Staten Island Ferry Service May Be Established Until Tunnel Route is Selected.|date=August 26, 1922|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215758/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/08/26/99061314.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 12, 1922, a meeting was held by the Transit Commission to determine whether a stop at 91st Street should be included as part of the planned extension. Ultimately, no station was built at 91st Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/09/12/102392036.pdf|title=Subway Hearing Today.; Transit Board to Consider Pains for Line to Fort Hamilton.|date=September 12, 1922|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215816/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/09/12/102392036.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> At the meeting it was decided that money for an additional station in between 86th Street and the new terminal at 95th Street would be better spent on an extensive terminal with entrances at 93rd, 94th, and 95th Streets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/09/13/99068998.pdf|title=Locates Extension Station; Transit Board Decides on 93d-95th St., Brooklyn, Site.|date=September 13, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215808/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/09/13/99068998.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 15, 1922, a report by the Chief Engineer recommended changing the plans of the Fourth Avenue Extension to provide for a third track between the 86th Street and 95th Street stations for train storage. The change was approved by the Transit Commission on November 22.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435064991771&view=1up&seq=1040|title=Proceedings of the Transit Commission State of New York Volume II From January 1 to December 31, 1922|date=1923|publisher=New York State Transit Commission|pages=1022|language=en}}</ref> Other extensions were also planned in 1922: a branch of the line running via 86th Street to 18th Avenue to connect with the New Utrecht Line to Coney Island, Route 19, and the future Tenth Avenue subway, and a branch of the line at 67th Street heading to Staten Island, Route 20.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nds9AQAAMAAJ&q=4th+Avenue+line&pg=PA6471|title=The City Record: Official Journal|date=September 27, 1922|pages=6471|language=en}}</ref>

On December 28, 1922, the Transit Commission announced that it had awarded the contract for the construction of a half-mile extension of the Fourth Avenue Line, Contract 11B,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/57413566/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|title=Public Notices|date=November 22, 1922|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|page=18|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507222140/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/57413566/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|url-status=live}}</ref> to T. A. Gillespie Company for $1.5 million. However, as the Board of Estimate failed to take action upon it, the contractor withdrew its bid on March 7, 1923.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/60010331/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|title=One Way To Get Transit|date=May 16, 1923|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|page=6|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507222055/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/60010331/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|url-status=live}}</ref> The Transit Commission blamed the Board of Estimate for delays in the awarding of the contract; the Commission said that the city would suffer a substantial loss due to increased construction costs, and because the contract that was given was "highly advantageous to the city."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/03/08/archives/subway-delay-laid-to-estimate-board-transit-commission-blames-it.html|title=Subway Delay Laid To Estimate Board; Transit Commission Blames It for Failure to Push Fort Hamilton Line.|date=March 8, 1923|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054244/https://www.nytimes.com/1923/03/08/archives/subway-delay-laid-to-estimate-board-transit-commission-blames-it.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of Contract 11B, the extension was built with two tracks, with the exception of a short three-track stretch just north of the terminal at 95th Street.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/60029896/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|title=$1,485,151 Bid Wins Contract To Build Ft. Hamilton Tube|date=December 28, 1922|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=May 4, 2017|page=19|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507222037/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/60029896/?terms=Fourth+Avenue+Subway|url-status=live}}</ref> The extension was to be built with a provision to extend the line to Staten Island.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/12/29/102910695.pdf|title=Three Rapid Transit Contracts Are Let; They Cover Ft. Hamilton Extension, 14th St.-Eastern Workand 168th St. Elevators.|date=December 29, 1922|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215802/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/12/29/102910695.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of a motion made by Commissioner LeRoy Harkness in front of the Transit Commission, the contract was set to be put back up for bid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/09/14/archives/station-locations-for-subways-aired-citizens-give-views-on-proposed.html|title=To Ask New Subway Bids|date=September 14, 1923|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508055047/https://www.nytimes.com/1923/09/14/archives/station-locations-for-subways-aired-citizens-give-views-on-proposed.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 2, 1923, the Board of Estimate approved the contract for the line with T. A. Gillespie Company, the same contractor that had bid on the project earlier, but withdrew. The Transit Commission, due to the delay of the project, gave orders on November 3 to speed up the completion of the project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/11/04/archives/to-rush-subway-work-contractor-ready-to-begin-work-on-fourth-avenue.html|title=To Rush Subway Work.; Contractor Ready to Begin Work on Fourth Avenue Extension.|date=November 4, 1923|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054908/https://www.nytimes.com/1923/11/04/archives/to-rush-subway-work-contractor-ready-to-begin-work-on-fourth-avenue.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Construction began on December 17, 1923.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/11/01/archives/open-subway-line-to-fort-hamilton-fourth-avenue-extension-put-in.html|title=Open Subway Line To Fort Hamilton; Fourth Avenue Extension Put in Service After Wait of Four Years. Half-Mile Cost $2,000.000 Completion Gives Residents Through Trip Without Recourse to Trolley Cars.|date=November 1, 1925|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427121019/https://www.nytimes.com/1925/11/01/archives/open-subway-line-to-fort-hamilton-fourth-avenue-extension-put-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12" />

[[Image:95th Street - Platform.jpg|thumb|alt=The Bay Ridge–95th Street terminal station, opened in 1925|The [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge–95th Street]] terminal station was opened in 1925.]]

On February 16, 1925, the Board of Transportation directed its engineers to prepare plans to lengthen the platforms at twelve stations along the Fourth Avenue Line ([[Myrtle Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Myrtle Avenue]], [[DeKalb Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|DeKalb Avenue]], [[Pacific Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line station)|Pacific Street]], [[Union Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Union Street]], [[Ninth Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Ninth Street]], [[Prospect Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Prospect Avenue]], [[25th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|25th Street]], [[45th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|45th Street]], [[53rd Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|53rd Street]], [[Bay Ridge Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge Avenue]], [[77th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|77th Street]], and [[86th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|86th Street]]) to accommodate eight-car trains at the cost of $633,000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/02/17/archives/12-bm-t-stations-to-be-lengthehed-transportation-board-orders.html|title=12 B-M. T. Stations To Be Lengthened; Transportation Board Orders Engineers to Prepare Contracts for Brooklyn Work. Cost Put At $633,000 Letter to Commission Urges That Company Be Compelled to Buy New Cars.|date=February 17, 1925|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821070631/https://www.nytimes.com/1925/02/17/archives/12-bm-t-stations-to-be-lengthehed-transportation-board-orders.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, on February 28, the Board made public the bids for the contract to complete the [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|95th Street]] terminal station. The station, as part of the contract, was built with two tracks, and was built to be 530 feet long to accommodate eight-car trains. A signal and switch tower, and a dispatcher's office was also built at the station.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/01/archives/subway-bids-announced-for-95th-street-terminal-brooklyn-and-corona.html|title=Subway Bids Announced.; For 95th Street Terminal, Brooklyn, and Corona Yard.|date=March 1, 1925|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726175445/https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/01/archives/subway-bids-announced-for-95th-street-terminal-brooklyn-and-corona.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 22, 1925, it was announced that $200,000 had been appropriated by the BMT to pay for signal equipment, station control and lighting, drainage and ventilating equipment, and for telephone cables.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/04/23/archives/200000-is-voted-for-4th-av-subway-bmt-plans-to-have-new-extension.html|title=$200,000 Is Voted For 4th Av. Subway; B.M.T. Plans to Have New Extension in Operation Late This Year. Contracts Are Prepared Statement Again Chides City for Its Failure to Construct Other Lines.|date=April 23, 1925|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170344/https://www.nytimes.com/1925/04/23/archives/200000-is-voted-for-4th-av-subway-bmt-plans-to-have-new-extension.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The final extension to 95th Street, Route 18, opened on October 31, 1925.<ref name="StationOpening" /><ref name=":2" /> The platform extensions at the twelve Fourth Avenue Line stations, meanwhile, opened on August 1, 1927.<ref name="SU-Opens-1927">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49706640/|title=B.M.T. Stations Ready For Eight-Car Trains|date=August 1, 1927|work=Brooklyn Standard Union|access-date=April 9, 2020|page=1|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref>

In February 1928, bids were received by the BOT on a project to remove kiosk subway entrances from the median of Fourth Avenue and to relocate them to the sidewalk to improve safety for transit riders. As part of the project, the station entrances at Pacific Street, along with at 36th Street and 59th Street, would be relocated. In addition, malls between 44th Street and 47th Street would be reduced in width, and the malls from 61st Street to 58th Street, and from 36th Street to Atlantic Avenue would be removed. Mezzanines would be constructed to allow riders to cross Fourth Avenue below street level. Work would be completed within six months.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/home-talk-the-item/39410848/ |date=February 15, 1928 |title=Bid to Remove Kiosks, Malls: Range from $307,000 to $500,000; to Be Finished in Six Months |page=1 |work=Home Talk Brooklyn News |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524162612/https://www.newspapers.com/article/home-talk-the-item/39410848/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/home-talk-the-item/39410874/ |date=February 15, 1928 |title=Bid to Remove Kiosks, Malls: Range from $307,000 to $500,000; to Be Finished in Six Months |pages=28 |work=Home Talk Brooklyn News |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524162612/https://www.newspapers.com/article/home-talk-the-item/39410874/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Image:StatenIslandTunnel.jpg|thumb|This proposed Staten Island Tunnel would have branched off at 66th Street.]]

The line was planned to be connected via one of two tunnels to Staten Island and to [[Staten Island Railway|Staten Island Rapid Transit]]. The first would be in Bay Ridge, south of the 59th Street station, connecting to both SIRT branches near the [[Tompkinsville (Staten Island Railway station)|Tompkinsville station]]. The other would have been south of 95th Street in [[Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn|Fort Hamilton]], following the current routing of the [[Verrazano-Narrows Bridge]]. Construction on the first plan, known as the [[Staten Island Tunnel]] was started in 1923 but soon halted. Later proposals called for connecting the line and the SIRT via the Verrazano Bridge, though the bridge was built with no railroad provisions.<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /><ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-FtHamiltonExt-1922">{{cite news|title=To Extend Subway to Fort Hamilton|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/08/26/99061314.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 27, 2015|date=August 26, 1922|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215758/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/08/26/99061314.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=To Act This Year on the Richmond Tube: Route Approved in 1912 Still Alive-May Soon Be Adopted Anew or Amended|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/02/13/97073465.pdf|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 27, 2015|date=February 13, 1919|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130215749/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/02/13/97073465.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-Subway-LoftyAmbitions-1996">{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Douglas|title=Subway Planners' Lofty Ambitions Are Buried as Dead-End Curiosities|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/17/nyregion/subway-planners-lofty-ambitions-are-buried-as-dead-end-curiosities.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 27, 2015|date=November 17, 1996|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807023931/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/17/nyregion/subway-planners-lofty-ambitions-are-buried-as-dead-end-curiosities.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.thethirdrail.net/0201/sirt9.html Staten Island Rapid Transit; The Essential History, by Irvin Leigh and Paul Matus; Page 9 (The Third Rail Online)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132608/http://www.thethirdrail.net/0201/sirt9.html |date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Levine|first1=Richard|title=S.I. Trains Undergoing Renovation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/22/nyregion/si-trains-undergoing-renovation.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 27, 2015|date=December 22, 1986|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630000637/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/22/nyregion/si-trains-undergoing-renovation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BRTReport-June-30-1912">{{cite report|title=Annual Report of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. for The Year Ending June 30, 1912 |url=http://bmt-lines.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1912BRT.pdf |website=bmt-lines.com |publisher=[[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]] |access-date=March 4, 2016 |date=June 30, 1912 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225336/http://bmt-lines.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1912BRT.pdf |archive-date=October 11, 2016 }}</ref> The SIRT ordered new train cars, the [[ME-1 (New York City Subway car)|ME-1s]], that were built to be compatible with operation over the BMT system, and as such, they strongly resembled the BMT's [[AB Standard (New York City Subway car)|AB Standard]].<ref name="SIRapidTransit-EssentialHistory">{{cite web|url=http://thethirdrail.net/0201/sirt1.html|title=Staten Island Rapid Transit: The Essential History|last1=Leigh|first1=Irvin|last2=Matus|first2=Paul|date=January 2002|website=thethirdrail.net|publisher=The Third Rail Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530063638/http://www.thethirdrail.net/0201/sirt1.html|archive-date=May 30, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref><ref name="SIRTImages">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eOSsCQAAQBAJ&q=staten+island+rapid+transit&pg=PA7|title=Staten Island Rapid Transit Images of Rail|last=Pitanza|first=Marc|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4671-2338-9|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123223631/https://books.google.com/books?id=eOSsCQAAQBAJ&q=staten+island+rapid+transit&pg=PA7|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/58087319/?terms=Staten%2B%2BIsland%2B%2BIs%2B%2BNot%2B%2Ba%2B%2BCommuting%2BCommunity|title=Staten Island Is Not a Commuting Community|date=October 5, 1924|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=April 26, 2016|page=67|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028085818/https://www.newspapers.com/image/58087319/?terms=Staten%2B%2BIsland%2B%2BIs%2B%2BNot%2B%2Ba%2B%2BCommuting%2BCommunity|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Later years ===

==== Rebuilding DeKalb Avenue junction ====
The [[DeKalb Avenue Junction]] is located to the north and south of the DeKalb Avenue station, and it is located at the juncture of the BMT Fourth Avenue Line and the [[BMT Brighton Line]] on the south and the four Manhattan Bridge tracks and Montague Tunnel tracks on the north. In 1927, platform extensions were built at DeKalb Avenue in order to allow for longer trains. The extensions were built into a curve south of the station–they were closed in 1960 when they were replaced by straight extensions to the north.<ref name="nyt19520606">{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/06/06/93374123.html?pageNumber=25|title=DeKalb Rebuilding Gets Top Priority; Board of Transportation Says Enlargement of B.M.T. Stop Will Eliminate Bottleneck|date=June 6, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejoekorner.com/lines/dekalb1959.gif|title=DeKalb Avenue Station Reconstruction|last=D'Adamo|first=R. Raleigh|date=1959|website=nycsubway.org|access-date=May 5, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807020257/http://www.thejoekorner.com/lines/dekalb1959.gif|url-status=live}}</ref> DeKalb Avenue received a new mezzanine with escalators at the north end of the station. From this mezzanine exits were built on both side of the Flatbush Avenue Extension between Fleet Street and Willoughby Street.<ref name="nyt19520606" />

Until the mid-1950s, though, the extreme outside tracks in each direction hosted the Fourth Avenue Line local tracks and the next pair hosted the Brighton Line. The middle tracks, which bypassed the station, hosted the Fourth Avenue express tracks. A group of level crossovers at the northern end of the station allowed all tracks access to both sides of the [[Manhattan Bridge]] and to the [[Montague Street Tunnel]]. The Fourth Avenue local tracks led straight onto the Manhattan Bridge west of the station, while the Brighton line tracks led straight to the Montague Street Tunnel, so the crossovers allowed trains from both lines to switch between the bridge and the tunnel.<ref name=":8" /> This led to so many train delays on the Fourth Avenue and Brighton Lines that, in 1952, the junction was earmarked for "top priority" reconstruction.<ref name="nyt19520606" />

During the reconstruction of the junction that started in 1956 and was completed by April 1961, the Brighton Line tracks were connected to the DeKalb Avenue station's outermost tracks. A [[diamond crossover]] north of the station had caused frequent bottlenecks, but was removed during the realignment and replaced with two [[flying junction]]s.<ref name="map">[http://images.nycsubway.org/trackmap/detail-jaydklb.png Detailed view of current track layout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023040500/http://images.nycsubway.org/trackmap/detail-jaydklb.png |date=October 23, 2012 }}
*See also: {{NYCS const|trackref|469}}</ref> All switches immediately north of the station were eliminated.<ref name=":8" /> The junction towards the [[Manhattan Bridge]] was rebuilt. To make room for a new flying junction, the [[Myrtle Avenue (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Myrtle Avenue station]] was closed on July 16, 1956.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https:/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/MyrtleAvenueClosing.gif|title=Myrtle Avenue Closing Notice|date=July 1956|website=Wikimedia Commons|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=September 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901213155/https:/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/MyrtleAvenueClosing.gif|url-status=live}}</ref> That station's northbound platform remains visible from passing trains, but the southbound platform was demolished to accommodate the new flying junction that replaced the diamond crossover.<ref name=":8" /> Between 1957 and 1958, extra tracks and new switches were added south of DeKalb Avenue.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|76}} Platforms were also doubled in length to accommodate ten-car trains of {{convert|60|ft|0|-long|adj=mid}} cars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-dekalb-esc.html|title=Dekalb Ave Escalators 1961|date=April 27, 1961|website=thejoekorner.com|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150636/http://thejoekorner.com/brochures/index-dekalb-esc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was estimated that the reconstruction of the junction increased the junction's train capacity by 25%.<ref name="nyt19520606" /> The [[Chrystie Street Connection]] project was also tied to this improvement, as it resulted in more trains using the bridge, as well as connecting trains to the [[IND Sixth Avenue Line]] (and thus, to IND lines to [[the Bronx]] and [[Queens]]).<ref name="nyt19520606" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/04/19/101458878.html|title=Construction of New IND Tunnel for 6th Ave. Line Begins Today|work=The New York Times|date=April 19, 1961|page=41}}</ref>

On October 25, 1962, Mayor [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]] requested that the [[New York City Board of Estimate]] approve an expenditure of $724,572 for the reconstruction of subway structures and entrances along the Fourth Avenue Line in order to accommodate the widening of Fourth Avenue between 60th Street and Atlantic Avenue, which was to be accomplished by narrowing the street's sidewalks. At the time of the request, 80% of the work on the project was completed. Work had started on the project, which cost $1 million, several months earlier. The contract that the Mayor had requested approval for would have relocated vault lights, gratings, entrances and exits at 56th Street and 49th Street, and at the 45th Street, 53rd Street and 59th Street stations.<ref name=":132">{{Cite web|url=http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC/WAGNER_FILES/06.023.0000.141.1633.PDF#undefined|title=For Release PM Papers Thursday, October 25, 1962|date=October 25, 1962|publisher=New York City Office of the Mayor|access-date=August 28, 2019|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317201757/http://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC/WAGNER_FILES/06.023.0000.141.1633.PDF#undefined|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Contemporary projects ====
Formerly, the Fourth Avenue Line served trains from the [[BMT Culver Line]], which connected to the [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]] station via the lower level of the [[Ninth Avenue (BMT Culver Line)|Ninth Avenue station]] south of [[Green-Wood Cemetery]] from a now-demolished elevated structure.<ref name="NYTimes-BMT4Av-86StExt-Feb1912" /> Following the connection of the Culver Line to the [[IND Culver Line#IND Brooklyn Line (1933–1954)|South Brooklyn Line]] of the [[Independent Subway System|IND]] on October 30, 1954, this service turned at [[Ditmas Avenue (IND Culver Line)|Ditmas Avenue]] instead.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|72, 74}} Later on, service via the BMT Culver Line was cut back to being a [[Culver Shuttle|shuttle]] that ran between Ditmas Avenue and Ninth Avenue. Shuttle service ended in 1975,<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":15" /> with homes and housing developments erected over the right-of-way of the two demolished stations in the 1980s and again in the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/culver/culver.pdf|title=Culver El Rezoning|date=October 27, 2010|website=nyc.gov|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216035043/http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/culver/culver.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The barest stub of the old elevated line is still visible at [[Ditmas Avenue (IND Culver Line)|Ditmas Avenue]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Helen|title=Board backs housing on former Culver Shuttle land|url=https://nypost.com/2010/07/06/board-backs-housing-on-former-culver-shuttle-land/|website=[[New York Post|nypost.com]]|publisher=[[New York Post]]|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=July 6, 2010|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705212831/http://nypost.com/2010/07/06/board-backs-housing-on-former-culver-shuttle-land/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Daley|first1=Jessica|title=The Culver Shuttle: Lost Beneath Borough Park for 40 Years|url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2012/06/13/the_culver_shuttle_lost_beneath_borough_park_for_40_years.php|website=[[Curbed|ny.curbed.com]]|publisher=[[Curbed]]|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=June 13, 2012}}</ref>

In January 2017, the MTA revealed plans to rehabilitate the structure of the tunnel above the express tracks between 36th and 59th Streets. The structure had become corroded because resurfacing of Fourth Avenue in the 2010s caused rainwater to seep into the structure rather into the sewage system. Work will also be done between [[Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (New York City Subway)|Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center]] and 36th Streets. Construction started in May 2017, and will end in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=t6070316&PLTYPE=1|title=T6070316 Priority Structure Repairs on the 4th Av Line|website=web.mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=September 3, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903211418/http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=t6070316&PLTYPE=1|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, starting July 30, 2018, N trains ran local along that section at all times.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/transit/2017/01/21/mta-reveals-plans-to-shut-down-part-of-n-subway-tunnel-in-brooklyn-next-year.html|title=MTA Reveals Plans to Shut Down Part of N Subway Tunnel in Brooklyn Next Year|date=January 21, 2017|newspaper=TWC News|access-date=January 22, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124150231/http://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/transit/2017/01/21/mta-reveals-plans-to-shut-down-part-of-n-subway-tunnel-in-brooklyn-next-year.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/40/4/br-express-subway-tunnel-collapsing-2017-01-27-bk.html|title=Express N tunnel will shut for one year of emergency repairs|last=Spivack|first=Caroline|date=January 20, 2017|newspaper=Brooklyn Paper|access-date=January 22, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120095216/http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/40/4/br-express-subway-tunnel-collapsing-2017-01-27-bk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/07/30/this-mornings-subway-mess-was-caused-by-an-mta-typo/|title=Monday Morning's Subway Mess Was Caused by an MTA Typo|last=Gordon|first=Aaron|date=July 30, 2019|work=The Village Voice|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711235842/https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/07/30/this-mornings-subway-mess-was-caused-by-an-mta-typo/|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 29, 2019, N trains resumed running express in this section.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://travel.mtanyct.info/serviceadvisory/routeStatusResult.aspx?tag=ALL&date=07/29/2019&time=&method=getstatus4|title=Planned Service Changes for: Monday, July 29, 2019|date=July 2019|website=mta.info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711235144/http://travel.mtanyct.info/serviceadvisory/routeStatusResult.aspx?tag=ALL&date=07%2f29%2f2019&time=&method=getstatus4|archive-date=July 11, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=July 11, 2019}}</ref>

[[Image:Reopening of 53rd St ESI Station (36965174321).jpg|thumb|The renovated 53rd Street station]]

Under the 2015–2019 [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|MTA]] Capital Plan's [[Enhanced Station Initiative]], three stations on the line—Prospect Avenue, 53rd Street, and Bay Ridge Avenue—were selected to undergo a complete overhaul. All three stations would be entirely closed for up to 6 months in order to speed up renovations, unlike in previous station renovations conducted by the MTA, where parts of the stations would have been closed and renovated piece-by-piece.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news|url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/40/3/br-no-shuttle-buses-at-_bay-ridge-avenue-2017-01-20-bk.html|title=Shuttle scuttle: Riders demand extra buses during three subway stations' closure|last=Spivack|first=Caroline|date=January 16, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2017|language=en|newspaper=Brooklyn Paper|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821063658/https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/40/3/br-no-shuttle-buses-at-_bay-ridge-avenue-2017-01-20-bk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=http://ny.curbed.com/2017/3/22/15028712/mta-subway-station-closures-renovations|title=MTA will close these Brooklyn subway stops to facilitate upgrades|date=March 22, 2017|website=Curbed NY|access-date=March 24, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821062339/https://ny.curbed.com/2017/3/22/15028712/mta-subway-station-closures-renovations|url-status=live}}</ref> Updates included cellular service, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, interactive service advisories and maps, improved signage, and improved station lighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gothamist.com/2016/01/08/subway_facelift_shutdown.php|title=MTA Will Completely Close 30 Subway Stations For Months-Long "Revamp"|last=Whitford|first=Emma|date=January 8, 2016|publisher=Gothamist|access-date=July 18, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801200338/http://gothamist.com/2016/01/08/subway_facelift_shutdown.php|archive-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/MTAStations.pdf|title=MTAStations|website=governor.ny.gov|publisher=Government of the State of New York|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102093442/https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/MTAStations.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> From January to May 2016, [[Grimshaw Architects]] worked on a design for the stations' renovation, with [[Arup Group]] acting as a consultant. The award for Package 1 of the renovations, which covers renovations at the three stations, was awarded on November 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/161114_1345_CPOC.pdf|title=Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting|date=November 2016|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=November 27, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821063654/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/161114_1345_CPOC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The stations were closed on a staggered schedule from March to June 2017 for these renovations, with 53rd Street closing first, followed by Bay Ridge Avenue and Prospect Avenue. They were planned to reopen on a staggered schedule from September to December 2017.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /> 53rd Street reopened first on September 8,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://brooklynreporter.com/story/sunset-parks-renovated-53rd-street-station-open-business/|title=Sunset Park's renovated 53rd Street station is open for business|last=DeJesus|first=Jaime|date=September 8, 2017|website=Brooklyn Reporter|language=en-US|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909053308/http://brooklynreporter.com/story/sunset-parks-renovated-53rd-street-station-open-business/|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by Bay Ridge Avenue a month later on October 13.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/mta-reopens-bay-ridge-avenue-r-station|title=MTA unveils new Bay Ridge Avenue R station|last=Mascali|first=Nikki M.|date=October 13, 2017|work=Metro US|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045028/https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/mta-reopens-bay-ridge-avenue-r-station|url-status=live}}</ref> Prospect Avenue, the last of the three stations to be renovated, reopened a month ahead of schedule on November 2, 2017.<ref>{{cite web | last=Barone | first=Vincent | title=Prospect Avenue subway station reopens with modern amenities | website=am New York | date=November 2, 2017 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/prospect-avenue-subway-station-1.14729272 | access-date=November 3, 2017 | archive-date=November 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103012458/https://www.amny.com/transit/prospect-avenue-subway-station-1.14729272 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2015–2019 Capital Program also called for several stations to be renovated with elevators to bring them into compliance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]]. {{As of|January 2019}}, only three stations on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line were ADA-accessible: Jay Street–MetroTech, DeKalb Avenue, and Atlantic–Barclays; all of these stops were in Downtown Brooklyn. The Capital Program would bring ADA-accessibility to at least two additional stations, [[59th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|59th Street]] and [[86th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|86th Street]],<ref name="Capital Plan 2015-2019">{{cite web|title=MTA Capital Program 2015–2019: Renew. Enhance. Expand.|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/pdf/CapitalProgram2015-19_WEB%20v4%20FINAL_small.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=October 28, 2015|date=October 28, 2015|page=61|archive-date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106022734/http://web.mta.info/capital/pdf/CapitalProgram2015-19_WEB%20v4%20FINAL_small.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MTA 2017 Prelim Budget">{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/news/pdf/MTA_2017_Preliminary_Budget_July_Financial_Plan_2017_2020_Volume_2.pdf|title=MTA 2017 Preliminary Budget July Financial Plan 2017 – 2020 Volume 2|date=July 2016|website=mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=August 6, 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804012052/http://web.mta.info/news/pdf/MTA_2017_Preliminary_Budget_July_Financial_Plan_2017_2020_Volume_2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> with possible elevator installations in at least four other stations: [[Union Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Union Street]], [[36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|36th Street]], [[77th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|77th Street]], and [[Bay Ridge–95th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)|Bay Ridge–95th Street]].<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=MTA Board – NYCT/Bus Committee Meeting – 02/20/2018|date=February 20, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJRM36BCciU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/BJRM36BCciU| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|via=YouTube|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=March 4, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvHkh1_8Lcs&t=1700s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/CvHkh1_8Lcs| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|title=NYCT Public Event – Discussion About the Next Accessible Subway Stations – 02/06/2019|author=mtainfo|date=February 6, 2019|medium=video|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{rp|at=24:32 to 46:16}}<ref name="MTA-CPOC-Nov2018">{{Cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/181113_1400_CPOC.pdf|title=Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting November 2018|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2018|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|archive-date=July 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717073555/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/181113_1400_CPOC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|91}}

== Station listing ==
{{NYCS service legend
| alltimes        = show
| allexceptnights = show
| nightsonly      = show
| nightsweekends  = show
| weekdaysonly    = show
| rushonly        = show
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Neighborhood<br />(approximate)
!{{Access icon}}
!Station
!Tracks
!Services
!Opened
!Transfers and notes
|-
!colspan=7 style="background-color: silver;"|[[Montague Street Tunnel]] branch ({{NYCS Fourth Montague|time=show}})
|-
| rowspan="8" |[[Downtown Brooklyn]]
|[[Image:Aiga elevator.svg|20px|alt=Elevator access to mezzanine only]]
|{{stl|NYCS|Court Street|Fourth}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth Montague|time=show}}
|August 1, 1920<ref name=":5" />
|{{NYCS Broadway-Seventh Brooklyn|time=show}} ([[IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line]] at {{stl|NYCS|Borough Hall|Broadway-Seventh}})<br/>{{NYCS Lexington Brooklyn|time=show}} ([[IRT Eastern Parkway Line]] at {{stl|NYCS|Borough Hall|Eastern}})
|-
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
|{{stl|NYCS|Jay Street–MetroTech|Fourth}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth Montague|time=show}}
|June 11, 1924<ref name=":6" />
|formerly Lawrence Street<br />{{NYCS Eighth Cranberry|time=show}} ([[IND Fulton Street Line]])<br />{{NYCS Sixth Rutgers|time=show}} ([[IND Culver Line]])
|-
!colspan=6 style="background-color: silver;"|[[Manhattan Bridge subway tracks|Manhattan Bridge]] branch ({{NYCS Manhattan Bridge|time=show}})
|-
|
|bgcolor=bfbfbf|{{stl|NYCS|Myrtle Avenue|Fourth}}
|local
|
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|Closed on July 16, 1956;<ref name=":13" /> only Manhattan-bound platform remains
|-
!colspan=6 style="background-color: silver;"|Tunnel and Bridge tracks merge
|-
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
|{{stl|NYCS|DeKalb Avenue|Fourth}}
|bridge, tunnel
|{{NYCS DeKalb|time=show}} 
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|6 tracks; tunnel tracks and one set of bridge tracks stop at station; the other set of bridge tracks bypass through the middle
|-
!colspan=6 style="background-color: silver;"|bridge & tunnel tracks stopping at DeKalb Avenue split to the [[BMT Brighton Line]] ({{NYCS Brighton north|time=show}}); bypass tracks continue as the BMT Fourth Avenue Line express tracks
|-
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
|nowrap|{{stl|NYCS|Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center|Fourth}}
|all
|{{NYCS Fourth center|time=show}}
|nowrap|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|{{NYCS Eastern west|time=show}} ([[IRT Eastern Parkway Line]])<br/>{{NYCS Brighton north|time=show}} ([[BMT Brighton Line]])<br/>Connection to [[Long Island Rail Road|LIRR]] at [[Atlantic Terminal]]; Originally named "Pacific Street"
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Park Slope]]
|
|{{stl|NYCS|Union Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth center local|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|
|-
|
|{{stl|NYCS|Ninth Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth center local|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|{{NYCS Culver IND north local|time=show}} ([[IND Culver Line]] at {{stl|NYCS|Fourth Avenue}})
|-
|rowspan=2|[[South Slope, Brooklyn|South Slope]]/[[Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn|Greenwood Heights]]
|
|{{stl|NYCS|Prospect Avenue|Fourth}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth center local|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|
|-
|
|{{stl|NYCS|25th Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth center local|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Sunset Park, Brooklyn|Sunset Park]]
|
|{{stl|NYCS|36th Street|Fourth}}
|all
|{{NYCS 36th Street|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|
|-
!colspan=6 style="background-color: silver;"|split with [[BMT West End Line]] ({{NYCS West End|time=show}}) and former split with [[BMT Culver Line]] (abandoned)
|-
|
|{{stl|NYCS|45th Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth south local|time=show}}
|September 22, 1915<ref name="Station Opening2" />
|
|-
|
|{{stl|NYCS|53rd Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth south local|time=show}}
|September 22, 1915<ref name="Station Opening2" />
|
|-
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
|{{stl|NYCS|59th Street|Fourth}}
|all
|{{NYCS Fourth south|time=show}}
|June 22, 1915<ref name=":4" />
|
|-
!colspan=7 style="background-color: silver;"|express tracks split off and become [[BMT Sea Beach Line]] ({{NYCS Sea Beach|time=show}})
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Bay Ridge, Brooklyn|Bay Ridge]]
|
|{{stl|NYCS|Bay Ridge Avenue}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth far south|time=show}}
|January 15, 1916<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|
|{{stl|NYCS|77th Street|Fourth}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth far south|time=show}}
|January 15, 1916<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
| align=center | {{Access icon}}
|{{stl|NYCS|86th Street|Fourth}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth far south|time=show}}
|January 15, 1916<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn|Fort Hamilton]]
|
|{{stl|NYCS|Bay Ridge–95th Street}}
|local
|{{NYCS Fourth far south|time=show}}
|October 31, 1925<ref name="NYTimes-95StBids-March1925">{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1925/03/01/105017557.pdf|title=Subway Bids Announced: For 95th Street Terminal, Brooklyn, and Corona Yard|date=March 1, 1925|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name="StationOpening">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/59905307/?terms=95th+street+subway|title=95th St. Subway Extension Opened At 2 P. M. Today|date=October 31, 1925|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=June 29, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811144044/https://www.newspapers.com/image/59905307/?terms=95th+street+subway|url-status=live}}</ref>
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{NYCS lines navbox}}
{{NYCS navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:4th Avenue}}
[[Category:Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation]]
[[Category:New York City Subway lines]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1915]]