77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)

The 77th Street station (also known as 77th Street–Lenox Hill Hospital) is a local station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 77th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It is served by the 6 train at all times, the <6> train during weekdays in the peak direction, and the 4 train during late nights.

For the station actually at 77th Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, see 77th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line).
 77 Street
 "6" train"6" express train​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Uptown platform
Station statistics
AddressEast 77th Street & Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10075[1]
BoroughManhattan
LocaleUpper East Side
Coordinates40.773587°N 73.959875°W / 40.773587; -73.959875
DivisionA (IRT)[2]
Line   IRT Lexington Avenue Line
Services   4 late nights (late nights)
​   6 all times (all times) <6> weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction (weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction)
TransitBus transport NYCT Bus: M101, M102, M103
M79 SBS at 79th Street[3]
StructureUnderground
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Other information
OpenedJuly 17, 1918 (1918-07-17)[4]
Opposite-
direction
transfer		No
Former/other names77th Street–Lenox Hill Hospital
Traffic
20197,821,286[5] Increase 2.2%
Rank46 out of 424[5]
Services
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
86th Street
4 late nights ​6 all times <6> weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction
toward Pelham Bay Park
Local		 68th Street–Hunter College
4 late nights ​6 all times <6> weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction
toward Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall
"5" train does not stop here
Location
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) is located in New York City Subway
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) is located in New York City
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) is located in New York
77th Street station (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
Track layout

to 86th Street
to 68th Street–Hunter College
Street map

Station service legend
Symbol Description
Stops all times Stops all times
Stops late nights only Stops late nights only
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only

This station was constructed as part of the Dual Contracts by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and opened in 1918. The station was renovated in the 1950s, and from 2002 to 2004.

History

Early history
Station name in mosaics
Mosaic frieze

Following the completion of the original subway, there were plans to construct a line along Manhattan's east side north of 42nd Street. The original plan for what became the extension north of 42nd Street was to continue it south through Irving Place and into what is now the BMT Broadway Line at Ninth Street and Broadway. In July 1911, the IRT had withdrawn from the talks, and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) was to operate on Lexington Avenue. The IRT submitted an offer for what became its portion of the Dual Contracts on February 27, 1912.[6][7]

In 1913, as part of the Dual Contracts, which were signed on March 19, 1913,[8] the Public Service Commission planned to split the original Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) system from looking like a "Z" system (as seen on a map) to an "H"-shaped system. The original system would be split into three segments: two north–south lines, carrying through trains over the Lexington Avenue and Broadway–Seventh Avenue Lines, and a west–east shuttle under 42nd Street. This would form a roughly "H"-shaped system.[9][10] It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of the Upper East Side and the Bronx.[11][12]

On September 19, 1917, the New York State Public Service Commission denied a request to change the planned name of the station to "77th Street—St. Ann's Academy".[13]

The 77th Street station opened on July 17, 1918, with service initially running between Grand Central–42nd Street and 167th Street via the line's local tracks.[4][14] On August 1, the "H system" was put into place, with through service beginning on the new east and west side trunk lines, and the institution of the 42nd Street Shuttle along the old connection between the sides.[15][16] The cost of the extension from Grand Central was $58 million.[17]

In July 1924, the IRT installed a change-making machine in the station. Along with turnstiles that accepted nickels, which were installed the previous year, this was expect to eliminate the need to have money changers in station booths.[18]

In 1932, the New York State Transit Commission approved an application from Lenox Hill Hospital to install signs reading "Lenox Hill Hospital" on the walls of the station, on the condition that the hospital would pay for the cost of the sign installation.[19]

Station renovations

The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.[20][21]

The station was renovated in the 1950s to extend the station platforms to accommodate ten-car trains.

The NYCTA issued an invitation for bids on a project to construct additional entrances at the station on April 26, 1968.[22] As part of the project, second staircases were added to each corner of 77th Street and Lexington Avenue. The contract was awarded to J. W. Jenkins, Incorporated for $409,726.[23]

This station was renovated in 2003, along with the 86th Street and 116th Street stations on the Lexington Avenue Line. As part of the project, structural deficiencies were repaired, signage and lighting were enhanced, electrical service was upgraded, station facilities were rehabilitated, new fare arrays and a new token booth were installed, and portions of the station were upgraded to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In addition, visual clutter was eliminated, and artwork was installed.[24] The contract for the station renovation project, which was expected to take two year, was expected to be advertised in October 2000.[25] The contract for these three stations was awarded in October 2001, and the projects were done in-house. The cost of the work at 77th Street station was $16.3 million, of which $12.3 million came from the Federal government.[26]

Proposed accessibility improvements

In January 2023, Northwell Health, as part of its plan to expand Lenox Hill Hospital, submitted an application for a transit improvement density bonus.[27] The agency proposed to make the downtown side of the station fully ADA-accessible by replacing two street stairs with one 15-foot (3 m) wide stair, enlarging public sidewalk space, improving station security and lighting systems, and installing two elevators: one from the street to the mezzanine, and another from the mezzanine to the platform. These improvements would allow the medical development to obtain a floor area ratio (FAR) bonus of 0.5;[28] however, they still require Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) review before being approved.[29]

Station layout
View of the Downtown platform
Southbound entrance
Ground Street level Exit/entrance
Platform level Side platform
Northbound local ← "6" train"6" express train toward Pelham Bay Park or Parkchester (86th Street)
← "4" train toward Woodlawn late nights (86th Street)
Southbound local → "6" train"6" express train toward Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall (68th Street–Hunter College) →
→ "4" train toward New Lots Avenue late nights (68th Street–Hunter College) →
Side platform
Express tracks[30] Northbound express ← "4" train"5" train do not stop here
Southbound express → "4" train"5" train do not stop here →

This station has two local tracks and two side platforms. The express tracks of the Lexington Avenue Line, used by the 4 and 5 trains during daytime hours, pass beneath the station and are not visible from the platforms.[31] The 6 stops here at all times, and the 4 stops here during late nights.[32][33] The station is between 86th Street to the north and 68th Street–Hunter College to the south.[34]

There are round columns painted green along the length of both platforms.[35] There are mosaic trim lines, and mosaic displaying the name of the station on the original sections of the station platforms.[36][37] The remainders of both platforms have cream-colored tiles and a salmon trim line with "77TH ST" written on it in black Sans Serif font at regular intervals.[38] These tiles were installed during the late 1950s renovation.

Some old wall lights exist after the station's renovation in 2003, but most are gone or falling off the walls. Both platforms have emergency exits from the lower level express tracks.

The 2004 artwork here is called 4 Seasons Seasoned by Robert Kushner. It is installed on the ceiling above the fare control staircases and features mosaics related to the four seasons of the year.

Exits

Both platforms has a fare control, and both areas have a turnstile bank, and four staircases to the street. The northbound side has a pair of staircases to both eastern corners of Lexington Avenue and 77th Street, while the southbound side has a pair of staircases to both western corners of Lexington Avenue and 77th Street. There are no crossovers or crossunders to allow free transfers between directions.[39]

The downtown platform is the only platform in the station to house a token booth. The uptown platform token booth was closed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after making a series of layoffs and has been removed.

Nearby landmarks

References
  1. "Borough of Manhattan, New York City". Government of New York City. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. "Manhattan Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  4. "Lexington Av. Line to be Opened Today" (PDF). The New York Times. July 17, 1918. p. 13. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. "Facts and Figures: Annual Subway Ridership 2014–2019". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. Walker, James Blaine (1918). Fifty Years of Rapid Transit — 1864 to 1917. New York, N.Y.: Law Printing. pp. 230–233. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. "Petition for Subway in Lexington Ave". The New York Times. May 22, 1912. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2009. A petition is being circulated among the residents and property owners of the section just south of the Grand Central Station, in Park and Lexington Avenues, protesting against the proposed abandonment of the construction of the Subway in Lexington Avenue, between Forty-third and Thirty-second Streets.
  8. "Subway Contracts Solemnly Signed; Cheers at the Ceremonial Function When McCall Gets Willcox to Attest" (PDF). The New York Times. March 20, 1913. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  9. "Money Set Aside For New Subways; Board of Estimate Approves City Contracts to be Signed To-day with Interboro and B.R.T." (PDF). The New York Times. March 19, 1913. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  10. Engineering News-record. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. 1916. p. 846. Archived from the original on 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  11. Whitney, Travis H. (March 10, 1918). "The Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subways Will Revive Dormant Sections — Change in Operation That Will Transform Original Four-Tracked Subway Into Two Four-Tracked Systems and Double Present Capacity of the Interborough". The New York Times. p. 12. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  12. "Public Service Commission Fixes July 15 For Opening of The New Seventh and Lexington Avenue Subway Lines — Will Afford Better Service and Less Crowding — Shuttle Service for Forty-Second Street — How the Various Lines of the Dual System Are Grouped for Operation and List of Stations on All Lines". The New York Times. May 19, 1918. p. 32. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  13. Proceedings of the Public Service Commission For The First District State of New York Volume XV From July 1, to December 31, 1917. New York State Public Service Commission. 1917. p. 1777. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  14. "Lexington Subway to Operate To-day". New York Herald. 1918-07-17. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  15. "Open New Subway Lines to Traffic; Called a Triumph — Great H System Put in Operation Marks an Era in Railroad Construction — No Hitch in the Plans — But Public Gropes Blindly to Find the Way in Maze of New Stations — Thousands Go Astray — Leaders in City's Life Hail Accomplishment of Great Task at Meeting at the Astor". The New York Times. August 2, 1918. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  16. "New "H" System Brings Worst Subway Jam". New-York Tribune. 1918-08-02. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  17. "Finish a New Link of the Dual Subway; Lexington Avenue Line North of Forty-second Street to Begin Local Service Wednesday. Branch Extends to Bronx Through service, with Times Square Grand Central Shuttle Connections, to Open Soon. Changes in the Bronx". The New York Times. July 11, 1918. p. 20. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  18. "President Frank Hedley, of the Interborough Rapid Transit Corporation, is seen demonstration the new change-making machine just installed in the 77th Street station of the Lexington avenue subway". Brandon Daily Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. July 24, 1924. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  19. Proceedings of the Board of Transportation of the City of New York. New York City Board of Transportation. 1932. pp. 90–91. Archived from the original on 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  20. "City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign". The New York Times. 1940-06-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  21. "Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration". New York Herald Tribune. June 13, 1940. p. 25. ProQuest 1248134780.
  22. Engineering News-record. McGraw-Hill. 1968. p. 54. Archived from the original on 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  23. Minutes and Proceedings of the New York City Transit Authority. New York City Transit Authority. 1968. p. 235. Archived from the original on 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  24. Kushner, Robert (2004). Robert Kushner: Opening Doors. DC Moore Gallery. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  25. "Forecast of MTA Capital Program Contracts July - December 2000". mta.nyc.ny.us. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2000. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  26. "Contract Capers: Excess Costs and Politics in MTA Contracting" (PDF). ppfeny.org. Public Policy and Education Fund of New York. December 12, 2002. pp. 11, 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  27. "Lenox Hill Hospital - 23DCP079M". NYC Planning - Zoning Application Search. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  28. AKRF, Inc.; New York City Department of City Planning (January 30, 2023). "Draft Scope of Work for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lenox Hill Hospital Redevelopment" (PDF). NYC Planning - Zoning Application Search. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  29. "Step 5: Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP)". nyc.gov. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  30. Station Reporter — 6 Train
  31. Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
  32. "4 Subway Timetable, Effective December 4, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  33. "6 Subway Timetable, Effective August 12, 2023". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  34. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  35. Tobar, Roberto C. (November 7, 2008). "View of the station". nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  36. Brathwaite, Aliandro (August 31, 2009). "Platform view". nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  37. Tobar, Roberto C. (November 7, 2008). "Station mosaics". nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  38. Hirsch, Oren (June 20, 2001). "View of the station from 2001". nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on 2006-09-12. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  39. "77th Street Neighborhood Map". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 2018. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
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