Willets Point–Shea Stadium (IRT Flushing Line)

__NOTOC__Infobox NYCS
name = Willets Point–Citi Field


bg_color = #870061
line = IRT Flushing Line
service = Flushing
platforms = 2 side platforms, 1 island platform
tracks = 3
borough = Queens
connection = LIRR at Citi Field(LIRR station)|Citi Field
connection_2 = Q48 bus to LaGuardia Airport
open_date = May 7, 1927
north_station = Flushing–Main Street
north_station_acc = yes
north_line = IRT Flushing Line
north_service = Flushing
south_line = IRT Flushing Line
south_local_station = 111th Street
south_local_service = Flushing local
south_express_station = Junction Boulevard
south_express_station_acc = yes
south_express_service = Flushing express

Willets Point–Citi Field is an elevated subway station on the IRT Flushing Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the NYCS|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 and Citi Field, located on the north side of the station, and during events at the USTA National Tennis Center, on the south side.

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 U.S. 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. The north side of the station used to feature a footbridge that extended over the street that would then bring people to a long, circular staircase that would bring people close to Shea Stadium. However, in 2008 the footbridge was removed and replaced with a stairway that is situated a little further from the construction of Citi Field. The stairway was most likely put in to ease foot traffic following Mets games.

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 large 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.

Bus connections

*Q48 to LaGuardia Airport

External links

*NYCS ref|http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?195:3032|IRT Flushing Line|Willets Point/Shea Stadium
*Station Reporter — [http://www.stationreporter.net/7train.htm 7 Train]