116th Street station (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)

116 Street
116 Street
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
	Southbound staircase on the northwest corner
Station statistics
Address	West 116th Street & Malcolm X Boulevard; New York, NY 10026
Borough	Manhattan
Locale	Harlem
Coordinates	40°48′07″N 73°57′00″W / 40.802°N 73.95°W
Division	A (IRT)
Line	IRT Lenox Avenue Line
Services	2 (all times); 3 (all times)
Transit	NYCT Bus: M7, M102, M116
Structure	Underground
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Opened	November 23, 1904; 119 years ago
Opposite-; direction; transfer	No
Traffic
2023	2,014,762 5.2%
Rank	166 out of 423
Station succession
Next north	Template:NYCS next
Next south	Template:NYCS next
Location
Street map
Station service legend
Symbol	Description
	Stops all times

116th Street is a station on the IRT Lenox Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 116th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, it is served by the 2 and 3 trains at all times.

History

This station opened just after midnight on November 23, 1904, as part of the IRT's original system. It was completed along with the rest of the IRT Lenox Avenue Line, then known as the East Side Subway or East Side Branch, south of 145th Street.^[4]

Starting on March 2, 1998, the tunnel was reconstructed along with the cracked tunnel floor, and the 116th Street station was closed for a complete renovation. This was done to correct a major water problem that had existed for many years due to the presence of the Harlem Creek and other underground streams, which caused extensive flooding, water damage, and seepage problems that occasionally contributed to severe service disruptions.^[5]^[6] The project cost $82 million and was finished on October 12, 1998.^[5]^[7] During the reconstruction, many 2 trains were rerouted via the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, while the 3 trains were rerouted to the 137th Street–City College station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. Each of the two Lenox Avenue Line tracks were alternately taken out of service and supplemental shuttle bus service connecting to other lines in the area were provided for much of this time.^[8]^[9]

Station layout

Track layout

Legend

					to 125 St






					to 110 St

G	Street level	Exit/entrance
P Platform level	Side platform
	Northbound	← toward Template:Nycs (Template:Nycs) ← toward Template:Nycs (Template:Nycs)
	Southbound	→ toward Template:Nycs (Template:Nycs) → → toward Template:Nycs (Template:Nycs late nights) (Template:Nycs) →
	Side platform

The station has two tracks and two side platforms. It features extensive mosaics featuring Harlem history and famous African-Americans. It was fully renovated as part of the 1998 Lenox Avenue subway reconstruction project. Fare control is at platform level. There are no crossovers or crossunders between the two side platforms to allow free transfer between directions. The reconstruction project gave this station all new wall tiling and restored the "116" terra cotta wall cartouches. It also combatted a major water seepage problem along the Lenox Avenue Line.

The artworks here are Minton's Playhouse on the uptown platform, and Movers and Shakers on the downtown platform (both by Vincent Smith, 1999).^[10]

Exits

One stair, NW corner of Lenox Avenue and West 116th Street (southbound only)^[11]
One stair, SW corner of Lenox Avenue and West 116th Street (southbound only)^[11]
One stair, NE corner of Lenox Avenue and West 116th Street (northbound only)^[11]
One stair, SE corner of Lenox Avenue and West 116th Street (northbound only)^[11]

References

^ "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.
^ ^a ^b "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
^ "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
^ "East Side Subway Open — Train from 145th Street to Broadway in 9 Minutes and 40 Seconds" (PDF). The New York Times. November 23, 1904. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ^a ^b "New York City Transit - History and Chronology". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
^ Lii, Jane H. (February 28, 1998). "Tunnel Work To Cut Service On 2 Subways". The New York Times. p. B-4. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
^ Lueck, Thomas J. (October 13, 1998). "Beating Deadline, Normal Service Returns for the Nos. 2 and 3 Subway Lines". The New York Times. p. B-3. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
^ Newman, Andy (December 12, 1997). "Repairs to Lenox Ave. Tunnel To Affect Many Subway Lines". The New York Times. p. B-8. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
^ "Lenox Rehab '98 2 3 Lenox Line Service Guide March 2-October 1998". thejoekorner.com. New York City Transit. 1998. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
^ "116th Street - Vincent Smith - Minton's Playhouse (uptown), The Movers and Shakers (downtown), 1999". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Harlem / East Harlem" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.

External links

nycsubway.org – IRT White Plains Road Line: 116th Street
nycsubway.org — Minton's Playhouse/Movers and Shakers Artwork by Vincent Smith (1999)
Station Reporter — 2 Train
Station Reporter — 3 Train
The Subway Nut — 116th Street Pictures
MTA's Arts For Transit — 116th Street (IRT Lenox Avenue Line)
116th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
Platforms from Google Maps Street View

[SASDEIS-DIVISION-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.

[riderref-2] "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.

[2016-rider-3] "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.

[4] "East Side Subway Open — Train from 145th Street to Broadway in 9 Minutes and 40 Seconds" (PDF). The New York Times. November 23, 1904. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[MTA-Chronology-5] "New York City Transit - History and Chronology". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.

[6] Lii, Jane H. (February 28, 1998). "Tunnel Work To Cut Service On 2 Subways". The New York Times. p. B-4. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

[7] Lueck, Thomas J. (October 13, 1998). "Beating Deadline, Normal Service Returns for the Nos. 2 and 3 Subway Lines". The New York Times. p. B-3. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

[8] Newman, Andy (December 12, 1997). "Repairs to Lenox Ave. Tunnel To Affect Many Subway Lines". The New York Times. p. B-8. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2013.

[9] "Lenox Rehab '98 2 3 Lenox Line Service Guide March 2-October 1998". thejoekorner.com. New York City Transit. 1998. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2016.

[10] "116th Street - Vincent Smith - Minton's Playhouse (uptown), The Movers and Shakers (downtown), 1999". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.

[MTA-Maps-11] "MTA Neighborhood Maps: Harlem / East Harlem" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.

[1]

[2]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

v t e Stations of the New York City Subway, by service
Seventh Avenue Express	Wakefield–241st Street Nereid Avenue 233rd Street 225th Street 219th Street Gun Hill Road Burke Avenue Allerton Avenue Pelham Parkway Bronx Park East East 180th Street West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue 174th Street Freeman Street Simpson Street Intervale Avenue Prospect Avenue Jackson Avenue Third Avenue–149th Street 149th Street–Grand Concourse 135th Street 125th Street 116th Street Central Park North–110th Street 96th Street 86th Street* 79th Street* 72nd Street 66th Street–Lincoln Center* 59th Street–Columbus Circle* 50th Street* Times Square–42nd Street 34th Street–Penn Station 28th Street* 23rd Street* 18th Street* 14th Street Christopher Street–Stonewall* Houston Street* Canal Street* Franklin Street* Chambers Street Park Place Fulton Street Wall Street Clark Street Borough Hall Hoyt Street Nevins Street Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center Bergen Street Grand Army Plaza Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum Franklin Avenue–Medgar Evers College President Street–Medgar Evers College Sterling Street Winthrop Street Church Avenue Beverly Road Newkirk Avenue–Little Haiti Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College
Seventh Avenue Express	Harlem–148th Street 145th Street 135th Street 125th Street 116th Street Central Park North–110th Street 96th Street 72nd Street Times Square–42nd Street 34th Street–Penn Station 14th Street Chambers Street Park Place Fulton Street Wall Street Clark Street Borough Hall Hoyt Street Nevins Street Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center Bergen Street Grand Army Plaza Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum Franklin Avenue–Medgar Evers College Nostrand Avenue Kingston Avenue Crown Heights–Utica Avenue Sutter Avenue–Rutland Road Saratoga Avenue Rockaway Avenue Junius Street Pennsylvania Avenue Van Siclen Avenue New Lots Avenue
See also Lists by borough (The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens) Accessible Closed Terminals Transfer Commons category Note: Service variations, station closures, and reroutes are not reflected here. Stations with asterisks have no regular peak, reverse peak, or midday service on that route. See linked articles for more information.