History of the New York City Subway facts for kids
The New York City Subway is a huge train system that runs underground and above ground in New York City. It serves four of the city's five main areas: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), operates it. It is the busiest subway system in the United States. In 2016, over 5.6 million people rode it every day. This made it one of the busiest in the world!
The story of the subway began with elevated trains in the late 1800s. These trains ran on tracks high above the streets. The very first underground subway line opened on October 27, 1904. Before this, different private companies owned and ran the train lines. The main ones were the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). Later, the city started building its own lines, like the Independent Subway System (IND), which opened in 1932. These new lines aimed to offer more choices and replace some older elevated tracks.
In 1940, New York City took over all the private subway companies. Some elevated lines closed because they were old or too expensive to keep. The IND and BMT lines were connected and now work together as the "B Division." The IRT lines, however, have smaller tunnels and trains. They remain separate as the "A Division."
The NYCTA was created in 1953 to manage all city trains and buses. By the 1970s, the subway faced tough times. Many elevated lines closed, and the system became run-down. There were problems with graffiti and safety. To fix this, a big plan to repair and improve the subway started in the 1980s.
On September 11, 2001, the subway system faced major challenges. Service was stopped, especially on lines near the World Trade Center. Parts of the tunnels were damaged. But workers quickly repaired the system. Most stations and services were back to normal by September 2002.
Since the 2000s, the subway has seen new additions. The 7 Subway Extension opened in 2015. The first part of the Second Avenue Subway opened in 2017. However, the system also faced a "transit crisis" around 2017 due to not enough money being spent on upkeep.
Contents
Early Subway History
First Train Ideas
Before the subway we know today, there was an underground tunnel called the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. It opened in 1844 for trains, but it did not have subway stops. This tunnel closed in 1861 and later reopened for tours in 1982. It closed again in 2010.
The idea for a subway grew from early elevated railroads. These were trains that ran on tracks built high above the streets. The first elevated line was built in Manhattan between 1867 and 1870. More elevated lines soon followed in Manhattan and Brooklyn. These lines used steam engines to pull the trains.
The Beach Pneumatic Transit
The Beach Pneumatic Transit was New York City's first attempt at an underground public train system. In 1869, Alfred Ely Beach built a special tunnel under Broadway. He used his own money for the project.
The tunnel was 312 feet long and 8 feet wide. It was finished in just 58 days in 1870. It had only one car that moved using air pressure, like a giant vacuum tube. Passengers could ride it back and forth to see what an underground train might be like. Many people were excited about it at first. However, Beach could not get permission to expand the line. Support for the project faded, and it closed down.
Building the Subway System
The First Subway Lines
By 1898, New York City had grown much larger. City leaders decided that future train lines should be underground. But building tunnels was very expensive. No private company wanted to pay for it alone.
So, the city decided to build the subways itself. It then hired the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) to run the trains. The IRT already operated the elevated lines in Manhattan. The city and the IRT agreed to share profits and keep the fare at five cents. The first IRT subway line opened on October 27, 1904. It ran from City Hall to 145th Street.
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) also operated trains in New York City. They started with elevated railways and later added subways. The BRT began in 1896. It took over many smaller train companies in Brooklyn. By 1900, the BRT controlled most of the train and streetcar services in its area. These lines were later converted from steam power to electricity.
Expanding the Network
The city signed two important agreements in 1913. These were called the "Dual Contracts." One contract was with the IRT, and the other was with the BRT. These contracts helped build most of the subway system we use today. The city built new lines and improved old ones. Then, it leased them to the private companies to operate.
As part of these contracts, the IRT and BRT shared some lines in Queens. These included the BMT Astoria Line and the IRT Flushing Line. Both companies operated trains from Queensboro Plaza. The IRT trains could go directly to Manhattan. BRT passengers had to change trains at Queensboro Plaza.
The Dual Contracts also changed how the original IRT system worked. Instead of one main line, it became two main lines connected by the 42nd Street Shuttle. This "H" shaped system greatly increased the subway's capacity. People moved to new homes built along these new subway lines. This helped New York City grow even more.
The Independent Subway System (IND)
Mayor John F. Hylan wanted the city to own and operate its own subway system. He believed private companies were making too much money. So, the city decided to build a new subway network. This became the Independent Subway System (IND). It was also called the "Eighth Avenue Subway" after its main line in Manhattan.
The IND system was built almost entirely underground. It served four boroughs. The first IND line, the IND Eighth Avenue Line, opened on September 10, 1932. It ran from 207th Street in Inwood to Hudson Terminal. Later, the IND Sixth Avenue Line and the IND Queens Boulevard Line also opened. The IND lines used wider cars than the IRT lines.
Many plans for expanding the subway were made over the years. One big plan was called the "Second System." It aimed to build many new lines. However, the Great Depression and high costs meant that most of these ambitious plans were never built.
Unifying the Subway System
Different Train Divisions
In 1940, New York City took over all the private subway companies. The city's Board of Transportation began running the IRT and BMT lines. In 1953, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) was created to manage all city transit.
Even after the city took over, the three original systems remained somewhat separate. IRT lines are now called the "A Division" and use numbers for their trains. BMT and IND lines are now the "B Division" and use letters. A Division trains are narrower and shorter than B Division trains. This means B Division trains cannot run on A Division tracks because the tunnels and curves are too small.
Challenges and Changes
After World War II, the subway system faced new problems. The city had to increase fares from five cents to ten cents in 1947. It went up to 15 cents in 1953. Ridership grew a lot, reaching a record of almost 9 million daily rides in 1946.
The NYCTA worked to improve the system. They replaced many old train cars. They also lengthened station platforms so longer trains could fit. This helped more people ride the subway. Only two new lines were built during this time. These were the IRT Dyre Avenue Line in 1941 and the IND Rockaway Line in 1956. Both were built on existing railroad tracks, not entirely new construction.
Decline and Recovery
A Difficult Period
After the 1950s, the subway system entered a period of neglect. Not enough money was spent on keeping it in good shape. Many elevated lines were closed because they were old and costly to maintain. This included the IRT Third Avenue Line in Manhattan in 1955.
During the 1970s, the city faced a financial crisis. The subway became very run-down. Trains often broke down, were dirty, and were late. Ridership dropped a lot. Graffiti covered almost every subway car. This made many people feel unsafe.
Fighting Graffiti
The city declared a "war on graffiti" in the 1970s. It was a big problem, and cleaning the cars was expensive. By the 1980s, the MTA increased security and started a major car-washing program. They worked hard to remove all graffiti. By May 1989, the subway system was declared 100% graffiti-free. This helped make the subway feel safer and cleaner.
Rebuilding the System
In the 1980s, a huge $18 billion plan began to fix the subway. Stations were repaired, and old trains were replaced or updated. Over 3,000 subway cars received air conditioning. Tracks were renewed across almost the entire system. The Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge, which carry subway lines, were also repaired.
The MTA also worked to improve service and safety. Police patrols increased. Crime rates in the subway dropped significantly in the 1990s. New maps and signs were added to help people find their way.
Modern Subway Era
Ridership Growth and New Projects
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Subway ridership continued to grow through the 1990s and 2000s. By 2013, ridership reached levels not seen since 1949. The subway became more crowded than ever.
Several new projects were completed in the 2000s and 2010s. The IND 63rd Street Line was connected to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in 2001. A new, larger South Ferry station opened in 2009. The 7 Subway Extension opened in 2015, bringing the subway further west in Manhattan. The first phase of the Second Avenue Subway opened on January 1, 2017. This new line added three new stations on the Upper East Side.
Challenges and Improvements
In 2009, the MTA faced a large budget problem. This led to fare increases and some service changes. For example, some train lines were combined or shortened.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused major damage to the subway. Many tunnels under the East River flooded. The IND Rockaway Line was especially hard hit. It was isolated from the rest of the system. Workers had to truck in subway cars to provide temporary service. The line reopened in 2013 after extensive repairs.
By 2017, the subway system faced another crisis. Many trains were late, and there were frequent breakdowns. The MTA announced a "state of emergency" to fix these problems. They launched a plan to improve signals, tracks, and trains.
Future Plans and Upgrades
The MTA continues to plan for the future. There are ideas for new subway lines, like one under Utica Avenue in Brooklyn. The Second Avenue Subway is planned to extend further north and south in future phases.
Many upgrades are happening now. The new OMNY fare-payment system was put in place across the subway between 2019 and 2020. This allows riders to pay with a tap of their credit card or phone. The MTA also plans to install platform screen doors at some stations. They also agreed to make 95% of subway stations accessible for wheelchairs by 2055. All subway tunnels are being wired for cell service and Wi-Fi. These improvements aim to make the subway even better for everyone.
See also
In Spanish: Historia del Metro de Nueva York para niños
