Willets Point–Shea Stadium (IRT Flushing Line)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New York City Subway station Willets Point–Shea Stadium

Station information
Line	IRT Flushing Line
Services	7 <7>^(1a2a3c)
Platforms	2 side platforms, 1 island platform
Tracks	3
Other
Borough	Queens
Opened	May 7, 1927
Connections	LIRR at Shea Stadium
	Q48 bus to LaGuardia Airport
Next north	Main Street-Flushing 7 <7>^(1a2a3c)
Next south	Local: 111th Street 7
	Express: Junction Boulevard <7>^(1a2a3c)

Willets Point–Shea Stadium is an elevated subway station on the IRT Flushing Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the 7 train at all times, including express service running in the peak direction during rush hours and middays. Located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, on Roosevelt Avenue between 114th and 126th Streets, this station's peak use is during New York Mets baseball games at Shea Stadium, located on the north side of the station, and during events at the USTA National Tennis Center, on the south side.

[edit] Layout

This three-track express station has a layout unique in the system. From compass north to south, it is arranged: southbound side platform, southbound local track, bidirectional express track, island platform, northbound local track, northbound side platform. Trains running northbound (towards Main Street) open their doors on the island platform; the northbound side platform is used only during events at the National Tennis Center, such as the United States Open. On the south side of the station, a ramp connects the mezzanine and the northbound side platform to a footbridge, which passes over Corona Yard and the LIRR Port Washington Branch on its way to the National Tennis Center. A full-length wooden mezzanine is located underneath the tracks and platforms.

[edit] History

The original Willets Point Boulevard station opened on May 7, 1927. At that time, it was located at the intersection of Willets Point Boulevard, 126th Street, and Roosevelt Avenue and was a minor, local stop on the Flushing Line, with only two stairways and short station canopies at platform level. At the announcement that the 1939 World's Fair would be held in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, the station was moved west to its current location, converted into a massive express station, and rebuilt to handle the expected crowds. World's Fair Special express trains began service here on April 24, 1939. The northbound side platform and its ramp were added for the 1964 World's Fair, also held in Flushing Meadows.

Today, remnants of the original 1927 station can be seen just east of the current station. Ironwork indicates where the old side platforms had been, and parts of the former fare entry area remain. The southbound side platform is also noticeably longer than the 11-car IRT-length trains that serve it; a long segment east of the current passenger waiting area—part of the original southbound platform—has fallen into disrepair and has been gated off.