View source for Second Avenue station

{{Short description|New York City Subway station in Manhattan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox NYCS
| name = 2 Avenue
| image = IND Sixth Avenue 2nd Avenue.jpg
| image_caption = View from northbound platform
| address = East Houston Street &amp; Second Avenue<br />New York, New York
| borough = [[Manhattan]]
| locale = [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]], [[Lower East Side]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.723616|N|73.991117|W|display=inline,title}}
| division = IND
| line = [[IND Sixth Avenue Line]]
| service = Sixth south
| service_header = Sixth Rutgers
| connection = {{bus icon}} [[NYCT Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|M15|M15 SBS|M21}}
| platforms = 2 [[island platform]]s<br />[[cross-platform interchange]]
| tracks = 4 (2 in regular service)
| structure = Underground
| former = Lower East Side–Second Avenue
| open_date = {{start date and age|January 1, 1936}}
| adjacent_stations = {{Adjacent stations|system=New York City Subway
|line=Sixth local south|left=Broadway–Lafayette Street|right=Delancey Street|note-left={{NYCS Sixth south|time=1}}|note-right={{NYCS Sixth south|time=1}}}}
| legend = {{NYCS infobox legend|alltimes}}{{NYCS infobox legend|limitedrushpeak}}
| layout = {{Routemap|inline=y
|legend=track
|map=
udSTR!~dMFADEg\\udSTR!~dMFADEg ~~ ~~ ~~ to {{stl|NYCS|Broadway–Lafayette Street}}
udSTRf\numN060\udSTRg
d!~uv-2SHI2r\uvSHI2l-\d!~uv-SHI2r\uv2SHI2l-
uv2SHI2+l-\uvÜST\uv-2SHI2+r
udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR
udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR
udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR
udSTR\dPLT\uvSTR\dPLT\udSTR
uvSHI2l-\uvSTR\uv-SHI2r
udSTRf\uvENDEe\udSTRg
udSTR!~dMFADEf\\udSTR!~dMFADEf ~~ ~~ ~~ to {{stl|NYCS|Delancey Street}}
}}
}}

The '''Second Avenue station''' is a [[metro station|station]] on the [[IND Sixth Avenue Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]], located at the intersection of [[Second Avenue (Manhattan)|Second Avenue]] and [[Houston Street (Manhattan)|Houston Street]] on the border between the [[East Village, Manhattan|East Village]] and the [[Lower East Side]], in [[Manhattan]]. It is served by the [[F (New York City Subway service)|F]] train at all times and the [[Fd (New York City Subway service)|&lt;F&gt;]] train during rush hours in the peak direction.

==History==

The station opened on January 1, 1936, as part of the portion of the Sixth Avenue Line between [[West Fourth Street–Washington Square (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|West Fourth Street–Washington Square]] and [[East Broadway (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|East Broadway]]. Upon opening, [[E (New York City Subway service)|E]] trains, which ran from [[Jackson Heights, Queens]] to [[Hudson Terminal]], were shifted to the new line to East Broadway.<ref name="East Broadway">{{cite news |title=LaGuardia Opens New Subway Link |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1936/01/02/archives/la-guardia-opens-new-subway-link-warmly-praises-delaney-as-he-puts.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 2, 1936 |page=1 |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> Two express tracks were built from West Fourth Street, under Houston Street, until Essex Street-Avenue A, with the express tracks effectively terminating at the Second Avenue station since there were no stops east of there. The tracks were intended to travel under the East River and connect with the never-built [[IND Worth Street Line]] in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/indsecond.html|title=IND Second System – 1929 Plan|last=Pirmann|first=David|date=November 1997|access-date=August 30, 2016|work=www.nycsubway.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/11/02/the-history-of-a-subway-shell-at-south-4th-street/|title=The history of a subway shell at South 4th Street|last=Kabak|first=Benjamin|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=August 30, 2016|work=Second Ave. Sagas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/indsecsys.html|title=Abandoned Stations : IND Second System unfinished stations|last=Brennan|first=Joseph|date=2002|access-date=August 30, 2016|work=columbia.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Station:_2nd_Avenue_(6th_Avenue_Line)|title=Second Avenue station IND 6th Avenue Line|last1=Pirmann|first1=David|last2=Darlington|first2=Peggy|access-date=August 30, 2016|last3=Aryel|first3=Ron|work=www.nycsubway.org}}</ref>

From December 2001<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/17/nyregion/v-train-begins-service-today-giving-queens-commuters-another-option.html|title=V Train Begins Service Today, Giving Queens Commuters Another Option|last=Kershaw|first=Sarah|date=December 17, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> to June 2010, this station was known on transit maps and announced on digital announcements as the '''Lower East Side–Second Avenue station''', when it served as the southern terminal for [[V (New York City Subway service)|V]] trains.<ref name="DeJesus 2010">{{cite web | last=DeJesus | first=Juan | title=Last Stop: New Yorkers Bid Adieu to V and W | website=NBC New York | date=June 25, 2010 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-yorkers-bid-adieu-to-v-and-w/1874763/ | access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref> A limited number of rush-hour [[M (New York City Subway service)|M]] trains from Queens terminated here between July 2017 and April 2018 during a reconstruction project on the [[BMT Myrtle Avenue Line]] (replicating the former V service).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/pdf/tmcur.pdf|title=M Subway Timetable, Effective June 25, 2017|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625014519/http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/pdf/tmcur.pdf|archive-date=June 25, 2017|url-status=unfit}}</ref>

==Station layout==
{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;" width=50|'''Ground'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=125|Street level
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" width=350|Exit/entrance
|-
|colspan=2|'''Mezzanine'''
|Fare control, station agent
|-
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray;" rowspan=6 valign=top|'''Platform level'''
|style="border-bottom:solid 0px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;"|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|orange}}">'''Northbound local'''</span>
|style="border-bottom:solid 0px gray;border-top:solid 1px gray;"|← {{rint|newyork|F}}{{rint|newyork|Fd}} toward {{stl|NYCS|Jamaica–179th Street}} <small>({{stl|NYCS|Broadway–Lafayette Street}})</small>
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 2px black;border-top:solid 2px black;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan=2|<small>[[Island platform]]</small>
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|black}}">'''''Termination track'''''</span>
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|{{0|←}} No regular service
|-
|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|black}}">'''''Termination track'''''</span>
|{{0|←}} No regular service
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 2px black;border-top:solid 2px black;border-right:solid 2px black;border-left:solid 2px black;text-align:center;" colspan=2|<small>[[Island platform]]</small>
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|<span style="color:#{{rcr|NYCS|orange}}">'''Southbound '''</span>
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray;"|{{0|→}} {{rint|newyork|F}}{{rint|newyork|Fd}} toward {{stl|NYCS|Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue}} <small>({{stl|NYCS|Delancey Street}})</small> →
|}
[[File:Nostalgia train 2nd Av a jeh.jpg|thumb|left|The subway's [[New York City Subway#Holiday Nostalgia Train|holiday train]] at the station]]
Second Avenue has two [[island platform]]s and four tracks. F trains run on the outer tracks, while the inner tracks are not used in regular service. When the station opened, all four Sixth Avenue tracks ran continuously from West Fourth Street through Second Avenue. During the construction of the [[Chrystie Street Connection]] in the 1950s and 1960s, the center express tracks at [[Broadway–Lafayette Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Broadway–Lafayette Street]] were severed from the tracks at Second Avenue and rerouted to the Chrystie Street subway, running through [[Grand Street station (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Grand Street]] station to the north side of the [[Manhattan Bridge]].

West (railroad north) of the station, the inner tracks are connected by a [[diamond crossover]] before merging with the outer local tracks; this allows the station to be used as a terminal for southbound trains. East (railroad south) of the station, the express tracks end at bumper blocks, while the local tracks continue along Houston Street before curving south into Essex Street and continuing through [[Delancey Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Delancey Street]] station.<ref name=":02">{{NYCS const|trackref|trackbook}}</ref>

The trackside walls have a medium Parma violet trim line with a slightly darker border, and small tile captions reading "2ND AVE" in white on black run below it at regular intervals. The platform columns are concrete and painted indigo, and there are especially large columns with built-in benches at the centers of the platforms. Despite the station's name, the exit and [[mezzanine (architecture)|mezzanine]] at Second Avenue is only open part-time. The full-time booth is located at the [[First Avenue (Manhattan)|First Avenue]] mezzanine. The station previously had a full-length mezzanine. However, most of the mezzanine was closed, and the closed areas currently hold offices while the rest are used for storage space.

===Exits===
All entrances/exits are single-wide street stairs serving both platforms via the two mezzanine areas. The western mezzanine has two exits leading to the northwest corner of Houston Street and Second Avenue and the southwest corner of Houston Street and Chrystie Street. The eastern mezzanine has two exits leading to the northwest corner of Houston Street and First Avenue and the southwest corner of Houston Street and Allen Street.<ref name=maps>{{cite web|title=MTA Neighborhood Maps: Lower East Side|url=http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/mn/M03_LowerEastSide_2015.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=2015}}</ref> The closed mezzanine area had an exit to the median of Houston Street near Forsyth Street.

{{clear left}}

==Provisions for other lines==
[[File:2 Avenue 2 vc.jpg|thumb|right|250px|View across the platforms]]

===First Avenue Subway mezzanine===
There is another, unfinished mezzanine on the east side of First Avenue. This second mezzanine is accessible only through now-blocked passages past the east end of the platforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ltvsquad.com/Missions/Tunnels/Subways/2ndSys/Various.php |title=LTV Inc |website=ltvsquad.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031226223418/http://ltvsquad.com/Missions/Tunnels/Subways/2ndSys/Various.php |archive-date=26 December 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This mezzanine was built to address a subway down First Avenue, if one were to be built.

===Express tracks===
East of the station, the center tracks continue disused along Houston, but rise to an upper level and stub-end near [[Avenue A (Manhattan)|Avenue A]] at [[bumper block]]s. Near the end, these tail tracks begin to separate to create a provision for a center track which only extends about 10 or 15 feet and stops at the bulkhead at the end of the tunnel. It was planned that these tracks would continue under the [[East River]] to the [[Proposed New York City Subway expansion (1929-1940)|South Fourth Street Line]], part of a never-built system expansion.<ref name=PhilInq-NYCSNetherWorld-1992 /> These tracks east of the station were previously used for train storage but became an oft-frequented spot for the homeless due to its location near local missions and soup kitchens.<ref name=PhilInq-NYCSNetherWorld-1992>{{cite web|last1=Maykuth|first1=Andrew|title=A Nether World They Call Home Under The Streets Of Manhattan, The Homeless Huddle In Remote Crannies Of The Subway Amid Crack Vials And The Reek Of Human Waste. Retreating Underground In A Search For|url=http://articles.philly.com/1992-02-26/news/26040516_1_subway-tunnel-subway-cars-blankets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928221311/http://articles.philly.com/1992-02-26/news/26040516_1_subway-tunnel-subway-cars-blankets|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2015|website=[[Philly.com]]|publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|access-date=August 6, 2015|location=[[New York City|New York]]|date=February 26, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kaaufman|first1=Michael T.|title=ABOUT NEW YORK; Walking the Beat in the Subway's Nether World|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/14/nyregion/about-new-york-walking-the-beat-in-the-subway-s-nether-world.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=November 14, 1992}}</ref> The area was cleared out in 1990, and corrugated metal walls with [[bumper block]]s were installed just past the east end of the platforms to seal the tunnels.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/IND_6th_Avenue_Line#2nd_Avenue |title = nycsubway.org: IND 6th Avenue Line}}</ref>

===Second Avenue Subway service===
As part of the [[Proposed expansion of the New York City Subway#1929–1939 plans|1929 IND Second System]], the [[unbuilt plans for the Second Avenue Subway|unbuilt plans]] for the [[Second Avenue Subway]] called for the new line to run directly above the existing Second Avenue station. Room was left for the anticipated four-track right-of-way above the Sixth Avenue trackways and directly east of the entrance at Second Avenue; on the west end of the platforms, the ceiling drops.<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/2Ave.ceilw.jpg Image] columbia.edu</ref> Above this lower ceiling is an empty space that can fit either four trackways, two side platforms, and one island platform (similar to [[34th Street–Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)|34th Street–Penn Station]] on the IND Eighth Avenue Line)<ref>[http://www.thejoekorner.com/indsecondsystem/6Track_2nd_Ave_DwnTn-color_r2.pdf Track 2nd avenue color] thejoekorner.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713153422/http://www.thejoekorner.com/indsecondsystem/6Track_2nd_Ave_DwnTn-color_r2.pdf |date=July 13, 2019 }}</ref> or two trackways and two side platforms.<ref>[http://www.thejoekorner.com/indsecondsystem/IND_South4th_Street_color_Fin.pdf Street color] thejoekorner.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233213/http://www.thejoekorner.com/indsecondsystem/IND_South4th_Street_color_Fin.pdf |date=February 14, 2019 }}</ref> The trackways can be made out from the ceiling pattern from the active platforms. The mezzanine at Second Avenue, possibly intended as temporary, has doors that lead to the unused track space.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/indsecsys.html |title = Abandoned Stations : IND Second System unfinished stations}}</ref> Crew rooms were built on most of the space prior to the introduction of the V.

As part of the 21st-century [[construction of the Second Avenue Subway]], a new '''Houston Street''' station will instead be built below the existing one, with a free transfer between them.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/construction9_3_02.pdf "Construction Methods, November 2002"] MTA Capital Construction; Retrieved May 18, 2008</ref><ref>[http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/figure8-15.pdf Second Avenue Subway] mta.info</ref> The decision to use a deeper alignment under Chrystie Street was made to simplify construction and lessen impact to the community.{{efn|See the [[Grand Street station (IND Sixth Avenue Line)|Grand Street]] article for more information}}<ref name=MTA-SASFEISAppB>{{cite web|title=Second Avenue Subway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): Appendix B: Development of Alternatives |url=http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/appendixb.pdf#page=26|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name=MTA-SASFEISCh2>{{cite web|title=Second Avenue Subway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): Chapter 2: Project Alternatives|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/chapter02.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name=MTA-SASSouthDiagram>{{cite web|title=Second Avenue Subway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): Track Diagram, South of 57th Street|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/figure2-05.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=July 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name=MTA-SASDeepChrystie>{{cite web|title=Second Avenue Subway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): Deep Chrystie Option|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/figure2-06.pdf|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=July 9, 2015}}</ref> Second Avenue service would be tentatively provided by the [[T (New York City Subway service)|T]] train once Phase 3 of construction is complete. When this happens, the station would become a terminal station for southbound service. There will be a double crossover north of the station.<ref name="MTA-SASSouthDiagram" /> However, Phase 4 of construction would extend the line south, below Houston Street, in the direction of [[Hanover Square (Manhattan)|Hanover Square]].<ref>[http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/figures-06.pdf Second Avenue Subway Proposed Phase 3] mta.info</ref><ref>[http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/feis/figures-07.pdf Second Avenue Subway Proposed Phase 4] mta.info</ref>

In addition to the current entrances, the Second Avenue Subway station will utilize a new entrance to be constructed at Second Avenue and Third Street.<ref name=MTA-SASCB3-2003>{{cite web|title=Second Avenue Subway Station Entrances: Community Board 3|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/sas_docs/030520_sas_for_cb3.pdf#page=8|website=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|mta.info]]|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], [[AECOM|DMJM HARRIS]], [[Arup Group Limited|ARUP]]|access-date=August 5, 2015|date=May 20, 2003}}</ref> In accordance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]], the Second Avenue Subway platform will be wheelchair-accessible;<ref name=MTA-SASCB3-2003/> however, it is unknown if the Sixth Avenue Line platforms will also become accessible.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{NYCS ref|http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?221:190|IND 6th Avenue|2nd Avenue}}
* Station Reporter — [https://web.archive.org/web/20150113015227/http://www.stationreporter.net/ftrain.htm F Train]
* Abandoned Stations — [http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/indsecsys.html IND Second System unfinished stations]
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.723893,-73.991128&spn=0,0.013765&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.723813,-73.991288&panoid=OeZJftXgGWCtcquxwbHxoQ&cbp=12,351.21,,0,10.8 Second Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View]
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.723055,-73.988822&spn=0,0.013765&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.723092,-73.98894&panoid=I4ReaJWx4lHF3Odeee0aeQ&cbp=12,27.81,,0,5.7 First Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7237976,-73.9909857,3a,75y,150.77h,88.38t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-hwZ9t1vQlmY%2FVhXXkNEZpoI%2FAAAAAAAA4PI%2F8OjurKuEg7c!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2F-hwZ9t1vQlmY%2FVhXXkNEZpoI%2FAAAAAAAA4PI%2F8OjurKuEg7c%2Fw203-h100-n-k-no%2F!7i8704!8i4352!6m1!1e1 Mezzanine from Google Maps Street View]
* [https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7233969,-73.9904825,3a,75y,88.24h,89.9t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1s-nbCN7iVpz88%2FVhXXw5DEPtI%2FAAAAAAAA30M%2F6Yphi3qEsiE!2e4!3e11!6s%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com%2F-nbCN7iVpz88%2FVhXXw5DEPtI%2FAAAAAAAA30M%2F6Yphi3qEsiE%2Fw203-h100-n-k-no%2F!7i8704!8i4352!6m1!1e1 Platforms from Google Maps Street View]

{{East Village, Manhattan}}
{{Lower East Side}}
{{NYCS stations navbox by service|lf=y|lfx=y}}
{{NYCS stations navbox by line|6ave=yes|2ave=yes}}

[[Category:IND Sixth Avenue Line stations]]
[[Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1936]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Proposed IND Second Avenue Line stations]]
[[Category:Lower East Side]]
[[Category:East Village, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Second Avenue (Manhattan)]]