View source for Simpson Street station

{{Short description|New York City Subway station in the Bronx}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NYCS
| name = Simpson Street
| image = Simpson Street Station.jpg
| image_caption = Station house as viewed from the street
| accessible = yes
| address = Simpson Street &amp; Westchester Avenue<br />Bronx, New York
| borough = [[The Bronx]]
| locale = [[Longwood, Bronx|Longwood]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40.824|N|73.893|W|display=inline,title}}
| division = IRT
| line = [[IRT White Plains Road Line]]
| service = White Plains local
| connection = {{bus icon}} [[NYCT Bus]]: {{NYC bus link|Bx4|Bx4A|Bx5|Bx19|Bx27}}
| platforms = 2 [[side platform]]s
| tracks = 3
| structure = Elevated
| open_date = {{start date and age|1904|11|26}} ([[IRT Third Avenue Line|3rd Ave. Line; Bergen Avenue By-pass]])<br />{{start date and age|1905|Jul|10|mf=yes}} ([[IRT White Plains Road Line|White Plains Rd. Line]])
| adjacent_stations = {{Adjacent stations|system=New York City Subway
|line=White Plains local|left=Freeman Street|right=Intervale Avenue|note-left={{NYCS White Plains local|time=1}}|note-right={{NYCS White Plains local|time=1}}}}
| legend = {{NYCS infobox legend|alltimes}}{{NYCS infobox legend|allexceptrush}}
| embedded = <hr>{{Infobox NRHP
  | embed = yes
  | name = Simpson Street Subway Station and Substation #18 (IRT) 
  | image = IRT Substation 18 (South Side).JPG
  | caption = The accompanying IRT Substation #18 at 1043 Simpson Street less than one block north of the subway station.
  | added = September 17, 2004
  | mpsub = New York City Subway System MPS
  | refnum = 04001027<ref name="focus">{{Cite archive|collection=Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006|institution=National Archives|item-url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75312116|series=National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017|item=New York MPS Simpson Street Subway Station and Substation #18 (IRT)|item-id= 75312116|box=National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: New York}}</ref>
  }}
| layout = {{NYCS 3-tracked local station|inline=y
|1=Freeman Street
|2=Intervale Avenue
|dir=NW
}}
}}

The '''Simpson Street station''' is a local [[metro station|station]] on the [[IRT White Plains Road Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]]. Located at the intersection of Simpson Street and Westchester Avenue in the [[Longwood, Bronx|Longwood]] neighborhood of [[the Bronx]], it is served by the {{NYCS|2}} train at all times, and the {{NYCS|5}} train at all times except late nights and rush hours in the peak direction.

== History ==

=== Early history ===
The initial segment of the IRT White Plains Road Line opened on November 26, 1904, between [[180th Street–Bronx Park station|180th Street–Bronx Park]] and [[Jackson Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)|Jackson Avenue]]. Initially, trains on the line were served by elevated trains from the [[IRT Second Avenue Line]] and the [[IRT Third Avenue Line]]. Once the connection to the [[IRT Lenox Avenue Line]] opened on July 10, 1905, trains from the newly opened IRT subway ran via the line.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/27/101350060.pdf|title=Discuss Subway Signs in 18th St. Station|date=November 27, 1904|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324092214/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/27/101350060.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/tracksofnewyork03kahn|title=Tracks of New York /|last=Kahn|first=Alan Paul|date=January 1, 1973|publisher=New York : Electric Railroaders' Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/07/10/101363643.pdf|title=Subway Trains Running From Bronx to Battery|date=July 10, 1905|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 4, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324092623/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/07/10/101363643.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

To address overcrowding, in 1909, the [[New York Public Service Commission]] proposed lengthening the platforms at stations along the original IRT subway.<ref name="HAER Impact">{{cite web|last=Hood|first=Clifton|date=1978|title=The Impact of the IRT in New York City|url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|access-date=December 20, 2020|publisher=Historic American Engineering Record|pages=146–207 (PDF pp. 147–208)|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117001227/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0300/ny0387/data/ny0387data.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|168}} As part of a modification to the IRT's construction contracts made on January 18, 1910, the company was to lengthen station platforms to accommodate ten-car express and six-car local trains. In addition to $1.5 million (equivalent to ${{inflation|fmt=c|index=US|value=1.5|start_year=1910|r=1}} million in {{inflation/year|index=US}}) spent on platform lengthening, $500,000 (equivalent to ${{inflation|fmt=c|index=US|value=0.5|start_year=1910|r=1}} million in {{inflation/year|index=US}}) was spent on building additional entrances and exits. It was anticipated that these improvements would increase capacity by 25 percent.<ref name="Report 1911">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=+zoological+station&pg=PA596|title=Report of the Public Service Commission for the First District of the State of New York For The Year Ending December 31, 1910|date=1911|publisher=Public Service Commission|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120015525/https://books.google.com/books?id=0fBLAQAAMAAJ&q=%20zoological%20station&pg=PA596|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|15}} The northbound platform at the Simpson Street station was extended {{convert|50|ft}} to the front and {{convert|55|ft}} to the rear,<ref name="Report 1911"/>{{rp|114}} while the southbound platform was not lengthened.<ref name="Report 1911"/>{{rp|106}} On January 23, 1911, ten-car express trains began running on the White Plains Road Line.<ref name="HAER Impact" />{{Rp|168}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html|title=Ten-car Trains in Subway to-day; New Service Begins on Lenox Av. Line and Will Be Extended to Broadway To-morrow.|date=January 23, 1911|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405224750/https://www.nytimes.com/1911/01/23/archives/tencar-trains-in-subway-today-new-service-begins-on-lenox-av-line.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Later years ===
The New York State Transit Commission announced plans to extend the southbound platforms at seven stations on the line from [[Jackson Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)|Jackson Avenue]] to [[West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)|177th Street]], including Simpson Street to accommodate ten-car trains for $81,900 on August 8, 1934.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 9, 1934|title=I.R.T. To Extend Stations. Platform Changes to Be Made on White Plains Line.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/08/09/archives/irt-to-extend-stations-platform-changes-to-be-made-on-white-plains.html|access-date=January 4, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108023919/https://www.nytimes.com/1934/08/09/archives/irt-to-extend-stations-platform-changes-to-be-made-on-white-plains.html?searchResultPosition=7|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1940 |title=City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html |access-date=May 14, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107193115/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/13/archives/city-transit-unity-is-now-a-reality-title-to-irt-lines-passes-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p1248134780">{{cite news |date=June 13, 1940 |title=Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration |page=25 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1248134780}}}}</ref> The Bergen Avenue cutoff, which allowed Third Avenue trains to access the White Plains Road Line, was abandoned on November 5, 1946, as part of the gradual curtailment of elevated service on the IRT Third Avenue Line.<ref name=":0" /> On June 13, 1949, the platform extensions at this station, as well as those on White Plains Road Line stations between Jackson Avenue and [[West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue (IRT White Plains Road Line)|177th Street]], opened. The platforms were lengthened to {{Convert|514|feet|meters|abbr=}} to allow full ten-car express trains to open their doors. Previously the stations could only accommodate six-car local trains.<ref name="BOT-1949">{{Cite book|title=Report for the three and one-half years ending June 30, 1949.|date=1949|publisher=New York City Board of Transportation|hdl = 2027/mdp.39015023094926}}</ref>

The station was renovated in the early 2000s. This station was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on September 17, 2004, along with the Westchester-Simpson Street Substation, also known as IRT Substation #18.<ref name="focus"/>

==Station layout==
{{NYCS Platform Layout IRT White Plains Road Line/Southern Boulevard stations}}
[[File:Simpson Street.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The station during a snowfall]]
This station has two [[side platform]]s and three tracks. The center express track is used by the 5 train during rush hours in the peak direction. To the north, the line curves from Westchester Avenue to Southern Boulevard. The [[IRT Pelham Line]] ({{NYCS trains|Pelham}}), which curves above Westchester Avenue five blocks northeast of this station, is visible from the east end of the platforms.

As with other original IRT elevated viaducts, the elevated structure at Simpson Street is carried on two column bents, one on each side of the road, at places where the tracks are no more than {{Convert|29|ft||abbr=}} above the ground level. There is zigzag lateral bracing at intervals of every four panels.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yj4_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA470|title=Transit Journal|year=1904|page=470|access-date=April 16, 2020|issue=v. 24|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}.|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524041531/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yj4_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA470|url-status=live}}</ref>

Both platforms have cream-colored windscreens and red canopies. Both platforms also have green outlines, frames, and support columns in their center and green waist-high, ornament-style steel fences at either ends with several lampposts. The station's signs are in the standard black name plates with white Helvetica lettering.

===Exits===
Due to the tracks' low height above ground, both station houses are at platform level and there are no crossovers or crossunders. Elevators from the street to each platform make this station [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA-accessible]]. The station's elevators were installed in August 1989, making the station one of the earliest to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The southbound platform (for trains headed to [[Manhattan]]) has a station house that is staffed full-time and contains several sets of doors leading to the small waiting area from the platform, a [[turnstile]] bank, token booth, two staircases going down to either northern corners of Simpson Street and Westchester Avenue, and one elevator going down to the northeast corner. A [[HEET turnstile|high exit-only turnstile]] on either side of the station house leads directly to one of the street stairs from the platform.<ref name=maps>* {{cite web|title=MTA Neighborhood Maps: Bronx Zoo|url=http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX8_bronx_zoo_2015.pdf|website=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|mta.info]]|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=July 20, 2016|date=2015|archive-date=September 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911024137/http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX8_bronx_zoo_2015.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=MTA Neighborhood Maps: Pelham Bay|url=http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX6_PelhamBay_2015.pdf|website=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|mta.info]]|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]|access-date=July 20, 2016|date=2015|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605043820/http://web.mta.info/maps/neighborhoods/bx/BX6_PelhamBay_2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The northbound platform's station house is unstaffed, containing several sets of doors leading to the small waiting area from the platform, a bank of three turnstiles, two staircases going down to either southern corners of Simpson Street and Westchester Avenue, and one elevator going down to the southwest corner. It had a customer assistance booth until April 2010. A high exit-only turnstile on either side of the station house leads directly to one of the street stairs from the platform.<ref name=maps/>

===Artwork===
The 2006 artwork here is called ''What We Build is Not Permanent, We Are Not What We Build'' by Lisa Amowitz. It consists of stained glass panels on the platform windscreens and station houses with the theme with renewing or rebuilding what has died or fallen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Artwork:_What_We_Build_is_Not_Permanent,_We_Are_Not_What_We_Build_(Lisa_Amowitz)|title=Artwork: What We Build is Not Permanent, We Are Not What We Build (Lisa Amowitz)|website=www.nycsubway.org|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324210857/https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Artwork:_What_We_Build_is_Not_Permanent,_We_Are_Not_What_We_Build_(Lisa_Amowitz)|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Clear|left}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|position=right|Simpson Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)}}

{{NYCS stations navbox by service|l2=y|l5=y}}
{{NYCS stations navbox by line|whiteplains=yes}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}}

[[Category:IRT White Plains Road Line stations]]
[[Category:Railway and subway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in New York City]]
[[Category:New York City Subway stations in the Bronx]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1904]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in the Bronx]]
[[Category:Longwood, Bronx]]