IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
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IND Culver Line
"F" train "F" express train "G" train
The F and <F> serve the entire length of the IND Culver Line. The G serves the line between Bergen Street and Church Avenue.
Overview
OwnerCity of New York
LocaleBrooklyn, New York City
Termini
Stations21
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemNew York City Subway
Operator(s)New York City Transit Authority
Daily ridership106,084 (2023)[1]
History
Opened1919–1954
Technical
Number of tracks2–4
CharacterUnderground and elevated
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC third rail
Route map
Map
Jay Street–MetroTech
Bergen Street
Carroll Street
Smith–Ninth Streets
Fourth Avenue
Seventh Avenue
express tracks
15th Street–Prospect Park
Fort Hamilton Parkway
express tracks
Church Avenue
Culver Ramp
to Fourth and former Fifth Avenue Lines
13th Avenue (demolished)
former BMT Culver Line connection
Ditmas Avenue
18th Avenue
Avenue I
Bay Parkway
Avenue N
Avenue P
Kings Highway
Avenue U
Avenue X
Neptune Avenue
former Brighton Line connection
West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium
Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
Legend

 
Express station
 
Local station
 
Closed station

The IND Culver Line (formerly BMT Culver Line) is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The local tracks of the Culver Line are served by the F service, as well as the G between Bergen Street and Church Avenue. The express tracks north of Church Avenue are used by the <F> train during rush hours in the peak direction. The peak-direction express track between Ditmas Avenue and Avenue X has not seen regular service since 1987.[2]

The line is named after Andrew Culver, who built the original Culver Line that preceded the current subway line. The present-day line was built as two unconnected segments operated by the Independent Subway System (IND) and Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT). The northern section of the line, between Jay Street–MetroTech and Church Avenue, is a four-track line that was built for the IND in 1933, running primarily underground except for a short elevated section over the Gowanus Canal.

The southern section, between Ditmas Avenue and Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, was originally built for the BMT in 1919–1920 as a three-track elevated structure between Ninth Avenue in Sunset Park and Avenue X, and as a two-track elevated structure south of Avenue X. A ramp in the neighborhood of Kensington, which opened in 1954, connects the segments between the Church and Ditmas Avenues stations. The segment of the BMT line between Ninth and Ditmas Avenues remained as the Culver Shuttle until it was closed in 1975 and later demolished.

The elevated part of the Culver Line south of Church Avenue, which operated as part of the BMT until 1954, now carries only the F, a former IND service, and is chained and signaled[3] as part of the IND. However, BMT radio frequency B1 is used on the elevated portion south of Church Avenue.[4]

Extent and service

[edit]

The following services use part or all of the IND Culver Line:[5]

Route Services
  Time period North of
Bergen St
Between Bergen St
and
Church Ave
South of
Church Ave
"F" train all times local
"F" express train rush hours in the peak direction express local
"G" train all times No service local No service

The Culver Line is served by the F as a local for its entire length, though <F> trains run express between Jay Street and Church Avenue in the peak direction. The portion of the route from Bergen Street south to Church Avenue is also served by the G Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown service. Both routes run at all times.[5]

There are two express tracks on the northern part of the route and one on the southern, with express stations distributed along the line.[4][6] However, express service has only been operated on the line from 1968 to 1987,[2][6][7] as well as since 2019.[8] Restoration of express service has been thwarted by budget shortages, passenger opposition, and a serious signal fire at Bergen Street in 1999.[2][6][9] The issue came to a head in June 2007, when a petition for express service reached 2,600 signatures and gained media attention.[9][10][11] The Culver Line underwent repairs from 2009 until early 2013, during which the express tracks were replaced and rehabilitated to facilitate future express service.[2][7][12]

Jay Street to Church Avenue

[edit]
Jay Street – MetroTech

The subway portion of the IND Culver Line was originally designated the Brooklyn Line but has also been called the Smith Street Line,[13][14] Church Avenue Line, South Brooklyn Line, and various other names. The express tracks beneath Prospect Park are sometimes referred to as the Prospect Park Line.[15]

The line begins at the four-tracked Jay Street–MetroTech station, where the IND Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue lines interchange and continue as the Culver and Fulton Street lines respectively.[4][6] Running under Smith Street south of the station, the Culver tracks split into local and express tracks, with the two express tracks ramping down to the lower level of Bergen Street, while the local tracks merge with the IND Crosstown Line tracks from Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street before entering the upper level.[4][6][16] Between Jay Street and Bergen Street, the line passes under both the IRT Eastern Parkway Line and the Fulton Line tracks curving east into Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street, requiring a deeper tunnel and extensive ventilation systems.[17]

At Carroll Street, the express tracks ramp up to rejoin the local tracks, and all four tracks rise onto the Culver Viaduct, curving onto Ninth Street.[4][6][16] East of Fourth Avenue station towards Park Slope, the tracks become a subway once again. Past 7th Avenue, the local tracks diverge, curving south to 15th Street and Prospect Park West, while the express tracks take a direct route beneath Prospect Park. This is one of two places in the subway where the express tracks diverge from the local tracks, the other being on the IND Queens Boulevard Line between 65th Street and 36th Street.[4][6][16][18][19][20][21] The express tracks rejoin the right-of-way at approximately Terrace Place and Prospect Avenue,[21] running on a lower level under Prospect Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway near the Prospect Park Parade Grounds, then rise up as the line curves onto McDonald Avenue. The line then parallels the route of the original Culver Line surface railroad into Church Avenue station, the last stop of the original IND service.[4][6][18]

A single track in both directions, connecting from the local and express tracks in each direction, then ramps down to the four-track Church Avenue Yard, used as a relay and storage facility for G trains.[4][6][7][16][22][23] The four mainline tracks ascend to the Culver Ramp on McDonald Avenue between Cortelyou Road and Avenue C, which connects the subway portion of the IND Culver Line with the former BMT Culver Line elevated structure. Despite being a part of the IND Division, the Culver elevated portion is controlled by BMT radio dispatch, so train operators change between the IND (B-2) and BMT (B-1) radio frequencies at this point.[4]

Culver Viaduct

[edit]
The Culver Viaduct spans the Gowanus Canal.

The northern section of the Culver Line is a four-track line, entirely underground except for Smith–Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue stations.[4] The two stations sit on a massive one-mile long[16] steel and concrete viaduct which spans the Gowanus Canal between 9th and 10th Streets. This structure is now referred to as the Culver Viaduct or Culver Line Viaduct,[2][7] the only portion of the original IND subway to be elevated, and the only section other than the now-demolished World's Fair Railroad to be outdoors.[24][25] The viaduct was constructed due to the depth of the canal (15 feet at its deepest point),[24][26][27] due to the topography of the Park Slope neighborhood,[24][26] and to avoid local stores in the area.[21] Otherwise, a tunnel carrying the line would have to have been built below both the canal and the BMT Fourth Avenue Line (necessitating stations deep below the ground); or Ninth Street would be raised above grade level to pass over the canal and BMT subway.[26]

Both underground options were considered expensive and impractical, and the viaduct was estimated to save $12 million in construction costs when it was selected in 1927.[26] During planning, the viaduct's height was later increased from 60 feet (18 m)[26] to around 90 feet (27 m), due to now-defunct navigation regulations for tall-mast shipping.[21][24][28] Because of this, Smith–Ninth Streets was built at an elevation of 87.5 feet (26.7 m), the highest subway station above ground level in the world.[2][29][30] Fourth Avenue, meanwhile, is actually at a lower elevation and altitude than the Seventh Avenue underground station.

For most of its history, G service has terminated at Smith–Ninth Streets, relaying using the express tracks and switches at Fourth Avenue.[4] This occasionally caused delays to F service, and prevented express service from being operated.[2][7][16] In 2009, the G's terminus was moved to Church Avenue in order to complete renovations on the viaduct.[2][7] In July 2012, the G extension was made permanent.[7][31]

Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island

[edit]
The Culver Line leaves Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue underneath the BMT Brighton Line

At Ditmas Avenue, the Culver Ramp ends and the underground line becomes elevated. This is a three-track Dual Contracts elevated on the former BMT line over McDonald (formerly Gravesend) Avenue.[4][6][18][19] Just before the station, the southbound local track merges into the southbound express track, while the northbound express track becomes the El's bidirectional center express track.[4][6][22] During the 1990s and 2000s, the center express track in this section was occasionally used for non-revenue testing. After Avenue X station, a ramp diverges to the surface for access to the Culver Yard of the Coney Island Yards complex. At this point the Culver Line narrows to a two-track structure bearing one more station–Neptune Avenue–before curving into West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium station on Coney Island.[4][6]

Formally, the Culver Line ends as the track curve enters the lower level of the double-decked station along the BMT Brighton Line's right-of-way, and the chaining track designation changes from IND tracks B1 and B2 to BMT tracks A1 and A2 of the Brighton Line. However, there is no longer a connection to the Brighton Line at this point, and for all practical purposes the Culver Line continues into tracks 5 and 6 of the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue Terminal.[4][6]

History

[edit]

Early years as two separate lines

[edit]

BMT Culver Line (1875–1954)

[edit]
Culver Line structure being constructed in 1917
Stub of elevated line formerly running west from Cortelyou Road along 37th Street
Bilevel structure of elevated, between West 8th Street and Coney Island stations. The upper level is used by the BMT Brighton Line.

The original Culver Line was opened by the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad and was named after the railroad's builder, Andrew N. Culver.[32] The line ran along the surface of McDonald Avenue (then Gravesend Avenue) from Greenwood Cemetery (where it connected with horse car lines including the Vanderbilt Avenue Line, operated by the PP&CI until 1886[33]) to the Culver Depot in Coney Island, on June 25, 1875.[34][35] The PP&CI began serving the Union Depot at 36th Street, where transfer could be made to the Fifth Avenue Elevated, on June 7, 1890, by using the Prospect Park and South Brooklyn Railroad from a junction at Parkville.[36]

During a period of Long Island Rail Road control, from 1893[37] to 1899,[38] a ramp at 36th Street was opened in 1895, allowing Brooklyn Elevated Railroad trains to operate over the Culver Line to Coney Island.[39] The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT), by then the owner of the Brooklyn Elevated, leased the Culver Line (to the Brooklyn Heights Railroad) on June 18, 1899, and began using it to take not only elevated trains but also trolleys to Coney Island.[38]

As part of Contract 4 of the Dual Contracts, between the city and the BRT, a three-track elevated railway was built above the Culver Line. The line, formally known as Route 49, or the Gravesend Avenue Line, was to run from the Fifth Avenue Elevated at Tenth Avenue and 37th Street, above private property south of 37th Street, and then south over Gravesend Avenue to Coney Island. At Ninth Avenue, the elevated replacements for the Culver Line and West End Line met, with access from both lines to the Fifth Avenue Elevated and Fourth Avenue Subway to the northwest.[40]

Construction of the route was done in four sections: Section 1, 1-A, 2, and 3. Section 1-A extended from a location on the west building line of Tenth Avenue between 38th Street and 37th Street to a location 372 feet (113 m) east of the building line on Tenth Avenue, running in an open cut and then a fill over Tenth Avenue. Section 1 extended from a point 372 feet (113 m) east of the building line on Tenth Avenue to, over private property and 37th Street, and Gravesend Avenue to a location 530 feet (160 m) south of the intersection of Gravesend Avenue and the southern building line of 22nd Avenue. Section 2 stretched from here along Gravesend Avenue to Avenue X, and Section 3 continued from here south along Shell Road and West 6th Street to a point near the southern line of Sheepshead Bay Road, where it would connect with the Brighton Line for access to Coney Island.[41]

The contract to construct Section 2 was awarded to Oscar Daniels Company for $863,775 on July 10, 1915. Work was to be completed in eighteen months. On September 8, 1915, the contract to construct Section 1 was awarded to Post & McCord for $877,859. Work on the section was to be completed in fifteen months. On January 23, 1917, a contract to construct Section 1-A of the line in four months was awarded to Thomas Dwyer for $42,268.[41]

Route designation on BMT D Triplex equipment

At 3:00 a.m. on March 16, 1919, the first portion of the new elevated structure opened from Ninth Avenue southeast and south to Kings Highway.[42] Except for the omission of a station at 15th Avenue, all of the station locations from the surface line were preserved as elevated stations. The Culver Line was operated as a branch of the Fifth Avenue Elevated, with a free transfer at Ninth Avenue to the West End Line into the Fourth Avenue Subway.[43][44] An extension to Avenue X was opened at noon on May 10, 1919.[42][45][46] The line, the last of the four to Coney Island, was completed on May 1, 1920, at which time the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) was forced to cut the fare from ten to five cents.[47][48]

This construction tied into the existing lower level of the BMT Brighton Line east of West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium.[49][50][51] Some Culver Line (5) trains began using the Fourth Avenue Subway to the Nassau Street Loop in Lower Manhattan when that line opened on May 30, 1931;[52] the Fifth Avenue Elevated was closed on May 31, 1940, in conjunction with the unification of the transit system under city operations.[50][53][54] Trolleys continued to use the surface tracks on McDonald Avenue until October 30, 1956.[35][55]

IND Brooklyn Line (1933–1954)

[edit]
Church Avenue

One of the goals of Mayor John Hylan's Independent Subway System (IND), proposed in the 1920s was a line to Coney Island, reached by a recapture of the BMT Culver Line.[15][56] To connect this line to the Eighth Avenue Line–the main trunk of the IND–a subway line was to run from Brooklyn Borough Hall south under Jay Street, Smith Street, Ninth Street, and several other streets to Cortelyou Road (later Church Avenue) and McDonald Avenue, just north of the Ditmas Avenue elevated station. A ramp would then lead onto the elevated BMT Culver Line.[15][18][56][57]

This line was variously known as the Culver Line Extension,[56] Culver−Smith Street Line,[26] Smith Street Line,[13] Smith Street–Prospect Park Line,[15] Smith–Ninth Street Line,[58] Jay–Smith–Ninth Street Line,[24] Church Avenue Line,[59] Prospect Park–Church Avenue Line,[60] Prospect Park–Coney Island Line,[61] Brooklyn Line,[59] or South Brooklyn Line,[20][24][62] though it was often simply referred to as the Brooklyn portion of the IND.[60][63] As originally designed, service to and from Manhattan would have been exclusively provided by Culver express trains, while all local service would have fed into the IND Crosstown Line.[6]

By 1927, it was decided to build a truss bridge over the Gowanus Canal and a viaduct over Ninth Street due to cost considerations, replacing earlier plans for a deep river tunnel.[64] This resulted in the only above-ground section of the original IND.[24][26][56] The first short section of the line opened on March 20, 1933, taking Eighth Avenue Express A trains (and for about a month from July to August C trains) south from Jay Street to Bergen Street.[65][66] The rest of the line opened on October 7, 1933, to the "temporary" terminal at Church Avenue,[65][67] three blocks away from the Culver elevated at Ditmas Avenue.[63][68] In 1936, the A was rerouted to the IND Fulton Street Line and E trains from the Queens Boulevard line replaced them.[65] On July 1, 1937, the connection to the IND Crosstown Line opened and GG trains were extended to Smith-Ninth Streets.[65][69] E trains were replaced by the F on December 15, 1940, after the IND Sixth Avenue Line opened.[65]

As part of the various proposed extensions of the IND Second System, the IND Culver subway was planned to facilitate a spur line to Bay Ridge, with a connection to the incomplete Staten Island Tunnel intended for the BMT Fourth Avenue Line.[62][70][71][72] A 1931 proposal had the line travel south from Smith–Ninth Streets station through Red Hook and Gowanus to Saint George Terminal.[70][71] A 1933 plan would have branched off between Smith–Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue, then run down Second Avenue in Bay Ridge to the tunnel. Like other IND lines, this route would have been in direct competition with the then-privately operated Fourth Avenue Subway.[73]

The final proposal from the 1939 Second System plan proposed an extension down Fort Hamilton Parkway and/or Tenth Avenue towards the tunnel, with continued service to 86th Street in Bay Ridge near the BMT Fourth Avenue Line station. This route would have diverged near the Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue stations.[13][20][62] In 1940, proposals emerged to connect the IND with the BMT West End Line near its Fort Hamilton Parkway station;[74][75] the 1946 Board of Transportation plans featured both the West End connection and the extension to 86th Street.[76] None of these proposals were ever constructed.[13][62]

Culver Ramp

[edit]
A Manhattan-bound "F" train descending the Culver Ramp
An F train traveling down the ramp. The former Culver Shuttle tracks can be seen to the left
A Coney Island-bound "F" train ascending the Culver Ramp
An F train climbing the ramp

Taking over operations, or "recapturing", the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) Culver Line elevated structure in order to institute IND service to Coney Island was a high priority of New York City planners. Recapture proved unnecessary since the Culver Line and the rest of the BMT and Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) passed into City hands in 1940 as a result of the unification of the three companies.[13][63] The new connection would create a one-fare ride for IND passengers to Coney Island, and eliminate congestion on the BMT's Fourth Avenue Subway.[60][63] At the time, the IND had no direct connections to the rest of the subway system. Around 1940, a temporary ramp was installed to connect the underground IND Culver Line to the street-level South Brooklyn Railway, underneath the BMT Culver Line; this connection was used to deliver some IND rolling stock.[77]

The proposed Culver Ramp, also referred to as the Culver Line Connection, would allow passenger service between the underground Church Avenue and elevated Ditmas Avenue stations. Construction began in June 1941, and was expected to be completed by the end of the year.[75] The ramp was expected to cost $2 million, and along with new signals, and rehabilitation of the Culver elevated and lengthening of its stations to IND standards, the total cost of the project was estimated at over $11 million.[60][63][78] 170 subway cars were purchased for $8.5 million for the extension of IND service. Two substations, a signal tower, a fourth track at Ditmas Avenue, and an additional stairway at Ditmas Avenue were all completed as part of the project.[61] McDonald Avenue was also widened between Avenue C and Cortelyou Road to facilitate the ramp.[78]

Though the ramp was nearly complete, including rails and signal work, construction was halted later that year because of America's entrance into World War II.[78][79] When the project was restarted in 1946, completion was delayed further due to continued material shortages and a lack of rolling stock to facilitate the new service.[76] On October 30, 1954,[53][80] the connection between the IND Brooklyn Line at Church Avenue and the BMT Culver Line at Ditmas Avenue opened. This allowed IND trains to operate all the way to the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue terminal.[81]

IND Culver Line (1954–present)

[edit]
The Coney Island power substation

Following the completion of Culver Ramp, D Concourse Express trains (which formerly terminated in Manhattan) replaced F service, and were sent over the new connection as the first IND service to reach Coney Island. The service was announced as Concourse–Culver and advertised as direct Bronx–Coney Island service.[78][81] BMT Culver Line (5) trains were truncated to Ditmas Avenue, the south end of the connection, operating through to Manhattan via the Nassau Street Loop during the day, and terminating at Ninth Avenue at other times.[82] This Culver Shuttle became full-time on May 28, 1959,[53][83] and was closed on May 13, 1975,[84] replaced by a transfer to the B35 bus route.[53][85] The elevated portion has been re-chained as part of the B2 (IND) division, but still uses B1 (BMT) division radio frequencies.[4]

On November 26, 1967, the Chrystie Street Connection opened and D trains were rerouted via the Manhattan Bridge and the BMT Brighton Line to Coney Island. F trains were extended once again via the Culver Line.[78][86] From June 1968[87] to 1987, the Culver Line featured express service during rush hours. F trains ran express in both directions between Bergen Street and Church Avenue, while G trains were extended from Smith–Ninth Streets to Church Avenue to provide local service. Express service on the elevated portion of the line to Kings Highway operated in the peak direction (to Manhattan AM; to Brooklyn PM), with some F trains running local and some running express.[2][6]

Express service between Bergen and Church ended in 1976, and between Church and Kings Highway on April 27, 1987, largely due to budget constraints and complaints from passengers at local stations.[2] Express service on the elevated Culver Line was ended due to necessary structural work, and was supposed to be restored after the $50 million project's completion in 1990, but never restored.[88][6][89][90] With the end of express service, Bergen Street's lower level was taken out of service. Following renovations to the station in the 1990s, the lower level was converted into storage space and is not usable for passenger service in its current state.[2][6][89][91]

In 1986, the New York City Transit Authority launched a study to determine whether to close 79 stations on 11 routes, including the segment of the Culver Line south of either Kings Highway or Avenue U, due to low ridership and high repair costs.[92][93] Numerous figures, including New York City Council member Carol Greitzer, criticized the plans.[93][94]

Rehabilitation

[edit]
A temporary platform (center) erected at Fourth Avenue during the Culver Rehabilitation Project.

In 2007, the MTA announced that several portions of the Culver Line would be undergoing extensive rehabilitation. The first renovation involved repairs of the elevated Culver Viaduct (including the Smith–Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue stations) and modernization of the interlockings at Bergen Street, 4th Avenue, and Church Avenue. The B5 layup track was removed as part of the project.[16] This also allowed the G train to be extended from its longtime terminus at Smith–Ninth Streets to a more efficient terminus at Church Avenue beginning in July 2009.[2][7][10] The project was completed in 2013.[7][89]

Stations along the three-tracked stretch of the Culver Line were renovated until July 30, 2018 (excluding Ditmas Avenue and the northbound platform of Avenue X, which were rehabilitated in 2015–2016), with the center track being used to bypass closed stations.[6][95] The Coney Island-bound platforms were rehabilitated between June 7, 2016, and May 1, 2017 (May 8 for Avenue U and Avenue X).[96] During the second phase of the project, beginning on May 22, 2017,[97] the Manhattan-bound platforms were closed between Avenue U and 18th Avenue until July 30, 2018.[98] The interlocking at Kings Highway is scheduled to be modernized as part of the 2020–2024 MTA Capital Program, and the modernization could include the reinstallation of the necessary track switches.[6] A switch will be added between the express track and the northbound local track south of Avenue P.[4]

In July 2019, online newspaper The City discovered that the MTA had allocated $660,000 in its 2015–2019 Capital Program for a design study to make patches to the Culver Viaduct, whose renovation was completed in 2016. The study would determine how to fix the premature deterioration of structural braces, unsatisfactory drainage, and leaking expansion joints. Funding will be provided in a future capital program.[99]

Express service

[edit]

Around the time the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation project was announced in 2007, a petition to restore express service along the line gained attention, due to increasing ridership on both the F and G services in Brooklyn. The petition, which gained over 2,500 signatures by June 2007 and nearly 4,000 by September, proposed to restore express service by making the Church Avenue extension of the G permanent and extending the V (eliminated in 2010) from its Manhattan terminus to Brooklyn, sharing the Rutgers Street Tunnel with the F.[2][9][10][11] The G extension was made permanent in July 2012, freeing up the express tracks formerly used to relay trains.[6][7]

In 2015, some rush-hour peak-direction F trains started skipping local stops between Jay Street and Fourth Avenue, and the MTA used expanded rush-hour express service (from Jay Street to Church Avenue) in both directions in the summers of 2016 and 2017.[6][100] In May 2016, the MTA announced that half of all rush-hour F trains may start running express in both directions in fall 2017; however, because of rolling stock and track capacity limitations, the train frequency on the rest of the F's route would remain the same.[6][101] With an increase in rolling stock caused by the introduction of the R179s, one more train per hour could be run on the F. The operation of half of the F trains as express would result in operational improvements, with faster service, as southbound F trains would no longer be delayed by terminating G trains discharging at Church Avenue.[6]

Overall, the F express will result in an overall reduction of 27,000 minutes during the AM rush hour and 13,000 minutes during the PM rush hour. The change in service will decrease service at local stations, reducing in longer wait times, but it will help riders in South Brooklyn with the longest commutes. F express trains would be slightly more crowded than current F trains, but the F locals would be less crowded. PM rush hour express service would lead to much larger exit surges from less frequent F local trains at Bergen Street and Carroll Street, leading to significant congestion at one staircase at Bergen Street, and moderate congestion at one staircase at Carroll Street. Relieving the congestion, would entail widening the staircases and installing ADA-required elevators that would cost approximately $10 million per station.[6] The possibility of reopening the Bergen Street lower level was looked at as part of the study for the reintroduction of F express service; the reopening would require significant and expensive reconstruction, including making the station ADA accessible, the reconstruction of platform stairs, improved lighting and communications, waterproofing and concrete repairs, among other things. Since the rehabilitation would cost $75 million, the lower level was not reopened.[6]

In July 2019, the MTA announced that it planned to run four rush-hour express F trains per day, two in each direction, starting in September 2019. The trains would run in the peak direction, toward Manhattan in the morning and toward Brooklyn in the evening. The trains would make an intermediate stop at Seventh Avenue between Jay Street–MetroTech and Church Avenue and bypass a total of six stations.[8][102] This service is represented with a diamond <F>, similar to the symbol used on other peak-direction express services.[102] Peak-direction express service between Church Avenue and Kings Highway was not restored due to limitations caused by current track configurations, as the switches at Kings Highway previously used were removed in the 1990s.[6]

Automation

[edit]

In order to test the interoperability of the communications-based train control (CBTC) systems of different suppliers, CBTC equipment was installed on the southbound express track between Fourth Avenue and Church Avenue, as part of the automation of the New York City Subway. The total cost was $99.6 million, with $15 million coming from the 2005–2009 Capital Program and $84.6 million from the 2010–2014 Capital Program. The installation was a joint venture between Siemens and Thales Group, and was used to test the track's new signaling on R143s and R160s that were already equipped with CBTC.[103] Though the estimated completion date was scheduled for March 2015, it was completed in December 2015.[104]: 28  The installation was expected to be permanent.[105]

Test trains on the track were able to successfully operate using the interoperable Siemens/Thales CBTC system. That system became the standard for all future CBTC installations on New York City Transit tracks as of 2015.[106] A third supplier, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Inc., was given permission to demonstrate that its technology could be interoperable with the Siemens/Thales technology. The $1.2 million Mitsubishi contract was approved in July 2015.[107] If Culver Line express service was implemented in 2017 as it was proposed, the express service would not initially have used CBTC, and testing of CBTC on the express track would be limited to off-peak hours.[105]

In 2017, the MTA started testing ultra-wideband radio-enabled train signaling on the IND Culver Line.[108] The ultra-wideband train signals would be able to transmit more data wirelessly in a manner similar to CBTC, but can be installed faster than CBTC systems. The ultra-wideband signals would have the added benefit of allowing passengers to use cellphones while between stations, instead of the current setup where passengers could only get cellphone signals within the stations themselves.[109]

As part of the MTA's 2015–2019 Capital Program, CBTC is being installed on the section of the line between Church Avenue and West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium, replacing 70-year old signals.[110] The contract for the installation of CBTC and the modernization of the Ditmas Avenue and Avenue X interlockings, was awarded in February 2019 to Tutor Perini for $253 million. Substantial completion of the project was expected in August 2022.[111]: 20  As part of the project, switches north of Ditmas Avenue will be removed, and will be replaced by two new interlockings directly south of Church Avenue and a new interlocking north of 18th Avenue.[4]

Avenue X interlocking will be reconfigured. As of February 2020, 80% of wayside signaling equipment had been installed, a relay room was completed, steel and concrete floors at the Ditmas Avenue signal facility were installed, all signal cables were installed, and piling and grade beam installation at the Avenue X signal facility were completed.[112] To allow the CBTC project to enter its next phase, F service was suspended south of Church Avenue during most weekends starting in early 2020.[113] Work to install CBTC continued into 2021.[114]

In December 2022, the MTA announced that it would award a $368 million design–build contract to Crosstown Partners, a joint venture between Thales Group and TC Electric LLC, to install CBTC along the length of the G route.[115][116] The contract includes not only the Crosstown Line between Court Square and Bergen Street, but also the Culver Line between Bergen Street and Church Avenue.[116] Upon the completion of the contract, the entire G route and much of the F route would be CBTC-equipped.[115]

Station listing

[edit]
Station service legend
Stops all times Stops 24 hours a day
Stops all times except late nights Stops every day during daytime hours only
Stops late nights only Stops every day during overnight hours only
Stops rush hours only Stops during weekday rush hours only
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Stops during weekday rush hours in the peak direction only
Time period details
Disabled access Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Disabled access ↑ Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
in the indicated direction only
Disabled access ↓
Elevator access to mezzanine only
Neighborhood
(approximate)
Disabled access Station Tracks Services Opened Transfers and notes
begins as continuation of the IND Sixth Avenue Line local tracks (F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction​)
Downtown Brooklyn Disabled access Jay Street–MetroTech all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction February 1, 1933[17] IND Fulton Street Line (A all timesC all except late nights)
BMT Fourth Avenue Line (N late nights R all timesW limited rush hour service only)
Express Tracks begin (<F> two rush hour trains, peak direction)
Merge from the IND Crosstown Line (G all times) into local tracks
Cobble Hill Bergen Street all F all timesG all times March 20, 1933[66] upper level: Local (in service)
lower level: Express (no regular service)
Carroll Gardens Carroll Street local F all timesG all times October 7, 1933[67]
Gowanus Smith–Ninth Streets local F all timesG all times October 7, 1933[67]
Fourth Avenue local F all timesG all times October 7, 1933[67] BMT Fourth Avenue Line (D late nightsN late nights, and limited rush hour service in the reverse-peak directionR all timesW limited rush hour service only) at Ninth Street
Park Slope Disabled access Seventh Avenue all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak directionG all times October 7, 1933[67]
express tracks diverge (<F> two rush hour trains, peak direction)
Windsor Terrace 15th Street–Prospect Park local F all timesG all times October 7, 1933[67]
express tracks rejoin on lower level (<F> two rush hour trains, peak direction)
Fort Hamilton Parkway local F all timesG all times October 7, 1933[67]
express tracks rise (no regular service)
Kensington Disabled access Church Avenue all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak directionG all times October 7, 1933[67] southern terminal of G all times train
Connecting tracks to Church Avenue Yard
Former stations on BMT Culver Line, to the west of the IND merge north of Ditmas Avenue
Sunset Park Ninth Avenue all Culver Shuttle March 16, 1919[42][43] Stopped on lower level, which closed on May 11, 1975. Transfer was available to the BMT West End Line.
Borough Park Fort Hamilton Parkway local Culver Shuttle March 16, 1919[42][43] Closed on May 11, 1975, and demolished in 1985.
13th Avenue local Culver Shuttle March 16, 1919[42][43] Closed on May 11, 1975, and demolished in 1985.
Southbound express track merges into southbound local track and bi-directional express track creating a 3 track line (formerly the BMT Culver Line)
Kensington/
Borough Park
Ditmas Avenue local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43] Former terminal for the Culver Shuttle, side platform closed on May 11, 1975.
18th Avenue all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43]
Midwood Avenue I local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43]
Bay Parkway local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43]
Avenue N local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43]
Gravesend Avenue P local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43]
Kings Highway all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction March 16, 1919[42][43] B82 Select Bus Service
southern terminal of several F trains during rush hours
Avenue U local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction May 10, 1919[45][46]
Avenue X local F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction May 10, 1919[42][45][46]
Express track ends merging into southbound local track and continuing into Coney Island Yard
Coney Island Neptune Avenue all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction May 1, 1920[47]
West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction May 1, 1920[47] BMT Brighton Line (Q all times)
Disabled access Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue all F all times <F> two rush hour trains, peak direction May 1, 1920[47] BMT Brighton Line (Q all times)
BMT Sea Beach Line (N all times)
BMT West End Line (D all times)

References

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from Grokipedia
The IND Culver Line is a rapid transit line in the New York City Subway's B Division, extending approximately 9 miles from Jay Street–MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn southward through Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Midwood to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue in southern Brooklyn, where it connects to other lines serving the beach area.[1] The line combines an underground segment built as part of the Independent Subway System (IND) with an elevated portion originally from the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (later BMT), providing local service via the F and G trains during weekdays and weekends (with G not operating late nights), and F train service late nights, supplemented by limited express service on the northern segment during rush hours in the peak direction.[1][2] Opened in stages between 1919 and 1933 for its core infrastructure, the line originated with the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad's surface route in 1875, which was elevated and electrified by the BMT in the early 20th century, while the IND's underground portion from Jay Street–MetroTech to Church Avenue debuted on October 7, 1933, as seven new stations linking to the existing IND Eighth Avenue Line.[3] A key connection south of Church Avenue to the elevated BMT Culver Line opened on October 30, 1954, integrating the full route into the IND division and allowing through service from Manhattan via the IND Sixth Avenue Line, initially operated by the D train until 1967 when the F train took over following the Chrystie Street connection.[4][3] This unification eliminated the need for transfers at Church Avenue and extended subway access to Coney Island; earlier, the 5th Avenue elevated spur had been abandoned in 1940, and the segment from Ditmas Avenue to 9th Avenue operated as the short-lived Culver Shuttle until its discontinuation on May 11, 1975.[3] The line features 21 stations, including notable interchanges at Jay Street–MetroTech (with A, C, and R trains), Seventh Avenue (with G train), and Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (with D, N, and Q trains), with the elevated section from Ditmas Avenue southward offering views of residential neighborhoods and facilitating commuter and tourist travel to Brooklyn's southern shore.[1] Recent upgrades include Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signal technology implementation starting in 2020 and expected to be completed in 2025 to improve capacity and reliability, alongside structural rehabilitations on the elevated viaduct between Church Avenue and Kings Highway.[5] Despite its historical significance as one of the IND's early expansions to counter private subway monopolies, the line has faced challenges like deferred maintenance and service disruptions, yet remains a vital artery for over 100,000 daily riders (as of 2023) connecting Brooklyn's diverse communities.[6][4]

Route and service

Northern segment: Jay Street to Church Avenue

The northern segment of the IND Culver Line extends approximately 4.5 miles from Jay Street–MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn to Church Avenue in Kensington, forming a key urban link in the Independent Subway System. This four-track corridor, designed in the 1920s and opened in phases between 1933 and 1934, facilitates connections to the IND Sixth Avenue Line at its northern terminus and the IND Crosstown Line at Church Avenue, enabling integrated service across Brooklyn. The alignment primarily follows underground tunnels to minimize surface disruption in densely populated areas, with strategic elevations for geographic obstacles.[7] From Jay Street–MetroTech, the line runs south under Smith Street through Downtown Brooklyn and into Carroll Gardens, maintaining a consistent underground profile along this commercial corridor. Near Carroll Street, the tracks portal to the surface and ascend to an elevated structure, crossing the Gowanus Canal on a prominent steel and concrete viaduct that rises to 87.5 feet above the waterway. This engineering feature, completed in 1933, includes bridges over the canal and adjacent streets in Gowanus, providing clearance for maritime traffic while supporting rapid transit operations; the viaduct's design addressed the canal's industrial significance and the need for a high-level crossing without extensive open-cut excavation.[8] South of the viaduct, the alignment descends back into tunnel near Fourth Avenue, transitioning to open-cut sections in places as it proceeds under Fourth Avenue through Gowanus and Park Slope, then veers to McDonald Avenue via a subsurface curve in Windsor Terrace. These open-cut portions, totaling less than a mile, allow for easier maintenance access and were incorporated to navigate varying terrain in South Brooklyn without full elevation. The entire segment is built to B Division standards, with provisions for express and local tracks to handle peak-hour volumes.[3] Service on this segment integrates with the broader IND network, sharing local tracks with the G train from Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets to Church Avenue, where the G terminates; as of 2025, Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling is being implemented along the line to improve capacity and reliability.[5] The elevated viaduct's structure draws from earlier BMT Culver Line precedents but was reengineered for IND subway compatibility.[7]

Southern segment: Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island

The southern segment of the IND Culver Line begins at the Ditmas Avenue junction, where it diverges southward from the northern mainline via a connecting ramp, transitioning from underground to an elevated structure. This private right-of-way alignment extends approximately 6 miles along McDonald Avenue (formerly Gravesend Avenue) through the Kensington and Midwood neighborhoods of Brooklyn, serving as an isolated corridor with limited street interactions to support efficient transit flow.[9][3] The route features a three-track elevated configuration from Ditmas Avenue to Kings Highway, including a center express track for operational flexibility, constructed primarily with solid girder supports over private property south of 37th Street before paralleling McDonald Avenue. South of Avenue X, the structure narrows to two tracks supported by lattice girders, maintaining elevation until reaching the Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue terminal. This design minimizes grade crossings and emphasizes grade separation throughout, contrasting with the viaduct's role in the northern elevation. The segment was originally developed as a BMT elevated line in 1919–1920, influencing its enduring physical layout.[3][9] Key physical elements include integration with the adjacent Coney Island Yards between Neptune Avenue and Avenue X, providing essential space for train storage, maintenance, and layups near the recreational endpoint. The overall structure prioritizes durability and capacity in a semi-isolated setting, with level junctions facilitating smooth progression to the terminal's multi-platform arrangement.[3]

Culver Viaduct

The Culver Viaduct, constructed in 1933 as part of the Independent Subway System's (IND) expansion in Brooklyn, spans approximately one mile over the Gowanus Canal and adjacent industrial areas.[8] This elevated structure was designed to provide grade separation for rail traffic in the densely developed South Brooklyn neighborhood, replacing earlier at-grade operations and accommodating the transition from the BMT Culver Line to the IND network.[10] Built with concrete-encased steel bents and reinforced concrete truss members, the viaduct reaches a maximum height of 87.5 feet to allow passage of tall-mast ships beneath, a requirement driven by federal navigation regulations at the time.[8] Engineering features of the viaduct include its four-track configuration, which supports dual subway lines and integrates two above-ground stations—Smith–Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue. The design incorporates structural piers that align the rail bed with sidewalks below, enabling multi-level urban integration while bearing heavy rail loads.[8][11] Its steel-and-concrete composition was intended for durability, though the absence of initial waterproofing contributed to long-term vulnerabilities.[11] The viaduct's elevated profile, the highest in the New York City Subway system at its Smith–Ninth Streets station, facilitates efficient transit flow but imposes geometric constraints, including curves that limit train speeds.[10] In operation, the Culver Viaduct serves as a vital link in the northern segment of the IND Culver Line, carrying F and G trains between Jay Street–MetroTech and Church Avenue while providing grade separation from street-level traffic and the polluted Gowanus Canal.[11] This role enhances safety and capacity in a high-density area, though the structure's curves necessitate speed restrictions to maintain stability.[8] Maintenance challenges for the viaduct stem primarily from its proximity to the Gowanus Canal, leading to corrosion accelerated by water infiltration and industrial pollutants. Periodic inspections have revealed issues such as cracking in concrete elements greater than 10 mils wide, addressed through pressure injection with low-viscosity epoxy resin and application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) fabric over more than one million square feet.[8] A major $275 million rehabilitation completed in 2016 included track replacements, waterproofing of concrete decks, and new drainage systems, yet post-project assessments identified ongoing problems like leaking expansion joints and brace deterioration, prompting further reinforcements.[11] These efforts, including black mesh netting installed in 2003 to catch debris, underscore the structure's ongoing need for vigilant upkeep amid environmental stresses.[8]

History

Pre-IND era: BMT Culver Line (1875–1954)

The BMT Culver Line originated as the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad, chartered in 1868 and opened on June 19, 1875, as a steam-powered surface line running from Prospect Park in Brooklyn to Gravesend along a private right-of-way through South Brooklyn.[3] The line, founded by local businessman Andrew R. Culver, initially spanned about 5.5 miles with stops at key intermediate points including Church Avenue and Ditmas Avenue, which were constructed as part of the original surface infrastructure to serve growing residential areas.[3] On July 27, 1875, the route was extended southward to Culver Terminal near Coney Island, providing direct access to the beachfront amusement area and boosting excursion traffic during the summer season.[3] Further expansion occurred in 1879 when the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad leased the New York and Coney Island Railroad, allowing extension to Norton's Point at the western end of Coney Island via an additional private right-of-way segment.[3] In 1893, the line came under the control of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), which prioritized electrification to improve efficiency and safety amid increasing urban density. Electrification was completed in 1899, replacing steam locomotives with electric trolley cars and third-rail power, which enabled more frequent service and reduced operating costs while aligning with broader trends in urban rail modernization.[3] Operations evolved under the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT), which leased the line in 1899 and later reorganized as the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) in 1923 following earlier financial reorganization.[3] The line primarily functioned as a shuttle service between Prospect Park and Coney Island, with connections to Manhattan via the 5th Avenue Elevated and later the 4th Avenue Subway; through trains from downtown Brooklyn to Coney Island operated during peak hours, carrying passengers on BMT routes like the Sea Beach and West End lines.[3] In 1912, operational control shifted to the South Brooklyn Railway, a BMT subsidiary, which managed local and express patterns to accommodate commuter and leisure travel.[3] To address growing congestion on the surface tracks and enhance speed and capacity, the BMT initiated an elevation project in 1916, constructing a steel elevated structure over the existing South Brooklyn Railway right-of-way.[3] The elevated section from 9th Avenue to Kings Highway opened on March 16, 1919, followed by an extension to Avenue X on May 10, 1919, and completion to the Brighton Beach Line connection at West 8th Street on May 29, 1919.[3] This elevation, including the Culver Viaduct over street-level crossings, transformed the line into a more efficient rapid transit corridor, with subway through-service to Chambers Street via the 4th Avenue Line beginning on May 1, 1931.[3] By the 1940s, the line faced declining ridership due to competition from automobiles, which became more accessible post-World War II and drew passengers away from fixed-rail services amid expanding highway networks.[12] Financial strains on the BMT, exacerbated by the fixed five-cent fare mandated under the 1913 Dual Contracts and rising operational costs from inflation and maintenance, contributed to broader system instability.[13] These issues culminated in the city's acquisition of the BMT in 1940 as part of subway unification, placing the Culver Line under the New York City Board of Transportation while leasing it back to the BMT until full integration in 1954.[4]

IND Brooklyn Line origins (1933–1954)

The planning for the IND Brooklyn Line, also referred to as the South Brooklyn Line or Smith Street Line, emerged in the 1920s as part of the Independent Subway System's expansion initiatives under the New York State Public Service Commission. This effort aimed to create a city-owned rapid transit network that would compete directly with the private BMT and IRT systems by underbuilding their existing elevated and subway routes in Brooklyn, thereby offering lower fares and improved service to underserved areas. The 1929 Second System plan specifically outlined a trunk line through Downtown Brooklyn along Smith Street, designed with four tracks to accommodate high-capacity express and local services, and included provisions for southward extensions toward southern Brooklyn neighborhoods.[14] Construction of the IND Brooklyn Line commenced in the early 1930s amid the Great Depression, focusing on a four-track structure from Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn to Church Avenue in Kensington. The line opened in phases: the initial segment to Jay Street–Borough Hall on February 1, 1933, followed by an extension to Bergen Street on March 20, 1933, and the completion to Church Avenue on October 7, 1933, adding seven new stations along the route. Engineered as an underground trunk line emerging from the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River, the Church Avenue terminal was built to include a stub for a future connecting ramp to the adjacent BMT Culver Line.[4] Upon opening, the IND Brooklyn Line provided initial service via the F train, which operated local service from Church Avenue through Downtown Brooklyn to the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan, connecting to Inwood–207th Street. Additional service came from the A train until its 1936 rerouting to the IND Fulton Street Line, while the G train from the IND Crosstown Line offered cross-Brooklyn connections at Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets. The line's underground design facilitated efficient travel, but ridership growth was modest due to the era's economic constraints.[4][3] Pre-unification challenges persisted through the 1930s and 1940s, as the IND Brooklyn Line operated independently from the parallel BMT Culver Line despite the built-in provisions at Church Avenue for a connecting ramp, which remained unconstructed due to funding shortages and shifting priorities. Southern extension plans beyond Church Avenue, envisioned in the 1929 scheme to reach areas like Coney Island via integration with existing rights-of-way, were repeatedly deferred amid the city's financial strains and the impacts of World War II, limiting the line's scope to its 1933 endpoint for over two decades.[4]

Unification via Culver Ramp (1954)

The Culver Ramp, also known as the Culver Line Connection, was built as an elevated concrete structure to physically link the underground IND South Brooklyn Line at Church Avenue with the elevated BMT Culver Line near Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn.[3] Construction on the ramp began in June 1941 as part of the broader Independent Subway System expansion plans but was halted during World War II due to material shortages and wartime priorities; work resumed in the early 1950s and continued through 1954 under the direction of the New York City Transit Authority.[3] The project, designated as T-11 in Transit Authority records, aimed to integrate the IND's northern segment—originally constructed in 1933—with the BMT's southern trackage to Coney Island, fulfilling long-standing goals for a unified route from Manhattan to Brooklyn's beaches.[15] The ramp's completion marked the operational merger of the two systems on October 30, 1954, when the connection officially opened to passenger service.[3] Prior to this, riders had to transfer between the IND subway at Church Avenue and the BMT elevated at Ditmas Avenue, a process that the new link eliminated by allowing seamless through-running.[3] With the opening, the New York City Transit Authority shifted control of the BMT Culver Line's southern portion—from Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island—directly to the IND Division, ending BMT operations on that segment while retaining a short shuttle service northward from Ditmas Avenue to Ninth Avenue until 1975.[3] The IND D train was immediately extended over the ramp and former BMT trackage, providing direct service from the Bronx's 205th Street to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue and creating one of the system's longest single routes at approximately 26.8 miles.[15] This unification had immediate operational benefits, including streamlined passenger flows to Coney Island without intermediate transfers and enhanced capacity during peak hours by reallocating equipment from the BMT Division.[15] The project, with an estimated total cost of $28,155,000, also included rehabilitation of the acquired BMT infrastructure, such as new substations and signaling upgrades to support IND standards.[15] Engineering-wise, the ramp was designed with four-track compatibility to accommodate future express service, though it initially operated with two tracks to match the existing BMT elevated configuration south of Ditmas Avenue.[3]

Post-1954 operations and changes

Following the unification of the IND and BMT portions of the Culver Line in 1954, the D train provided full-length service from the Bronx to Coney Island via the new Culver Ramp connection at Ditmas Avenue, marking the first through subway service on the route.[16] This arrangement allowed IND trains to replace the former BMT elevated service south of Ditmas Avenue, while the isolated northern segment of the original BMT Culver Line between Ditmas Avenue and Ninth Avenue operated as a temporary shuttle service designated SS, using two-car trains to connect with the Fourth Avenue subway lines.[3] On November 26, 1967, as part of broader service revisions tied to the Chrystie Street Connection, the F train assumed responsibility for Culver Line service to Coney Island, replacing the D train, which was rerouted over the Manhattan Bridge to the Brighton Beach Line.[3] The Culver Shuttle persisted as a short elevated connector until its permanent discontinuation at 12:01 a.m. on May 11, 1975, due to low ridership and high maintenance costs on the aging structure; the shuttle's final eastbound train departed Ninth Avenue at 11:54 p.m. the previous evening.[3][16] Demolition of the shuttle's elevated tracks began in the mid-1980s, eliminating the remnant BMT infrastructure north of Ditmas Avenue.[3] During the 1970s and 1980s, the unified Culver Line experienced ridership declines mirroring the broader New York City Subway system's challenges, with annual passenger counts dropping from over 1 billion systemwide in the early 1970s to 990.9 million by fiscal year 1982, driven by economic downturns, rising crime rates, and perceptions of deteriorating service quality.[17][18] On the Culver Line, these factors contributed to reduced frequencies and occasional minor reroutings during good order (G.O.) projects for track repairs and maintenance, often substituting bus service along McDonald Avenue.[18] By the 1990s, as the city's economy recovered and safety measures improved under the Capital Rebuild Program, ridership began to stabilize and increase, with systemwide figures rising steadily from the late 1980s lows, enabling more consistent service intervals on the F train. Key operational adjustments in this period included the introduction of rush-hour express F service on the Culver Line from June 1968 to August 1987, utilizing the center tracks north of Church Avenue to improve travel times to Manhattan.[3] Platform lengthening projects at several stations, such as those completed in the late 1960s to accommodate 10-car IND consists up to 615 feet, supported these changes and allowed for longer trains during peak periods.[4]

Rehabilitation and modernization projects

In the early 2000s, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began addressing aging infrastructure on the IND Culver Line through targeted rehabilitation efforts, including track replacements and structural repairs to maintain state of good repair.[19] These initiatives focused on renewing elevated sections and stations, with work such as the replacement of track panels and ties to enhance safety and reliability.[20] A major component of these efforts was the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation project, which addressed seismic vulnerabilities and structural deterioration on the elevated viaduct spanning the Gowanus Canal and carrying F and G train service.[21] Launched in 2010 as part of the MTA's capital program, the $275.5 million initiative involved engineering and construction upgrades to the steel and concrete structure, including waterproofing, painting, and reinforcement to extend its lifespan.[22] The multi-phase project, spanning 2013 to 2019, improved resilience against environmental stresses and earthquakes, though post-completion inspections in 2019 identified additional patching needs for concrete elements.[11] Signal modernization projects accelerated in the 2020s, with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) installation commencing on the Culver Line in March 2020 under a $253 million contract awarded to Tutor Perini Corporation for wayside equipment supplied by Siemens.[23][24] This upgrade replaces century-old fixed-block signals with dynamic train control to increase capacity and reduce headways, with construction progressing to 99% completion by mid-2025. As of November 2025, full CBTC activation on the Culver Line remains projected for late 2025, three years later than the original timeline due to contractor delays and integration challenges.[25][5] These modernizations have included southern segment signal replacements from Church Avenue to West 8th Street–New York Aquarium, necessitating service disruptions such as eight weekend closures of F train service in summer 2024.[26] During these periods, from June to September, F trains were suspended between Church Avenue and Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, with shuttle buses and alternate service provided to minimize impacts on riders.[27] Additional work, including interlocking replacements at Kings Highway and new signal facilities at Ditmas Avenue, Bay Parkway, and Avenue X stations, contributed to ongoing weekend interruptions throughout 2024.[28] The Culver Line's upgrades are integrated into the MTA's $68.4 billion 2025–2029 Capital Plan, which allocates funds for continued accessibility improvements, such as elevator installations at select stations, and resilience enhancements against climate threats like flooding.[29] While no full automation is planned in the near term, these investments prioritize structural reinforcements and ADA compliance to serve growing ridership without introducing automated train operations.[30] The plan supports broader goals of making over 60 additional subway stations accessible, indirectly benefiting Culver Line stations through system-wide initiatives.[31]

Operations and infrastructure

Current service patterns

The IND Culver Line's northern segment from Jay Street–MetroTech to Church Avenue is served by the F train as local service at all times, while the G train provides local service at all times between Court Square in Queens and Church Avenue in Brooklyn, sharing tracks with the F from Bergen Street to Church Avenue. The F train operates local service 24 hours a day from Jamaica–179th Street in Queens to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn via the Culver Line's local tracks south of Church Avenue. Starting December 8, 2025, on weekdays from approximately 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the F train will swap routes with the M train between Manhattan and Queens, running local via the 60th Street tunnel while continuing to serve the Culver Line to Coney Island.[32][33][34] During weekday rush hours, limited express service runs on the northern segment's express tracks from 179th Street to Church Avenue, consisting of two trains in the peak direction (Manhattan-bound in the morning and Coney Island-bound in the evening), a pattern introduced on September 16, 2019, to alleviate crowding on the local service. These express trains skip stations at Fort Hamilton Parkway, 15th Street–Prospect Park, Fourth Avenue– Ninth Street, Smith–Ninth Street, Carroll Street, and Bergen Street. Service frequencies on the line vary by time of day and segment. In the peak direction during rush hours, F local trains run every 6 to 8 minutes, supplemented by the expresses every 12 to 15 minutes on the northern segment; off-peak combined F and G service provides trains every 6 to 10 minutes where they overlap. The G train operates every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays during peak hours and every 15 to 20 minutes off-peak, extending to Church Avenue on weekends as well for 24-hour service along its full route.[32][33] Special adjustments occur for high-demand periods, such as holidays and summers, when additional F trains or reroutes are implemented to accommodate crowds at Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, including potential express extensions or shuttle services during events. Weekend G service maintains the full route to Church Avenue, with minor variations for maintenance.[35][36]

Signaling, automation, and electrification

The IND Culver Line employs a fixed-block signaling system utilizing automatic block signaling, which divides the track into predefined sections to manage train movements and prevent collisions. This legacy infrastructure, inherited from the original IND construction in the 1930s and BMT integration in the 1950s, relies on track circuits and wayside signals for train detection and speed enforcement.[5] The line is undergoing a transition to Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), a digital overlay that introduces moving-block operations by enabling continuous train location tracking via radio communications between trains and wayside equipment. CBTC installation on the southern segment from Church Avenue to West 8th Street–New York Aquarium began construction in 2020 and is ongoing as of November 2025; full system-wide implementation across the entire F route, including northern extensions, is projected for 2028.[5] Electrification on the Culver Line is provided by a 625 V DC third rail system, standard for the New York City Subway, which supplies power to trains via contact shoes. This setup originated with the IND's 1930s openings and the 1954 unification of the BMT Culver branch, featuring original substations and cabling upgraded in recent decades for improved energy efficiency and reliability.[37] As of 2025, the line operates at Grade of Automation (GOA) 1, involving non-automatic train operation where train operators manually control acceleration, braking, and door operations under CBTC supervision for protection. While CBTC facilitates potential advancement to GOA 2 semi-automatic runs without onboard operators for routine tasks, manual operation remains standard, with no full automation implemented.[38] Recent advancements include the 2023 initiation of CBTC construction on the adjacent Crosstown Line (G train), enabling integrated signaling and future interoperable operations between the Culver and Crosstown segments at shared infrastructure points like Church Avenue. Additionally, a 2020-awarded design-build contract for Culver signal modernization, valued at over $250 million, incorporates CBTC overlays and renewals to boost capacity by up to 20% through reduced headways.[5][39]

Track configuration and rolling stock

The IND Culver Line uses standard gauge track of 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm), consistent with B Division specifications across the New York City Subway system.) The line features a two-track mainline north of Ditmas Avenue, with the local tracks serving F and G trains; although provisions for four tracks exist in the northern underground section, the outer express tracks remain unused and are not ballasted.[3] Crossovers are located at key points, including a diamond crossover south of Church Avenue to facilitate train routing between local and express paths, though express service is currently suspended south of this station.[3] North of Ditmas Avenue, the configuration transitions from underground open-cut tunnels to elevated structures, while the southern portion from Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island runs on embankment and at-grade sections with two tracks. Storage sidings are available at the Coney Island Yard complex, accessed via a ramp diverging from the mainline south of Avenue X station, allowing for train layups and maintenance primarily for F service cars.[3] The line integrates third rail electrification along its route for power supply to trains.[3] Rolling stock on the Culver Line adheres to B Division standards, with cars measuring 60 or 75 feet in length, 10 feet wide, and capable of 55 mph maximum speeds, though curves such as those near Bay Parkway limit operations to 25–40 mph on average. The F train primarily operates with R46 cars built in the 1970s, supplemented by R68 and R68A cars from the 1980s, as well as newer R160 and R179 models for improved reliability.[40] The G train, serving the northern segment to Church Avenue, operates with R211 open-gangway cars as of 2025, enhancing capacity and passenger flow with features like wider interiors and LED lighting. These car types ensure compatibility with the line's track geometry and loading platforms.[41][42]

Stations

Northern stations: Jay Street to Church Avenue

The northern segment of the IND Culver Line runs mostly underground through Brooklyn from Jay Street–MetroTech to Church Avenue, except for the elevated Smith–Ninth Streets and Fourth Avenue stations, serving dense urban neighborhoods with local stops on the F and G trains. This section features nine stations characterized by the Independent Subway System's (IND) standard design, including colorful tile mosaics depicting station names and geometric patterns on walls and platforms. Most platforms are underground, with narrow configurations typical of early 20th-century rapid transit engineering to facilitate quick boarding and alighting. The two elevated stations are on steel structures. Jay Street–MetroTech serves as a major transfer hub, connecting the Culver Line to the IND Sixth Avenue Line (G) and Eighth Avenue Line (A, C), as well as the IRT Eastern Parkway Line (2, 3) and Lexington Avenue Line (4, 5) via underground passageways. Opened in 1933 as part of the IND's initial expansion, it features two island platforms for four tracks, with IND-era tilework in blue and white hues. Accessibility was added in the 1990s with elevators from street level to mezzanine and platforms, making it one of the few fully ADA-compliant stations in this segment. Daily ridership here exceeds 15,000 boardings, driven by its proximity to Downtown Brooklyn offices and universities. The next station, Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets, is an underground transfer point shared with the IND Eighth Avenue Line (A, C), featuring two island platforms and distinctive guilloche tile borders in green and cream. Built in 1936, it includes a mural by artist Deborah Golet titled "Meditations on a Commuter," added during renovations. Access is stairs-only from the street, with no elevators to platforms, though recent upgrades include improved lighting and tactile edge strips. It sees high usage for cross-Brooklyn transfers, contributing to the segment's combined average of about 20,000 daily boardings.[43] Carroll Street, an underground local stop, consists of two side platforms serving the outer tracks, with IND-standard name tablets in black on white tiles and friezes showing neighborhood motifs. Opened in 1933, it provides street access via stairs to the Carroll Gardens area, lacking elevators and relying on recent platform renewals for safety enhancements like wind screens. The station supports local residential and commercial traffic on the F and G lines. Smith–Ninth Streets follows as the highest station in the New York City Subway system at 87.5 feet above ground, an elevated structure with two side platforms and prominent IND tilework in red and beige accents. Opened in 1933, its height results from spanning the Gowanus Canal, with stairs-only access and no elevators; elevators are planned for installation as part of the MTA's 2025-2029 Capital Plan. It serves Gowanus industrial and residential users. Fourth Avenue is an elevated station with two side platforms, featuring classic IND mosaics and ironwork railings, built in 1933 to connect to nearby Park Slope. Stairs provide access from the street, with no elevators, though platform edges were renewed in the 2010s for better grip and visibility. The stop facilitates local commuting on the F and G services. Seventh Avenue, another underground local, has two side platforms with green-tinted IND tiles and name plaques, opened in 1933 over the residential Prospect Heights area. It offers stairs-only access, with recent maintenance focusing on structural integrity of the viaduct. Daily boardings here reflect moderate neighborhood usage. 15th Street–Prospect Park mirrors the design with two side platforms and blue IND tilework, serving the edge of Park Slope since its 1933 opening. Underground and stairs-accessible only, it includes basic shelters and has seen minor upgrades for lighting. The station supports local F and G riders. Fort Hamilton Parkway is an underground station featuring two side platforms with yellow and black IND mosaics, constructed in 1933 for the Windsor Terrace community. Access is via stairs, without elevators, and platforms include canopy covers for weather protection. It handles steady local traffic. Church Avenue marks the end of the northern segment as a four-track, two-island platform express station, where the line branches for southern extensions; it features orange IND tiles and opened in 1933. Stairs provide entry from Kensington, with no elevators, though the station's design allows for potential future accessibility modifications. As a key junction, it contributes significantly to the segment's ridership.

Southern stations: Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island

The southern segment of the IND Culver Line extends from Ditmas Avenue to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, comprising a series of stations primarily serving residential areas in Brooklyn's Midwood, Bensonhurst, and Gravesend neighborhoods, with increased recreational usage toward the terminus at Coney Island. This portion, originally constructed as the BMT Culver Line elevated structure between 1919 and 1920, features three tracks with side platforms at most stations, reflecting early 20th-century design elements such as steel viaducts and open-air platforms. The line remains elevated through Avenue X before descending to at-grade levels south of there, facilitating access to beachfront areas. Accessibility is limited across these stations, with elevators and ramps available only at the terminal Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue following its major reconstruction.[3] Ditmas Avenue, located at McDonald Avenue and Ditmas Avenue, marks the transition from the subway tunnel to the elevated structure and served as a key transfer point until 1975, when the adjacent Culver Shuttle from Ninth Avenue was discontinued, allowing cross-platform connections to IND services. The station retains its original BMT-era configuration with two side platforms serving local tracks, though the former shuttle stub track has been removed.[3] Proceeding south, 18th Avenue at 18th Avenue and McDonald Avenue features two side platforms on the elevated viaduct, providing service to nearby residential communities with no accessibility upgrades. Similarly, 20th Avenue, between 20th Avenue and McDonald Avenue, maintains the standard BMT design with side platforms and connects to local shopping districts, emphasizing the line's suburban character. Bay Parkway, at Bay Parkway and McDonald Avenue, follows this pattern, serving as an entry point to Bensonhurst with its intact early elevated architecture. Avenue N and Avenue P, positioned at their respective avenues and McDonald Avenue, are local stops with side platforms elevated above street level, catering to low-density residential zones; these stations exemplify the line's spread-out spacing, averaging about 0.5 miles apart. Kings Highway, at Kings Highway and McDonald Avenue, is an express station with two island platforms, accommodating slightly higher local traffic near commercial corridors but lacking full accessibility features. Avenue U, at Avenue U and McDonald Avenue, continues the elevated local service pattern, supporting community access in southern Brooklyn. Avenue X, located at Avenue X and McDonald Avenue, underwent reconstruction in the mid-1980s to address structural concerns on the aging elevated viaduct, incorporating updated platform windscreens while preserving its two side platforms for local trains; the express track terminates just south of here. Beyond this point, the line shifts to at-grade operation. Neptune Avenue, between West 6th Street and Surf Avenue, features two side platforms at street level with connections to the Sea Beach Line, serving as a gateway to Coney Island's attractions. West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium, at West 8th Street and Surf Avenue, also at-grade with side platforms, provides transfers to the Brighton Line and direct access to the aquarium and boardwalk.[3] The segment concludes at Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue, the major terminal at Stillwell Avenue and Surf Avenue, rebuilt between 2001 and 2005 at a cost of $310 million to include a single island platform, full ADA accessibility with elevators, and a distinctive solar-paneled canopy evoking Coney Island's amusement heritage. This station handles peak summer ridership of approximately 15,000 passengers daily, driven by beachgoers and transfers to other lines, underscoring its role as a seasonal hub despite lower year-round density compared to urban sections of the line.[44][45]

References

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