Division A (IRT) Transit connections NYCT Bus: M4, M5, Bx6 Platforms 2 side platforms Borough Manhattan Tracks 2 | Services 1 (all times) Structure Underground Opened 12 November 1904 Locale Washington Heights | |
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Line IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line Address New York, NY 10032, United States Similar 137th Street–City College, 215th Street, 238th Street, 191st Street, 207th Street | ||
157th Street is a station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Broadway and 157th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights, it is served by the 1 train at all times.
Contents
History
157th Street first opened, informally and incomplete, on October 29, 1904, as a temporary service to accommodate fans heading to the Yale–Columbia game.
157th Street was formally opened on November 12, 1904. This station was the first to be added to the subway following its opening the previous October 27. The station's opening was delayed by two weeks because there was still painting and plastering work going on in the station.
145th Street, the next station south, was the original terminal. On its first day in service, the station was used to allow passengers to get to a football game at the Polo Grounds. After this, 157th Street became the terminal for trains not going via the Lenox Avenue Line. The terminal of 157th Street had facilities for switching trains, relieving congestion at 96th Street. On March 12, 1906, the IRT was extended from 157th Street to 221st Street. Shuttle trains served the new extension terminating at 157th Street, meaning that passengers south of 157th Street wanting to go to stations on the extension had to transfer at 157th Street. On May 30, 1906, express trains began running through to 221st Street eliminating the need to transfer at this station.
In 1948, platforms on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line from 103rd Street to 238th Street were lengthened to 514 feet to allow full ten-car express trains to platform. Previously the stations could only platform six car local trains. The platform extensions were opened in stages. On April 6, 1948, the stations from 103rd Street to Dyckman Street had their platform extensions opened, with the exception of the 125th Street, which had its opened on June 11, 1948.
Station layout
This station has two tracks and two side platforms, which are narrow even by IRT standards. The platforms contain their original trim line that includes "157" mosaics and name tablets reading "157TH ST." There are also directional signs on the tiles containing white lettering on a black background and brown border. Both platforms have tiled columns that run along the entire length and contain "157" painted in black. Some of the columns separating the two tracks have "157" signs in black letting on white borders.
Exits
Each platform has one same-level fare control area near the middle. Both are fully staffed, containing a turnstile bank and token booth, and each has two street stairs. The northbound side's two exits lead to the southeast corner of 157th Street and Broadway, and the southbound side's two exits lead to the northwest corner of the aforementioned intersection. There are no crossovers or crossunders to allow free transfers between directions. Only the South Ferry-bound side token booth is staffed.