Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids  Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center  ​​​​​​​​
New York City Subway station complex
Entrance from Barclays Center
Station statistics
Address	Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Street, Flatbush Avenue & Fourth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217
Borough	Brooklyn
Locale	Downtown Brooklyn
Coordinates	40°41′04″N 73°58′44″W / 40.684462°N 73.978758°W / 40.684462; -73.978758
Division	A (IRT), B (BMT)
Line	BMT Fourth Avenue Line BMT Brighton Line IRT Eastern Parkway Line
Services	2 alltimes (all times) ​      3 allexceptnights (all except late nights) ​      4 alltimes (all times) ​      5 weekdaysonly (weekdays only)​       B weekdaysonly (Weekday rush hours, middays and early evenings) ​      D alltimes (all times) ​      N alltimes (all times) ​      Q alltimes (all times)​       R alltimes (all times) ​      W rushonly (limited rush hour service only)​
Transit connections	NYCT Bus: B37, B41, B45, B63, B65, B67, B99 MTA Bus: B103 LIRR: City Terminal Zone (at Atlantic Terminal)
Levels	3
Other information
Station code	617
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Location Show map of New York City Subway Show map of New York City Show map of New York
Street map
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times except late nights Stops all times Stops weekdays only Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Atlantic Avenue Control House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MPS	Interborough Rapid Transit Subway Control Houses TR
NRHP reference No.	80002643
Added to NRHP	May 6, 1980
Atlantic Avenue Subway Station (IRT and BMT)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MPS	New York City Subway System MPS
NRHP reference No.	04001023
Added to NRHP	September 17, 2004

The Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center station is a major subway complex in Downtown Brooklyn, New York City. It used to be called Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street. This station is shared by three different subway lines: the BMT Fourth Avenue Line, the BMT Brighton Line, and the IRT Eastern Parkway Line.

You can catch many different trains here, including the 2, 4, D, N, Q, and R trains at all times. The 3 train runs almost all the time, except late at night. The 5 and B trains run on weekdays, and a few W trains stop here during rush hour.

In 2019, this was the busiest subway station in Brooklyn. Nearly 14 million passengers used it! It was also the 20th busiest station in the entire New York City subway system. The station's old control house has been a historic landmark since 1980. The whole station complex became a landmark in 2004. It is also designed to be easy for people with disabilities to use.

History of the Station

The landmarked Atlantic Avenue Control House's exterior (left) and interior (right)

The first part of this station, the IRT Eastern Parkway Line section, opened in 1908. It was the end of a new subway line that connected Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn. The main entrance building, called a control house, was designed by famous architects. It was a grand entrance for what was then the main subway stop in Brooklyn. This control house became a historic landmark in 1980. Today, the original entrance is gone, and it now acts as a skylight for the subway station below.

To handle more passengers, the subway platforms were made longer in 1910. This allowed longer trains to stop at the station. The platform for the Eastern Parkway Line was extended by about 105 feet (32 meters) to the east. These changes helped the subway carry 25 percent more people.

Later, in the 1960s, the platforms for the Brighton Line were also made longer. This allowed them to fit even longer trains.

In the late 1970s, the station got a big makeover. The subway authority fixed the station's structure and made it look better. They repaired the wall tiles, put in new signs, and updated the lighting. They also fixed the stairs and the edges of the platforms. In 1978, the different parts of the station were connected. This meant people could transfer between lines without paying a second fare.

The station had another major upgrade from 1999 to 2003. This $49 million project made the station modern and accessible for everyone. Eight elevators were installed, and many staircases were made wider or new ones were built. The walls and floors were re-tiled, and the lighting and public address system were improved. Special yellow safety strips were added along the platform edges. The old passageways connecting the different lines were widened from 15 feet (4.6 meters) to 42 feet (12.8 meters). This project was very complex. The entire IRT station had to be supported by large beams hanging from the roof! In 2004, the whole station became a historic landmark.

In 2009, the subway authority sold the naming rights for the station. This means a company paid money to have their name added to the station. The company, Forest City Ratner, paid $200,000 per year for 20 years. They built the Barclays Center sports arena nearby. So, in May 2012, the station was renamed Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center. A new entrance and ticket area were built near the arena.

Station Layout

G	Street level	Entrances/exits, pavilion, station house, fare control, station agents, LIRR ticket booth, MetroCard machines Elevators at: SE corner of Pacific Street and Fourth Avenue. customers should use Pacific Street elevator At Hanson Place and Flatbush Avenue. and LIRR customers should use Hanson Place elevator
		Barclays Center
		Connection to Atlantic Terminal shopping mall
B1 Eastern Parkway platforms	Side platform
	Northbound local	← toward 241st Street (Nevins Street) ← toward 148th Street (Nevins Street) ← toward Woodlawn late nights (Nevins Street)
	Northbound express	← toward Woodlawn (Nevins Street) ← weekdays toward Dyre Avenue or Nereid Avenue (Nevins Street)
	Island platform
	Southbound express	→ toward Utica Avenue (New Lots Avenue late nights) (Franklin Avenue–Medgar Evers College) → → weekdays toward Flatbush Avenue (Franklin Avenue–Medgar Evers College) →
	Southbound local	→ toward Flatbush Avenue (Bergen Street) → → ( late nights) toward New Lots Avenue (Bergen Street) →
	Side platform
B1 LIRR platforms	Track 1	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
	Platform A, island platform
	Track 2	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
	Track 3	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
	Platform B, island platform
	Track 4	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
	Track 5	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
	Platform C, island platform
	Track 6	→      Atlantic Branch services toward Jamaica and Points East (Nostrand Avenue) →
B2	Mezzanine	Passageway between platforms
B3 Brighton platform	Northbound	← weekdays toward Bedford Park Boulevard or 145th Street (DeKalb Avenue) ← toward 96th Street (DeKalb Avenue)
	Island platform
	Southbound	→ weekdays toward Brighton Beach (Seventh Avenue) → → toward Coney Island via Brighton (Seventh Avenue) →
B3 Fourth Avenue platforms	Northbound local	← toward 71st Avenue (Whitehall Street late nights) (DeKalb Avenue) ← toward 205th Street late nights (DeKalb Avenue) ← toward Ditmars Boulevard late nights (DeKalb Avenue)
	Island platform
	Northbound express	← toward 205th Street (Grand Street) ← toward Ditmars Boulevard (Canal Street)
	Southbound express	→ toward Coney Island via West End (36th Street) → → toward Coney Island via Sea Beach (36th Street) →
	Island platform
	Southbound local	→ toward 95th Street (Union Street) → → toward Coney Island late nights (Union Street) →

This station complex has three levels underground.

• The top level, closest to the street, is for the IRT Eastern Parkway Line. It's about 20 feet (6 meters) deep. This level is also near the Atlantic Terminal train platforms for the LIRR.
• The middle level is for the BMT Fourth Avenue Line. It's about 40 feet (12 meters) deep. It has a mezzanine (a kind of balcony level) and a walkway that connects to the other subway lines.
• The deepest level is for the BMT Brighton Line. It's about 50 feet (15 meters) deep. It also has a mezzanine above it that connects to the Eastern Parkway Line platforms.

Exits

Here are some of the ways to get in and out of the station: To the Fourth Avenue part of the station:

• Stairs to the northwest corner of 4th Avenue and Pacific Street.
• Stairs and an elevator to the northeast corner of 4th Avenue and Pacific Street.

To the Eastern Parkway/Brighton part of the station:

• Stairs to the western corner of Hanson Place and St. Felix Street.
• Stairs and an elevator to the southern corner of Hanson Place and St. Felix Street.
• A walkway to 1 Hanson Place.
• Two stairs to the north side of Flatbush Avenue, southeast of Hanson Place.
• A walkway to the Atlantic Terminal station.
• Stairs and escalators to Barclays Center at the southeast corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues.

The Eastern Parkway Line platforms used to have an underpass with exits to both sides of Flatbush Avenue. The exit to the north side was replaced with a larger entrance near Barclays Center. The exit to the south side is now used only for emergencies.

IRT Eastern Parkway Line Platforms

Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center  ​​​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Southbound local platform
Station statistics
Division	A (IRT)
Line	IRT Eastern Parkway Line
Services	2 alltimes (all times) ​      3 allexceptnights (all except late nights) ​      4 alltimes (all times) ​      5 weekdaysonly (weekdays only)
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 side platforms (local) 1 island platform (express)
Tracks	4
Other information
Opened	May 1, 1908; 117 years ago (1908-05-01)
Station code	338
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite-direction transfer available	Yes
Former/other names	Atlantic Avenue
Station succession
Next north	Nevins Street: 2 alltimes ​3 allexceptnights ​4 alltimes ​5 weekdaysonly
Next south	Bergen Street (local): 2 alltimes ​3 allexceptnights ​4 nightsonly Franklin Avenue–Medgar Evers College (express): 4 allexceptnights ​5 weekdaysonly
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times except late nights Stops all times Stops weekdays only Stops late nights only Stops weekdays and weekday late nights Stops late nights and weekends Stops weekends and weekend late nights

The Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center station on the IRT Eastern Parkway Line is an express station. It has four tracks: two for local trains and two for express trains. It also has one island platform (a platform between two tracks) for express trains and two side platforms (platforms on the outside of the tracks) for local trains.

You might see some old signs here. There are two old signs that used to show the next train, and another old sign pointing to the Brooklyn Academy of Music. You can also see where an old trackway used to connect to the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch. The LIRR platforms are just below, and you can see them through railings.

This part of the station has been completely updated. The local track going north has new concrete and welded rail.

There's a walkway from the IRT Eastern Parkway Line platform that goes under the tracks. It connects to the BMT Fourth Avenue and Brighton Lines. Another walkway at the south end of the station leads to the Brighton Line and an exit right next to Barclays Center. This exit has a ticket booth that's open during events at the arena, plus two escalators.

Even though the station is wheelchair accessible, the express platform used to be too narrow in some spots for wheelchairs. Now, the stairs have been made narrower to allow full wheelchair access.

North of this station, there's an unused trackway. It splits off from the southbound local track. This was meant for a subway line that was later built as the BMT Fourth Avenue Line.

When this station first opened in 1908, it was the end of the line. It had two side platforms, an island platform, and two tracks. All the platforms were connected at their south ends.

This station is special because it has side platforms for local trains and a center island platform for express trains. This is unusual for an express station. This design helps prevent too many people from crowding the platforms, especially since it connects to Atlantic Terminal.

BMT Brighton Line Platform

Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center  ​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Manhattan-bound B train of R68 cars arrives at the station
Station statistics
Division	B (BMT)
Line	BMT Brighton Line
Services	B weekdaysonly (Weekday rush hours, middays and early evenings) ​      Q alltimes (all times)
Structure	Underground
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	August 1, 1920; 104 years ago (1920-08-01)
Station code	040f
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite-direction transfer available	Yes
Former/other names	Atlantic Avenue
Station succession
Next north	DeKalb Avenue: B weekdaysonly ​Q alltimes
Next south	Seventh Avenue: B weekdaysonly ​Q alltimes
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times Stops weekdays only

The Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center station on the BMT Brighton Line has two tracks and one island platform. It opened in 1920.

The platform has seven staircases. Three go to the main mezzanine (a connecting area). Two go to the Hanson Place exit at the north end, which has an escalator. This exit leads to a separate mezzanine that doesn't connect to the other subway lines. Two more staircases at the south end lead to an exit right next to Barclays Center and another mezzanine that connects to the IRT platforms. The Barclays Center exit has a ticket booth that's open during events and two escalators.

The staircase at the Hanson Place mezzanine leads to the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower. There used to be a ticket booth at the Hanson Place exit, but it's gone now. The lower part of this mezzanine had a walkway that ran above the platform, but it's now closed off.

The main mezzanine also has a way to get to the LIRR's Atlantic Terminal and the main ticket area for the IRT side of the station. Two of the street staircases lead to the Atlantic Terminal Mall.

You can clearly see where the platform was extended at the south end. The station name signs in this area are replicas. The platform was extended in the 1960s to fit longer trains.

North of this station, if you're on a Manhattan-bound train, you might see a "bellmouth." This was a space built for a proposed connection to an old elevated train line called the BMT Fulton Street El, which has since been taken down.

BMT Fourth Avenue Line Platforms

Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center  ​​​​
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Manhattan-bound platform
Station statistics
Division	B (BMT)
Line	BMT Fourth Avenue Line
Services	D alltimes (all times) ​      N alltimes (all times) ​      R alltimes (all times) ​      W rushonly (limited rush hour service only)
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 island platforms cross-platform interchange
Tracks	4
Other information
Opened	June 22, 1915; 110 years ago (1915-06-22)
Station code	027
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite-direction transfer available	Yes
Station succession
Next north	DeKalb Avenue (local): D nightsonly ​N nightsonly ​R alltimes ​W rushonly Canal Street (express via Broadway): N allexceptnights Grand Street (express via 6th Avenue): D allexceptnights
Next south	Union Street (local): D nightsonly ​N nightsonly ​R alltimes ​W rushonly 36th Street (express): D allexceptnights ​N allexceptnights
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops all times except late nights Stops all times Stops late nights only Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only

The Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line has four tracks and two island platforms. It opened on June 22, 1915. A wall separates the two platforms.

At the north end of these platforms, two staircases and an elevator lead up to the main ticket area. From there, you can go through turnstiles and find two staircases that lead up to the corners of Pacific Street and Fourth Avenue. The northeast corner also has an elevator going down to the mezzanine. A pathway connects this area to the rest of the station complex.

Former BMT Fifth Avenue Line Station

Atlantic Avenue
Former New York City Subway station
The Fifth Avenue Line station was located right above the headhouse for this station complex
Station statistics
Address	Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217
Borough	Brooklyn
Locale	Downtown Brooklyn
Division	B (BMT)
Services	BMT Fifth Avenue Line BMT Culver Line BMT West End Line (–1916)
Structure	Elevated
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	November 5, 1888; 136 years ago (November 5, 1888)
Closed	June 1, 1940; 85 years ago (June 1, 1940)
Station succession
Next north	Fulton Street
Next south	St. Mark's Avenue
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops in station at all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops late nights and weekends only Stops weekdays only Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except weekdays in the peak direction Stops daily except rush hours in the peak direction Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

This station complex used to have an elevated train station called Atlantic Avenue on the BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was located high above Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, right over where the main entrance to the current subway complex is. It had two tracks and one island platform. Trains from the BMT Culver Line and BMT Fifth Avenue Line used to stop here. It also connected to several streetcar lines.

On June 25, 1923, a train had an accident here. Two cars of a train came off the tracks and fell towards Flatbush Avenue. Sadly, eight passengers died. As more people started using the underground subways, the elevated lines became less popular. The Fifth Avenue Line closed on June 1, 1940, and the elevated structure was taken down in 1941.

Gallery

• 

  Looking southwest at the head-house. The Fifth Avenue Line station has been demolished

• 

  Stair from IRT mezzanine to Fourth Avenue mezzanine and exit, directly below the former headhouse

• 

  Tilework

• 

  Close-up

• 

  Street stair at the NW corner of Fourth Avenue and Pacific Street

• 

  BMT Fourth Avenue southbound platform in 2007 bearing the old Pacific Street name

Hook, Line and Sinker

This is a three-part art installation made by George Trakas for the 2004 renovation of the station.

• 

  "Hook" on a transfer corridor

• 

  "Line" in the former control house

• 

  "Sinker" on the double-wide stairway to the northbound 2/3 platform

See Also

• nycsubway.org:
  • nycsubway.org – Brooklyn IRT: Atlantic Avenue
  • nycsubway.org – BMT Brighton Line: Atlantic Avenue
  • nycsubway.org – BMT 4th Avenue: Pacific Street
  • nycsubway.org – Brooklyn IRT Contract 2 map: (includes current and former track configurations, and provisions for future connections)
  • nycsubway.org — Hook, Line, and Sinker Artwork by George Trakas (2004)
• The Subway Nut:
  • The Subway Nut — Pacific Street (D, M, N, R) Pictures
  • The Subway Nut — Atlantic Avenue (B, Q) Pictures
  • The Subway Nut — Atlantic Avenue (2,3,4,5) Pictures

See also

In Spanish: Avenida Atlantic–Barclays Center (metro de Nueva York) para niños