Canal Street
 "A" train​"C" train​"E" train
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Southbound platform, and the visibly offset northbound platform
Station statistics
AddressCanal Street & Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10013
BoroughManhattan
LocaleTribeca, SoHo, Hudson Square
Coordinates40°43′19″N 74°00′19″W / 40.72186°N 74.005365°W / 40.72186; -74.005365
DivisionB (IND)[1]
Line   IND Eighth Avenue Line
Services   A all times (all times)
​   C all except late nights (all except late nights)
​   E all times (all times)
TransitBus transport NYCT Bus: M55, X27, X28
StructureUnderground
Platforms2 island platforms
cross-platform interchange
Tracks4
Other information
OpenedSeptember 10, 1932 (1932-09-10)[2]
AccessibilityCross-platform wheelchair transfer available
Opposite-
direction
transfer		Yes
Former/other namesCanal Street–Holland Tunnel
Traffic
20223,247,717[3] Increase 44.7%
Rank83 out of 423[3]
Services
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
West Fourth Street–Washington Square
A all except late nights
toward Inwood–207th Street
Express		 Chambers Street
A all times ​C all except late nights
via Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets
Spring Street
A late nights ​C all except late nights ​E all times
via 50th Street

Local		 World Trade Center
E all times
Terminus
Location
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line) is located in New York City Subway
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line) is located in New York City
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line) is located in New York
Canal Street station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)
Track layout

to West Fourth St–Washington Square
to Spring Street
to World Trade Center
to Chambers Street
Street map

Station service legend
Symbol Description
Stops all times except late nights Stops all times except late nights
Stops all times Stops all times
Stops late nights only Stops late nights only

The Canal Street station (formerly Canal Street–Holland Tunnel) is an express station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Canal Street, Vestry Street, and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Lower Manhattan, it is served by the A and E trains at all times, and the C train at all times except late nights.

History

Construction and opening

Exit-only turnstile from the southbound platform

New York City mayor John Francis Hylan's original plans for the Independent Subway System (IND), proposed in 1922, included building over 100 miles (160 km) of new lines and taking over nearly 100 miles (160 km) of existing lines. The lines were designed to compete with the existing underground, surface, and elevated lines operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT).[4][5] On December 9, 1924, the New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) gave preliminary approval to the construction of a subway line along Eighth Avenue, running from 207th Street.[6] The BOT announced a list of stations on the new line in February 1928, with an express station at Walker Street.[7]

Most of the Eighth Avenue Line was dug using a cheap cut-and-cover method.[8][9] The Canal Street station was to be one of three Eighth Avenue Line stations underneath Sixth Avenue in Lower Manhattan; the other two stations were to be at Spring Street and West Fourth Street.[7] As part of the construction of the Eighth Avenue Line in Lower Manhattan, Sixth Avenue was extended south to Church Street starting in 1926.[10] This required the demolition of dozens of buildings along the route.[11] By August 1930, the BOT reported that the Eighth Avenue Line was nearly completed, except for the stations between Chambers Street–Hudson Terminal and West Fourth Street (including the Canal Street station), which were only 21 percent completed.[12] The entire line was completed by September 1931, except for the installation of turnstiles.[13]

A preview event for the new subway was hosted on September 8, 1932, two days before the official opening.[14][15] The Eighth Avenue Line station opened on September 10, 1932, as part of the city-operated IND's initial segment, the Eighth Avenue Line between Chambers Street and 207th Street.[2][16][17] When the station opened in 1932, express (A) and local (AA) trains served the line; expresses did not run during late nights or Sundays. When the IND Concourse Line opened on July 1, 1933,[18] the C express train started operating, while all locals became CC trains to the Concourse Line.[19] The E began using the local tracks on August 19, 1933, when the IND Queens Boulevard Line opened.[20] One real-estate expert said the station's construction had encouraged the construction of large developments around the entrance to the Holland Tunnel, such as the Holland Tunnel Plaza Building.[21]

Later modifications

As part of a pilot program, the New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) installed three-dimensional advertisements at the Canal Street station in late 1948.[22][23] The BOT announced plans in November 1949 to spend $325,000 extending platforms at several IND stations, including Canal Street, to accommodate 11-car, 660-foot (200 m) trains.[24][25] The lengthened trains began running during rush hour on September 8, 1953, with eleven-car trains operating on weekdays.[26]: 37–38  The project cost $400,000 and increased the total carrying capacity of rush-hour trains by 4,000 passengers.[27] The operation of eleven-car trains ended in 1958 because of operational difficulties. The signal blocks, especially in Manhattan, were too short to accommodate the longer trains, and the motormen had a very small margin of error to properly align the train with the platform. It was found that operating ten-car trains allowed for two additional trains per hour to be scheduled.[28]

On February 17, 1953, the BOT installed two devices at either end of the station to alert police of passers-by above of emergencies in the station. The devices, which cost $1,100, were called "Call-a-Cop." In the station agent booth, an agent could set off an alarm bell and turn on a red warning light aboveground at Canal and Walker Streets on Sixth Avenue by lightly pushing on a treadle. The warning lights were placed atop eight-feet tall metal poles located at subway entrances. This device would have been installed at other stations if the pilot here was successful.[29]

Station layout

Ground Street level Exit/entrance
Mezzanine Mezzanine Fare control, station agent
Platform level Northbound local ← "E" train toward Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer (Spring Street)
Island platform
Northbound express ← "A" train toward Inwood–207th Street (Spring Street late nights, West Fourth Street–Washington Square other times)
← "C" train toward 168th Street (Spring Street)
Southbound express "A" train toward Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue, Ozone Park–Lefferts Boulevard or
Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (Chambers Street) →
Island platform
Southbound local "C" train toward Euclid Avenue (Chambers Street) →
"E" train toward World Trade Center (Terminus) →
"A" train toward Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue late nights (Chambers Street) →
Detail of "A Gathering" sculpture on mezzanine

This underground station has four tracks and two island platforms, which are each approximately 660 feet (200 m) long. There are two diamond crossovers allowing express trains to cross to the local track or local trains to cross to the express track. One is located to the south of the station for downtown (southbound) trains and the other is located to the north of the station for uptown (northbound) trains; this can be a bottleneck for trains in either direction. The platforms are offset, and a signal tower is located at the south end of the southbound platform.[30]

The walls of the station contain cobalt blue tile bands[31] with darker blue borders.[32] Since Canal Street is an express station, it has a wider tile band than local stations.[32] The tile colors are intended to help riders identify their station more easily, part of a color-coded tile system for the entire Independent Subway System.[31][32] The tile colors were designed to facilitate navigation for travelers going away from Lower Manhattan; on the Eighth Avenue Line, the tiles change color at the next express station to the north. As such, the blue tiles used at the Canal Street station were also used on Spring Street, the local station to the north; the next express station, West Fourth Street, used a different tile color.[33][34]

Track layout

A section of the platform wall showing three layers of tile, including the original IND tilework

South of this station, the tracks split into two levels and cross at a flying junction.[30] These were intended to allow for the construction of a future junction with a proposed line under Worth Street as part of the IND Second System. The proposed route would have run under Worth Street and East Broadway, and crossed the East River to Brooklyn. The bellmouths for this proposed route are visible from the E train headed towards and coming from the World Trade Center station. On the tunnel wall where the turnout is, there is an arrow painted with the words reading: "Worth St." written next to it.[35]

Exits

Laight Street stairs

The station contains six open exits. Only one exit is located at the station's namesake – Canal Street – at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Canal Street. The other exit leading from the northern section of the station leads to the south side of Laight Street, between Sixth Avenue and St. Johns Lane. At the center of the station there are exits to the northwest and northeast corners of Sixth Avenue and West Broadway at Lispenard Street. At the southern end of the station there are two exits. One exit leads to the northeast corner of Walker Street and Sixth Avenue, while the other leads to the AT&T Building.[36][37][38]

The station also has three closed exits. One exit, located at the southern end of the station, led to the southeast corner of Walker Street and West Broadway.[38][39] The other two are located in a passageway that extends further north than the current northernmost open exit; one led to the southeast corner of Grand Street and Sixth Avenue; the other led to Grand Street and Sullivan Street on the west side of Juan Pablo Duarte Square.[38][40] The passageway currently houses employee facilities.

Nearby points of interest

The station is located on the street of the same name, which is the boundary of SoHo and Tribeca. The station sits one block west from the entrance to the Holland Tunnel outside of the Tribeca North Historic District.[41] Much of the surrounding area is characterized by its historic loft architecture.[41]

Several public parks are located near the station. Above the north end of the station at Canal Street and 6th Avenue are Albert Capsouto Park, Duarte Square, and Grand Canal Court. At the south end of the station at Walker Street is Tribeca Park. Several blocks to the west at the end of Canal Street are Canal Park and Hudson River Park.[42] St. John's Park formerly existed two blocks west of the station; the site is now occupied by Holland Tunnel exit ramps.[41]

References

  1. ↑ "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "List of the 28 Stations on the New 8th Av. Line". The New York Times. September 10, 1932. p. 6. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Annual Subway Ridership (2017–2022)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Two Subway Routes Adopted by City". The New York Times. August 4, 1923. p. 9. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Plans Now Ready to Start Subways". The New York Times. March 12, 1924. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Hylan Subway Plan Links Four Boroughs at $450,000,000 Cost". The New York Times. December 10, 1924. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Express and Local Stations For New Eighth Avenue Line". New York Herald Tribune. February 5, 1928. p. B1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1113431477.
  8. ↑ Warner, Arthur (November 22, 1931). "The City's New Underground Province; The Eighth Avenue Subway Will Be Not Only a Transit Line but a Centre for the Shopper A New Underground Province of New York The Eighth Avenue Subway Will Be a Rapid Transit Line With Innovations and Will Provide Centres for the Shoppers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  9. ↑ Daly, William Jerome (February 5, 1928). "New Subway Work Far Advanced, From the Circle to 207th Street: Small Section Near St. Nicholas Avenue and 148th Street Being Constructed". New York Herald Tribune. p. B1. ProQuest 1113431484.
  10. ↑ Adams, Mildred (September 19, 1926). "Traffic Now Forces Huge Street Cutting; Sixth Avenue Extension to Focal Point on Canal, Street Is Perhaps the Most Extraordinary of Its Kind in the Entire History of New York City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Subway Wipes Out Landmarks In Lower Sixth Avenue Area". The New York Times. May 15, 1927. p. RE1. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 104159892.
  12. ↑ "Eighth Av. Subway Nearly Completed; Basic Construction Work From Chambers to 207th St. Done Except on Few Short Stretches". The New York Times. August 24, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ O'Brien, John C. (September 9, 1931). "8th Ave. Line Being Rushed For Use Jan. 1: Turnstile Installation on Subway Begins Monday; Other Equipment Ready for Start of Train Service City Has Yet to Find Operating Company Transit Official on Trip, 207th to Canal Street, Inspects Finished Tube". New York Herald Tribune. p. 1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1331181357.
  14. ↑ "Sightseers Invade New Subway When Barricade Is lifted". The New York Times. September 9, 1932. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ "8th Av. Subway Gets First 5c. by Woman's Error: She Peers Into a Station, Hears Train, Pays for Ride, but Is Day Too Early Preparing for Tomorrow's Rush on 8th Ave. Subway". New York Herald Tribune. September 9, 1932. p. 1. ProQuest 1125436641.
  16. ↑ Crowell, Paul (September 10, 1932). "Gay Midnight Crowd Rides First Trains In The New Subway: Throngs at Station an Hour Before Time, Rush Turnstiles When Chains are Dropped" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ Sebring, Lewis B. (September 10, 1932). "Midnight Jam Opens City's New Subway: Turnstiles Click Into Action at 12:01 A. M. as Throngs Battle for Places in 'First' Trains Boy, 7, Leads Rush At 42d St. Station City at Last Hails 8th Ave. Line After 7-Year Wait; Cars Bigger, Clean Transit Commissioner Officially Opening New Subway at Midnight". New York Herald Tribune. p. 1. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1114839882.
  18. ↑ "New Bronx Subway Starts Operation". The New York Times. July 1, 1933. p. 15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ Station Guide, Independent City Owned Rapid Transit Railroad (PDF) (Map). New York City Board of Transportation. c. 1937.
  20. ↑ "Two Subway Units Open at Midnight". The New York Times. August 18, 1933. p. 17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ Burkelman, Martin (August 24, 1930). "Tunnel Section Changed Greatly In Ten Years: Eighth Ave. Subway and N. Y. Central Improvement Plans Enhance Values Varick St. Transformation Street Is Almost Entirely Lined With New Buildings". New York Herald Tribune. p. E10. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1113202968.
  22. ↑ "3-Dimensional Advertising Signs Installed In City Subway Station; More Are Planned". The New York Times. October 6, 1948. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  23. ↑ "3-Dimensional Lit-Up Posters Invade Subway: First of Projected 480 for 6 Key Stations Set Up at Grand Central I. R. T". New York Herald Tribune. October 6, 1948. p. 14. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1327435571.
  24. ↑ Bennett, Charles G. (November 20, 1949). "Transit Platforms on Lines in Queens to Be Lengthened; $3,850,000 Program Outlined for Next Year to Care for Borough's Rapid Growth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  25. ↑ "37 Platforms On Subways To Be Lengthened: All Stations of B. M. T. and I.R.T. in Queens Included in $5,000,000 Program". New York Herald Tribune. November 20, 1949. p. 32. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1325174459.
  26. ↑ Report. New York City Transit Authority. 1953.
  27. ↑ Ingalls, Leonard (August 28, 1953). "2 Subway Lines to Add Cars, Another to Speed Up Service" (PDF). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  28. ↑ "16-Point Plan Can Give Boro Relief Now". Long Island Star–Journal. August 10, 1962. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  29. ↑ "CALL-A-COP' SHOWN; Device in IND Subway Station Alerts Police in Street". The New York Times. February 18, 1953. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  30. 1 2 Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
  31. 1 2 Harrington, John Walker (April 27, 1930). "New Municipal Subway System Galled Model in Construction and Plans for Operation". New York Herald Tribune. p. C3. ISSN 1941-0646. ProQuest 1113177960.
  32. 1 2 3 "Tile Colors a Guide in the New Subway; Decoration Scheme Changes at Each Express Stop to Tell Riders Where They Are". The New York Times. August 22, 1932. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  33. ↑ Carlson, Jen (February 18, 2016). "Map: These Color Tiles In The Subway System Used To Mean Something". Gothamist. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  34. ↑ Gleason, Will (February 18, 2016). "The hidden meaning behind the New York subway's colored tiles". Time Out New York. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  35. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8NAOtBXKhA A bellmouth is visible to the left, at the 4:12 mark into this video, just before the train enters the World Trade Center station.
  36. ↑ "MTA Neighborhood Maps: SoHo / Tribeca" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  37. ↑ Cox, Jeremiah (May 24, 2010). "The pillars on the sides of the staircase to the AT&T Building". subwaynut.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  38. 1 2 3 Schneiderman, Faline (November 2017). "Proposed Canal Street Substation: Phase I Cultural Resources Study" (PDF). Historical Perspectives, STV, Inc, New York City Transit Authority. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Canal St-6th Ave".
  40. ↑ Sims, Calvin (March 29, 1991). "15 More Areas In Subways To Be Closed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  41. 1 2 3 "Tribeca North Historic District" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  42. ↑ "Canal Street Neighborhood Map". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
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