Station: West 4th Street-Washington Square
From nycsubway.org
| IND 8th Avenue/Fulton Street/Rockaway Line Court Street |
| IND 6th Avenue Line |
Overview
Opened: 9/10/1932
Two 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.
Single Line Diagram of the West 4th St. Station, Lower Level
How to Read Single Line Diagrams
Photo Gallery
 Image 698 (79k, 744x499) Photo by: Wayne Whitehorne Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 5059 (179k, 1024x665) Photo by: Doug Grotjahn Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 57819 (123k, 1037x778) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 58293 (124k, 1037x778) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 66723 (84k, 1044x636) Photo by: Bob Ristelhueber Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 66724 (82k, 1044x619) Photo by: Bob Ristelhueber Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 71153 (81k, 820x620) Photo by: Gary Chatterton Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 77980 (268k, 1044x701) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 80284 (138k, 819x619) Photo by: Bill E. Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 98160 (270k, 1044x788) Photo by: Christopher Henderson Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 104092 (189k, 1044x788) Photo by: Ian Dale Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 107353 (136k, 820x552) Photo by: Richard Chase Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 115632 (314k, 1044x700) Photo by: Zach Summer Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 127088 (247k, 1044x701) Photo by: John Dooley Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |
 Image 133267 (307k, 1024x687) Photo by: Wilfredo Castillo Location: West 4th Street/Washington Square |