West 4th Street/Washington Square (IND 6th Avenue)
   
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West 4th Street/Washington Square Station · Opened 9/10/1932Two track levels, four tracks and two island platforms on
each level, with a full-length mezzanine between the two levels (not
above). The upper level services trains from the IND 8th Avenue
subway, and the lower level services those from the IND 6th
Avenue/Houston Street subway. The upper level began service first,
beginning in September, 1932. The first service on the lower level was
a shuttle along Houston Street to 2nd Avenue, starting January, 1936,
with through service along the 6th Avenue local tracks starting
December 1940. The 6th Avenue express tracks were built later, and
didn't begin service until July 1, 1968, so between 1936 and 1968, the
express tracks here at West 4th Street (and also at 34th Stree/6th
Avenue) were used as terminal tracks only.
The station, which doesn't actually have an exit to 4th
St., is probably so-called to differentiate it from the planned IND
second system South 4th St. station/line in Brooklyn.
There are two fare control areas; one reached via ramps
at the south end of the two upper level platforms, in a small
"mezzanine"; and one at the south end of each of the upper level
platforms. Since the fare control areas all lead directly to the upper
level (8th Avenue) platforms, passengers for 6th Avenue trains walk a
short distance along the upper plaforms to the stairs down to the
mezzanine, and thence to the lower level platforms. Crossover and
transfer is provided via the mezzanine. Elevators were recently added
connecting the two platforms and the mezzanine.
The mezzanine now houses a large NYCT office complex at
the north end; closed stairways from the lower level platforms reveal
the "shortened" mezzanine above. Rumor has it that there used to be
direct exits to the street from this middle level mezzanine. For a
station this large it actually has relatively few and small exits to
the street; this station was meant as a mass transfer point between
the two trunk lines.
The tile adornment is standard IND; both track levels
have dark green tile stripes with an even darker green border. There
are no other artworks or mosaics along the platforms or trackside
walls.
The streets around this station bear scars of the IND
construction. Sixth Avenue started at 3rd Street; there was no street
continuing south at that point. A new street was sliced through the
Village to accommodate the new subway. Bits and bites of the adjoining
blocks were cut off by the new street. There are numerous buildings
with sides ripped out and bare; many have been cosmetically redone
over the ages. This slicing through of the IND subway (and of the IRT
West Side line as well) helped contribute to the triangular blocks so
famous to the Village.
This new southern extension of Sixth Avenue is extra wide
to fit the cunning interchange between the 6th and 8th Avenue
lines. South of the station there are three levels of track. The 8th
Avenue express is the upper level. The local tracks of both lines are
in the middle with their flying junction. The 6th Avenue express is
the lowest level.
 Area Track Map
Single Line Diagram of the
West 4th St. Station, Lower Level (PDF)
How to Read Single Line
Diagrams
(image 107354) (143k, 1044x706)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Photo by: Richard Chase
Date: 10/12/2009
Notes: Mezzanine level signage.
Viewed (this week/total): 69 / 69
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(image 104860) (231k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: A reroute
Car: R32 (Budd, 1964) 3497
Photo by: Glenn L. Rowe
Date: 10/6/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 1 / 101
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(image 107353) (136k, 820x552)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: V
Car: R32 (Budd, 1964) 3377
Photo by: Richard Chase
Date: 10/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 219 / 219
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(image 92103) (251k, 1044x702)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: V
Car: R42 (St. Louis Car, 1969-1970) 4562
Photo by: Robert Taylor
Date: 8/13/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 2 / 163
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(image 104092) (189k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: V
Car: R40M (St. Louis Car, 1969) 4460
Photo by: Ian Dale
Date: 8/3/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 4 / 252
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(image 102123) (161k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Photo by: Zach Summer
Date: 6/4/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 3 / 382
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(image 101092) (150k, 1044x701)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: V
Car: R46 (Pullman-Standard, 1974-75)
Photo by: Richard Panse
Date: 4/1/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 4 / 211
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(image 98437) (223k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: F testing
Car: R160A (Option 1) (Alstom, 2008-2009, 5 car sets) 9312
Photo by: John Barnes
Date: 2/8/2009
Viewed (this week/total): 3 / 758
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(image 97359) (223k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: D
Car: R68 (Westinghouse-Amrail, 1986-1988) 2536
Photo by: Zach Summer
Date: 12/29/2008
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(image 97360) (223k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: D
Car: R68 (Westinghouse-Amrail, 1986-1988) 2678
Photo by: Zach Summer
Date: 12/29/2008
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(image 95892) (217k, 1044x701)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: V
Car: R46 (Pullman-Standard, 1974-75)
Photo by: Danny Molina
Date: 12/2/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 2 / 545
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(image 93484) (112k, 820x620)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: Museum Train Service (V)
Car: R9 (Independent Subway) (Pressed Steel, 1940) 1802
Photo by: Gary Chatterton
Date: 11/30/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 1 / 442
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(image 93155) (130k, 820x620)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: R reroute
Car: R46 (Pullman-Standard, 1974-75) 5922
Photo by: Bill E.
Date: 11/22/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 6 / 662
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(image 94471) (214k, 1044x788)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: B
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968)
Photo by: Paul P.
Date: 11/6/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 0 / 356
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(image 46076) (118k, 820x620)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: B
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968) 4217
Photo by: Gary Chatterton
Date: 10/2/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 0 / 609
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(image 87668) (137k, 1024x768)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: D
Car: R68 (Westinghouse-Amrail, 1986-1988) 2504
Photo by: Andrew Johnson
Date: 6/30/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 2 / 888
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(image 87661) (118k, 1024x768)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: B
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968) 4246
Photo by: Andrew Johnson
Date: 6/30/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 1 / 535
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(image 85972) (150k, 820x620)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: D
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968) 4257
Photo by: Bill E.
Date: 6/1/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 2 / 613
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(image 85532) (94k, 820x620)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: B
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968) 4355
Photo by: Gary Chatterton
Date: 5/21/2008
Viewed (this week/total): 3 / 589
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(image 80278) (169k, 819x619)
Country: United States
City: New York
System: New York City Transit
Line: IND 6th Avenue
Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square
Route: B
Car: R40 (St. Louis Car, 1968) 4174
Photo by: Bill E.
Date: 2/19/2008
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