3rd Avenue–138th Street

3rd Avenue–138th Street
Name	3rd Avenue–138th Street
Borough	The Bronx
Locale	Mott Haven
Division	IRT
Line	IRT Pelham Line
Service	6 (local)
Platforms	2 side platforms
Structure	Underground
Opened	1919

3rd Avenue–138th Street

3rd Avenue–138th Street is a New York City Subway station on the IRT Pelham Line located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. The station serves local trains and lies near major thoroughfares and transit nodes, linking to regional corridors and nearby institutions in a dense urban context. It is part of the historical expansion of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and remains a key transfer and access point for commuters, students, shoppers, and employees traveling to and from Manhattan, Yonkers, and Queens.

History

The station opened during the era of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company expansion under the Dual Contracts program, contemporaneous with projects involving the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, and infrastructure efforts led by figures associated with the New York City Board of Transportation. Construction and early operation occurred alongside developments such as the Third Avenue Bridge, the rise of Mott Haven, the growth of Hispanic Society of America-adjacent communities, and urban changes linked to the South Bronx transformation. Over decades the station has seen service adjustments connected to decisions by the New York City Transit Authority, fare policy shifts under the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and maintenance initiatives prompted by reports from the New York City Department of Transportation and advocacy from civic organizations like the Bronx County Historical Society.

Station layout

The underground station has two side platforms flanking three tracks, with the center track used for non-revenue movements or peak-direction express routing as configured by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and legacy IRT signaling schemata. Architectural details reflect standard IRT motifs similar to those at stations designed by firms influenced by the Heins & LaFarge aesthetic and construction practices paralleling those on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line and IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. Entrances and exits connect to sidewalks along Third Avenue (Bronx), with fare control areas situated to facilitate transfers to bus routes operated by MTA Regional Bus Operations and pedestrian access toward landmarks including the New York City Police Department 40th Precinct and nearby parks.

Services and operations

Regular service at the station is provided by the 6 local train, operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority under the auspices of the MTA New York City Transit Authority. Schedules and peak-era service patterns are coordinated with interlocking systems influenced by standards from the American Public Transportation Association and overseen by the MTA Police Department for safety. Historical service changes have been tied to citywide events such as the New York City fiscal crisis, infrastructure programs related to the MTA Capital Program, and emergency operations protocols used during incidents involving agencies like the New York City Emergency Management.

Accessibility and renovations

Accessibility projects at the station have been shaped by compliance initiatives echoing mandates akin to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and capital planning within the MTA Capital Program. Renovations and rehabilitation work have involved coordination among contractors, oversight by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and community input from local elected officials including offices of the New York City Council and the Bronx Borough President. Past upgrades addressed structural repairs, lighting improvements, and signage consistent with standards promoted by the National Transit Institute and programmatic funding streams linked to municipal and state partners such as the New York State Department of Transportation.

Ridership

Ridership patterns reflect use by commuters traveling between the Bronx and Manhattan, students attending institutions like the Hostos Community College and employees commuting to business districts near Third Avenue (Manhattan). Annual patronage has varied with population and economic trends referenced in analyses by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and demographic studies from the United States Census Bureau, with peak usage tied to weekdays, special events in the borough, and seasonal shifts influenced by broader trends tracked by the American Public Transportation Association.

Surrounding area and connections

The station provides access to the Mott Haven commercial corridors, cultural sites, and civic institutions including the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater-adjacent venues, the Hunts Point Cooperative Market area via bus connections, and proximity to educational sites like the Bronx Community College shuttle services. Surface connections include MTA bus routes and pedestrian links to the Third Avenue Bridge and the Bruckner Expressway corridor, while nearby development initiatives involve partnerships with entities such as the New York City Economic Development Corporation and neighborhood organizations including the Mott Haven Herald. The station thus serves as a multimodal node connecting riders to the wider metropolitan network encompassing Grand Concourse (Bronx), Yankee Stadium, and beyond.

Category:New York City Subway stations in the Bronx Category:IRT Pelham Line stations Category:Railway stations opened in 1919