Astoria Boulevard (BMT Astoria Line)

Astoria Boulevard New York City Subway rapid transit station
Station statistics
Address	Astoria Boulevard & 31st Street Astoria, NY 11102
Borough	Queens
Locale	Astoria
Coordinates	40.769979°N 73.918161°W / 40.769979; -73.918161
Division	B (BMT)
Line	BMT Astoria Line
Services	N  (all times)       Q  (weekdays)
Connection	New York City Bus: Q19 MTA Bus: M60
Structure	Elevated
Platforms	2 island platforms cross-platform interchange
Tracks	3 (2 in regular service)
Other information
Opened	July 19, 1917 (July 19, 1917)
Former/other names	Astoria Boulevard – Hoyt Avenue
Traffic
Passengers (2010)	3,621,730  2.5%
Rank	126 out of 422
Station succession
Next north	Astoria – Ditmars Boulevard: N  Q
Next south	30th Avenue (local): N  Q  Queensboro Plaza (express): no regular service
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 Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

Astoria Boulevard or Astoria Boulevard – Hoyt Avenue is an express station on the BMT Astoria Line, it is served by the N train at all times, and by the Q train on weekdays.

This elevated station, opened on July 19, 1917, has three tracks and two island platforms. The center track is not normally used.

The station has wooden canopies with transite and wooden mezzanines. The northbound platform’s benches are surrounded by low windscreen on three sides. The southbound platform bears the tertiary name of Columbus Square. It also has an enclosed waiting area. This station affords a view of the Hell Gate Bridge and viaduct to the north, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to the west, and Grand Central Parkway underneath. These three structures forced a change in the station. The overpass to the far north exit was an addition because of the RFK Bridge’s construction in 1936. The parkway forced relocation of the north exit stairways since the parkway was too wide for the original stairways. The southern stairways are original. The mezzanine has separate turnstile banks from each side with crossunders from the platform stairs.

On the morning of May 1, 1998, a backhoe working underneath the station (not performing New York City Transit-related work) struck the mezzanine, ripping out three support beams while damaging four more and creating a huge hole in the floor. There were no injuries, but trains bypassed the station at restricted speed. Cleanup work began immediately and by noon, the slow speed restriction was removed. By 3:00 p.m., a temporary wooden floor has installed. Less than eight hours from the time of the first response, the station was back in full service. Permanent repairs were made overnight.

Gallery

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  Staircase shelter on southbound platform

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  View of station from RFK Bridge

External links

Media related to Astoria Boulevard (BMT Astoria Line) at Wikimedia Commons

• nycsubway.org — BMT Astoria Line: Astoria Boulevard/Hoyt Avenue
• Station Reporter — N Train
• Astoria Boulevard entrance from Google Maps Street View
• Hoyt Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View