Division B (BMT) Structure Elevated Opened 1 February 1917 Locale Astoria | Line BMT Astoria Line Platforms 1 island platform Borough Queens Tracks 2 | |
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Services N (all times)
W (weekdays only) Transit connections MTA Bus: Q69, Q100 (at 20th Avenue) Address Queens, NY 11105, United States Similar Astoria, Queensboro Plaza, Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, Astoria Boulevard, South Ferry–Whitehall Street | ||
Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard is the northern terminal station on the BMT Astoria Line of the New York City Subway. Located above 31st Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, Queens, it is the northern terminal of N train at all times, as well as by the W train on weekdays.
Contents
History
This elevated station opened on February 1, 1917, along with the opening of the rest of the Astoria Line, as an IRT line station, and the BRT (later BMT) also provided joint service. Dignitaries from the first ride included President of Alderman Frank Dowling, Public Service Commissioner Hodges, numerous other officials of the commission, President Shonts of the IRT, with a number of his assistants, and Queens Borough President Connolly. Members of the PSC pointed out the need of extending the line from the terminal to Ditmars Boulevard and Steinway Street. Regular passenger service started that afternoon. The station's name was originally Second Avenue, which was the name of Ditmars Boulevard at the station's opening.
In 1949, the joint service was discontinued, leaving the BMT to provide full-time service.
In 1981, the MTA listed the station among the 69 most deteriorated stations in the subway system.
Station layout
This station has two tracks and an island platform and is partially located under the New York Connecting Railroad (NYCR). The tracks end at bumper blocks at the north end of the platform. The platform canopy extends to the portion of the platform under the NYCR.
The tracks terminate at bumper blocks at the north end of the station. Past the station's north end, the structure extends for a couple more yards before it ends; this was meant for an extension going east toward LaGuardia Airport. This was part of a never-built extension toward Bayside.
Exits
The station's only mezzanine is a station house beneath the tracks and platforms. Two double-wide staircases from the platform go down to their own bank of turnstiles with a token booth in the middle. Outside fare control, there are four staircases, two going down to the west side of 31st Street between Ditmars Boulevard and 23rd Avenue and two going down to the east side. The east side of the station house has a short, enclosed pedestrian bridge that leads to the Ditmars Plaza Mini Mall, located on the second floor of the adjacent Garry Building. This mall has a staircase to the street, providing another entrance to the station.