Bedford Park Boulevard station explained

Bedford Park Blvd
Address:Bedford Park Boulevard & Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY
Borough:The Bronx
Locale:Bedford Park
Coordinates:40.8725°N -73.8879°W
Division:IND
Line:IND Concourse Line
Service:Concourse
Platforms:2 island platforms
cross-platform interchange
Tracks:3
Structure:Underground
Accessible:yes

The Bedford Park Boulevard station is an express station on the IND Concourse Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Bedford Park Boulevard and Grand Concourse in Bedford Park, Bronx, it is served by the D train at all times. It is also the northern terminal for the B train on weekdays.

History

The station was built as part of the sixth and seventh sections of the IND Concourse Line beginning in the late 1920s.[1] [2] The route of the Concourse Line was approved to Bedford Park Boulevard on June 12, 1925 by the New York City Board of Transportation.[3] The line was originally planned to end just north of the Bedford Park Boulevard station, with a provision for an eastern extension.[4] [5] An alternate approach to the current 205th Street station was proposed in February 1929, extending the line across private property onto Perry Avenue.[6] The current routing was selected by June 1929.[7] The station opened on July 1, 1933, along with the rest of the Concourse subway.[8] [9]

As part of the 2015–2019 Metropolitan Transportation Authority Capital Program, elevators were added to the platforms and street, which makes the station fully compliant with accessibility guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.[10] [11] [12] A contract for the elevators' construction was awarded in April 2018, and substantial completion was projected for June 2020.[13] However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, completion was pushed back to September 2020,[14] and eventually further back to October 15, 2020, when the elevators finally opened.[15]

Station layout

GGround levelGrand Concourse exit/entrance
Elevator at northwest corner of Grand Concourse (main road) and Bedford Park Boulevard.
B1MezzanineFare control, station agent, MetroCard machines
B2UnderpassBedford Park Boulevard underpass exit/entrance
B3
Platform level
Northbound← toward (Terminus)
Center track toward rush hours and select midday trips
Southbound toward (Kingsbridge Road)
This underground station has three tracks and two island platforms. Both outer track walls have a lawn green trim line on a darker green border. There are small black "BEDFORD" signs with white lettering below them at regular intervals.[16] Dark green I-beam columns run along both sides of both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black station name plate in white lettering.[17]

There is an equipment room on the south end of the northbound platform. Additionally, a short, one-car length platform is in the tunnel just north of the southbound platform after a gap of about one or two car lengths.

Because Norwood–205th Street (the next stop north) was not intended to be the last stop, trains have their crews changed at this station, as 205th Street does not have any crew quarters.[18]

Exits

This station has two mezzanines above the platform, but formerly had a full-length one. The closed portion is now a master tower that controls the entire Concourse Line. Both platforms also have several closed staircases to this area.[19] The full-time fare control is at the south end of this station. Staircases from each platform go up to a crossover, where a turnstile bank provides access to and from the station. Outside the turnstile bank is a token booth. From outside the turnstile bank, one staircase goes up to either northern corner of Bedford Park Boulevard and Grand Concourse, while a double-wide staircase goes down to the northern sidewalk of an underpass carrying Bedford Park Boulevard below the Grand Concourse.[20]

The fare control area at the north end of the station is unstaffed, containing just full height turnstiles, one staircase going up to the northeast corner of 203rd Street and Grand Concourse, and another staircase going up to the west side of Grand Concourse near this intersection.[21]

The elevator is located on the north side of Bedford Park Boulevard, in the island between both southbound roads of Grand Concourse.

Track layout

South of this station, the center track splits into two and forms the local tracks of the line while the outer tracks pass under the two center tracks and merge into a single track between them. This center track is the express track of the line and is only used during rush hours in the peak direction. The track layout allows for trains stopping on the outer tracks to remain on the local tracks for the rest of the line. North of the station, the center track widens to two tracks that lead to the Concourse Yard to the west. The outer tracks curve to the east to Norwood–205th Street, the last stop on this line.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Opens Subway Bids: Estimate Board Gets Twelve Offers for Bronx Work. June 8, 1929. The New York Times. November 4, 2015.
  2. News: $2,691,028 IS LOW BID ON SECTION OF SUBWAY; Di Marco & Reimann Are Below Seven Others in Seeking Contract on City's Project.. June 29, 1930. The New York Times. November 4, 2015.
  3. Book: Proceedings of the Board of Transportation of the City of New York. 1929. New York City Board of Transportation. 346. en.
  4. The New York Times, New Subway Routes in Hylan Program to Cost $186,046,000, March 21, 1925, page 1
  5. Web site: Board Speeds Subway on Grand Concourse – Bids on Last Section Expected Before New Year – Eastern Spur Contemplated. September 2, 1928. The New York Times. November 4, 2015.
  6. Web site: Subway Extension Urged. February 24, 1929. The New York Times. November 4, 2015.
  7. Web site: Opens Subway Bids: Estimate Board Gets Twelve Offers for Bronx Work. June 8, 1929. The New York Times. November 4, 2015.
  8. News: New Bronx Subway Starts Operation. July 1, 1933. The New York Times. February 13, 2010.
  9. News: Bronx-Concourse New Subway Link Opened at 12:57 A.M.: Adds 21 1/2 Miles to City's System−Connects With Manhattan Line at 145th. July 1, 1933. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 26, 2015. 20. Newspapers.com.
  10. Web site: MTA Capital Program 2015-2019: Renew. Enhance. Expand.. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 28, 2015. October 28, 2015. 61.
  11. Web site: Funding For Subway Station ADA-Accessibility Approved. April 26, 2018. www.mta.info. en. April 27, 2018.
  12. Web site: MTA 2017 Preliminary Budget July Financial Plan 2017 –2020 Volume 2. July 2016. mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 6, 2016.
  13. Web site: Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting November 2018. November 13, 2018. November 10, 2018. 90. Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
  14. https://new.mta.info/document/18336 Master page 81
  15. Web site: MTA | Press Release | NYC Transit | MTA Announces Newly Accessible Bedford Park BLVD B/D Station in the Bronx.
  16. Web site: The green trim and "Bedford" tiling at Bedford Pk Blvd (D).. Cox. Jeremiah. March 24, 2007. subway nut.com. October 17, 2018. March 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313002133/http://www.subwaynut.com/ind/bedfordd/bedfordd2.jpg. dead.
  17. Web site: The platforms at Bedford Park Blvd have gentle curves.. Cox. Jeremiah. March 24, 2007. subwaynut.com. October 17, 2018.
  18. Web site: Southbound D trains from Norwood-205 St only shows next 1 stop in trip updates. Raschke. Kurt. October 5, 2018. groups.google.com. October 17, 2018.
  19. Web site: A closed staircase to a portion of the mezzanine at Bedford Park Blvd that has been closed.. Cox. Jeremiah. March 24, 2007. subway nut.com. October 17, 2018.
  20. Web site: Bedford Park Boulevard Neighborhood Map. April 2018. new.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 28, 2019.
  21. Web site: Showing Image 137318. Hodurski. Michael. October 28, 2010. www.nycsubway.org. October 17, 2018.