86th Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)

86th Street (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) is a major express station on the New York City Subway located at the intersection of East 86th Street and Lexington Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Served by the 4, 5, and 6 trains, it is a critical transit hub for one of New York City's most densely populated residential and commercial districts. The station opened in 1918 as part of the Dual Contracts expansion and features a deep, four-track configuration with two side platforms.

Station layout

The station is located approximately 60 feet below street level and contains four tracks, with the two local tracks flanked by two side platforms and the two express tracks situated in the center. Each platform is approximately 525 feet long and is served by a single mezzanine above the tracks, with staircases leading down to both platforms. The mezzanine features a distinctive Gustavino tile arched ceiling and provides fare control and access to entrances at all four corners of the Lexington Avenue and East 86th Street intersection. Architectural details include original Interborough Rapid Transit Company mosaic name tablets and directional signs.

History

The station was constructed as part of the Dual Contracts, a massive expansion agreement signed between the City of New York and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company. It opened to the public on July 17, 1918, concurrently with the northern extension of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line from Grand Central–42nd Street to 125th Street. The station's depth and design were necessitated by the need to pass underneath the New York Central Railroad's Park Avenue Tunnel and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's proposed but unbuilt subway line. In the 1960s, the station underwent renovations that included new lighting and tile work, though it retains much of its original architectural character.

Nearby points of interest

The station serves as the primary subway access point for the bustling commercial corridor along East 86th Street, often referred to as "Yorkville's Main Street." It provides direct access to numerous shops, restaurants, and the UA 86th Street movie theater. The station is also within walking distance of several notable cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The surrounding neighborhood features prominent residential buildings like The Carlyle and is adjacent to Central Park.

Subway service

The station is served by the 4 and 5 express trains and the 6 local train at all times, with the 5 train skipping the station during late-night hours. The weekday-only <6> express service also stops here during peak and midday periods. As a key express stop, it provides vital transfers between local and express services for commuters traveling between Upper Manhattan, the East Side, and destinations in the Bronx such as Yankee Stadium and Pelham Bay Park.

In popular culture

The station and its surrounding neighborhood have been featured in numerous films and television series set in New York City. It appears in the opening sequence of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, which is set at the nearby GE Building. The area's distinctive atmosphere has been depicted in movies like The French Connection and The Royal Tenenbaums. The station's deep, cavernous appearance and busy mezzanine are often used to represent the archetypal New York City Subway experience in media.

Category:New York City Subway stations in Manhattan Category:IRT Lexington Avenue Line stations Category:Railway stations opened in 1918