East 143rd Street–St. Mary's Street station explained

East 143 Street–St. Mary's Street
Former:East 143rd Street
Address:East 143rd Street (St. Mary's Street) & Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY
Borough:The Bronx
Locale:Mott Haven, Port Morris
Coordinates:40.8081°N -73.9079°W
Division:IRT
Line:IRT Pelham Line
Service:Pelham south local
Platforms:2 side platforms
Tracks:3
Structure:Underground

The East 143rd Street–St. Mary's Street station is a local station on the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the 6 train at all times, and is located at the intersection of East 143rd Street (also known as St. Mary's Street) and Southern Boulevard in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. The station opened in 1919 as part of an extension of the Pelham Line of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, and had its platforms extended in the 1960s.

History

This station opened on January 7, 1919, as part of an extension of the Pelham Line from Third Avenue–138th Street to Hunts Point Avenue by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT).[1]

Both platforms were extended at the east (railroad north) end in the 1960s to accommodate the current standard length of an IRT train (514feet). The extensions are noticeable as they are narrower than the rest of the platforms, have no columns, and the trim line is blue with "E 143RD ST" in white sans serif font. They also resulted in the platforms being slightly offset.

Station layout

This underground station has three tracks and two side platforms. The center express track is used by the weekday peak direction <6> service. The 6 local train serves the station at all times. The next stop to the south is Cypress Avenue, while the next stop to the north is East 149th Street.

Both platforms have their original Dual Contracts mosaic trim line and name tablets. "143" tablets for "East 143rd Street" run along the trim line at regular intervals and the name tablets have "E. 143RD STREET" in all-caps, serif lettering. Dark blue i-beam columns run along the platforms at regular intervals with every other one having the standard black name plate with white lettering.

There are no crossovers or crossunders to allow free transfers between directions.[2] There is a closed newsstand that has been tiled over.

By passenger count, it is the least-used station in the Bronx and the least-used IRT station citywide.

Exits

Both platforms have one same-level fare control area at the south (geographical west) end. Each one has a turnstile bank, token booth, and two street stairs. The ones on the Pelham Bay Park-bound platform go up to the either southern corners of the T-intersection of Southern Boulevard and East 143rd Street while the ones on the Manhattan-bound platform go up to either northern corners.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Lines In Bronx Coming This Year: Rays of Rapid Transit to be Let Into Dark Sections in the West and North. January 7, 1919. The New York Times. January 25, 2016.
  2. Web site: New York City Subway Map. 31 March 2023. nycsubway.org.
  3. Web site: East 143rd Street–St. Mary's Avenue Neighborhood Map. April 2018. new.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 28, 2019.