3 (New York City Subway service)

The 3 Seventh Avenue Express[2] is a rapid transit service in the A Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is colored red since it uses the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line through most of Manhattan.[3]

For the former Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation 3 service, see T (New York City Subway service).

Seventh Avenue Express
A 3 train of R62s entering Sutter Avenue–Rutland Road in Brooklyn.
Northern end	Harlem–148th Street
Southern end	New Lots Avenue (daytime) Times Square–42nd Street (late nights)
Stations	34 9 (late night service)
Rolling stock	260 R62s (26 trains)[1] (Rolling stock assignments subject to change)
Depot	Livonia Yard
Started service	November 23, 1904 (1904-11-23)
Route map  3  Harlem–148th Street 145th Street (first 5 cars only) the Bronx via White Plains Road 135th Street 125th Street 116th Street Central Park North–110th Street Uptown & the Bronx via Broadway-7th Avenue 96th Street bypassed local section 91st Street 86th Street 79th Street 72nd Street bypassed local section 66th Street–Lincoln Center 59th Street–Columbus Circle 50th Street Times Square–42nd Street  3  nights 34th Street–Penn Station bypassed local section 28th Street 23rd Street 18th Street 14th Street bypassed local section Christopher Street–Sheridan Square Houston Street Canal Street Franklin Street Chambers Street Downtown via Broadway-7th Avenue Park Place Fulton Street Wall Street Manhattan Brooklyn Clark Street ​ Manhattan & Bronx via Lexington Avenue Borough Hall northbound only for 4 and ​5 trains Hoyt Street Nevins Street Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center Bergen Street Grand Army Plaza Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum Franklin Avenue ​ to Brooklyn College via Nostrand Avenue Nostrand Avenue Kingston Avenue Crown Heights–Utica Avenue  4  ( 5  limited) Sutter Avenue–Rutland Road Saratoga Avenue Rockaway Avenue Junius Street Pennsylvania Avenue Van Siclen Avenue New Lots Avenue  3  ( 2  ​​ 4  ​ 5  limited) Legend Lines used by the Other services sharing tracks with the Unused lines, connections, or service patterns  3  Termini of services Cross-platform interchange Platforms on different levels

The 3 operates at all times. Daytime service operates between 148th Street in Harlem, Manhattan and New Lots Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, making express stops in Manhattan and all stops in Brooklyn. Late night service short turns at Times Square–42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.

The 3 train formerly ran to City Hall or South Ferry in Manhattan, and were later rerouted to Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College in Brooklyn. In 1983, it was rerouted to New Lots Avenue.

Service history

Early history

Rollsign used on the ends of R12 through R36 cars

1967–1979 bullet

On November 23, 1904, the IRT Lenox Avenue Line opened between 96th Street and 145th Street. 3 trains ran between 145th Street and City Hall, making all stops.[4]

On July 1, 1918, the entire IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line was completed. 3 trains were rerouted south of 42nd Street from the IRT Lexington Avenue Line to this new line. They now made all stops to South Ferry.[4]

As of 1934, 3 service operated between 145th Street and South Ferry except late nights, when service operated between 145th Street and 96th Street, making local stops.

Under the New York City Transit Authority

On January 3, 1955, late night two-car shuttle service between 145th Street and 96th Street, between 12:12 and 6:57 a.m. was discontinued due to low ridership. As a result, 145th Street was closed overnight. In addition, some 3 trains started running express in Manhattan during rush hours.[5] These trains were extended to Flatbush Avenue; a few layups and put-ins ran to New Lots Avenue.[4] However, from December 20, 1957, 3 trains were rerouted to New Lots Avenue during rush hours. On February 6, 1959, all trains except late nights made express stops in Manhattan as part of the "West Side Improvement" and ran to Flatbush Avenue.[4]

Starting April 8, 1960, 3 trains were rerouted from Flatbush Avenue to New Lots Avenue, and weekday evening service between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. was cut to a shuttle between 145th Street and 135th Street. Before the change, 3 trains had run between 145th Street and Flatbush Avenue between about 5:30 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from about 7:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on Sundays. This service had been supplemented by additional service to and from New Lots Avenue.[6][7]

However, on April 18, 1965, 3 service started to run to Flatbush Avenue again.[4] On October 17, 1965, weekend evening service was also cut to a shuttle between 145th Street and 135th Street.

On May 13, 1968, trains were extended to the newly completed 148th Street–Lenox Terminal.[8] Later that year, on December 15, all-night shuttle service between 148th Street and 135th Street was brought back for the first time since 1955. On May 23, 1976, the current practice of starting Sunday service late (9 or 10 a.m.) began.[4]

On July 10, 1983, the 2 and 3 trains swapped terminal in Brooklyn, with 2 trains terminating at Flatbush Avenue and 3 trains terminating at New Lots Avenue. These changes were made to reduce non-revenue subway car mileage, to provide a dedicated fleet for each service, and to provide an easily accessible inspection yard for each service. The change allowed the 2 to be dedicated to 239th Street Yard and allowed the 3 to be assigned to Livonia Yard. With the rerouting of 3 trains, train lengths along the New Lots Line were reduced from 10 cars to 9 cars, within acceptable crowding levels, and train lengths along the Nostrand Avenue Line were increased from 9 to 10 cars, reducing crowding.[9][10]

Beginning on August 5, 1990, late-night shuttles between 148th Street and 135th Street were discontinued and replaced by shuttle buses. On September 4, 1994, late-night shuttles between 148th Street and 135th Street were resumed, but were discontinued again on September 10, 1995.[11] This was a cost-saving measure due to low ridership.[12]

From March 2[13] to October 12, 1998, the IRT Lenox Avenue Line was rehabilitated. Most 3 service was rerouted to 137th Street–City College.[14]

Recent history

After September 11, 2001, the 3 service became a local in Manhattan. After a few switching delays at 96th Street, service was changed on September 19, 2001. It ran in Manhattan as an express between Harlem–148th Street and 14th Street and was replaced by 1 service in Brooklyn. Service returned to New Lots Avenue on September 15, 2002.[4]

On July 27, 2008, late night 3 service was restored, operating express between 148th Street and Times Square–42nd Street. In addition, late morning weekday service was increased from running every 6 to 8 minutes to running every 5 to 7 minutes to reduce crowding on the 2. These increases were made as part of an $8.9 million package of systemwide service enhancements.[15][16]

As a result of planned repairs to Hurricane Sandy-related damage in the Clark Street Tube, on weekends from June 17, 2017 to June 24, 2018, the 3 operated only in Manhattan between Harlem-148th Street and 14th Street with 4 trains providing service in Brooklyn.[17][18]

On November 17, 2019, New York City Transit cut weekday evening 3, 4 and 5 service in order to accommodate planned subway work. This change, which was approved by the MTA Board on June 27, 2019, started late night 3 service to Times Square an hour earlier, at 10:30 p.m. instead of 11:30 p.m. To replace 3 service, 4 service was extended to New Lots Avenue. These changes in service were expected to save the agency $900,000 annually.[19][20]

Route

Service pattern

The following table shows the lines used by the 3, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:[21]

Line	From	To	Tracks	Times
				all ex. nights	late nights
IRT Lenox Avenue Line (full line)	Harlem–148th Street	Central Park North–110th Street	all
IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line	96th Street	Times Square–42nd Street	express
	34th Street–Penn Station	Chambers Street
IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, Brooklyn Branch	Park Place	Borough Hall	all
IRT Eastern Parkway Line (full line)	Hoyt Street	Crown Heights–Utica Avenue	local
IRT New Lots Line (full line)	Sutter Avenue–Rutland Road	New Lots Avenue	all

Stations

For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.[2]

Station service legend
	Stops all times
	Stops all times except late nights
	Stops weekdays only
	Stops rush hours only
	Station closed
	Stops rush hours/weekdays in the peak direction only
Time period details
	Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
↑	Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the indicated direction only
↓
	Elevator access to mezzanine only

	Stations		Subway transfers	Connections/Notes
Manhattan
Lenox Avenue Line
	Harlem–148th Street
	145th Street			Access to and from first five cars of southbound trains, and from first five cars of northbound trains only; no northbound entry. Some southbound a.m. rush hour trips begin at this station
	135th Street		2
	125th Street		2	M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport
	116th Street		2
	Central Park North–110th Street		2
Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line
	96th Street		1  ​2  ​
	72nd Street		1  ​2  ​
	Times Square–42nd Street		1  ​2  ​ 7  <7> ​ (IRT Flushing Line) A  ​C  ​E  (IND Eighth Avenue Line at 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal) N  ​Q  ​R  ​W  (BMT Broadway Line) S  (42nd Street Shuttle)	Port Authority Bus Terminal M34A Select Bus Service
	34th Street–Penn Station		1  ​2  ​	M34 / M34A Select Bus Service Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit at Pennsylvania Station
	14th Street		1  ​2  ​ F  <F> ​M  (IND Sixth Avenue Line at 14th Street) L  (BMT Canarsie Line)	PATH at 14th Street M14A/D Select Bus Service
	Chambers Street		1  ​2  ​
Brooklyn branch
	Park Place		2  A  ​C  (IND Eighth Avenue Line at Chambers Street) E  (IND Eighth Avenue Line at World Trade Center) R  ​W  (BMT Broadway Line at Cortlandt Street)	PATH at World Trade Center
	Fulton Street		2  4  ​5  (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) A  ​C  (IND Eighth Avenue Line) J  ​Z  (BMT Nassau Street Line)	PATH at World Trade Center
	Wall Street		2
Brooklyn
	Clark Street		2
	Borough Hall		2  4  ​5  (IRT Eastern Parkway Line) R  ​W  (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
Eastern Parkway Line
	Hoyt Street		2
	Nevins Street		2  ​​4  ​5
	Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center		2  ​​4  ​5  B  ​Q  (BMT Brighton Line) D  ​N  ​R  ​W  (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)	LIRR Atlantic Branch at Atlantic Terminal
	Bergen Street		2  ​​4
	Grand Army Plaza		2  ​​4
	Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum		2  ​​4
	Franklin Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5  S  (BMT Franklin Avenue Line)
	Nostrand Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5	B44 Select Bus Service
	Kingston Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5
	Crown Heights–Utica Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5	B46 Select Bus Service
New Lots Line
	Sutter Avenue–Rutland Road		2  ​​4  ​5	B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport
	Saratoga Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5
	Rockaway Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5
	Junius Street		2  ​​4  ​5  Out-of-system transfer with MetroCard: L  (BMT Canarsie Line at Livonia Avenue)
	Pennsylvania Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5
	Van Siclen Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5
	New Lots Avenue		2  ​​4  ​5	B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport

References

1. "Subdivision 'A' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 27, 2020" (PDF). The Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 63 (6): 14. June 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
2. "3 Subway Timetable, Effective November 17, 2019". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
3. "Mta.info | Line Colors".
4. "NYCT Line by Line History". erictb.info. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
5. "Subway Cut Is Explained By Official". New York Amsterdam News. December 18, 1954 – via Proquest.
6. Friedlander, Alex; Lonto, Arthur; Raudenbush, Henry (April 1960). "A Summary of Services on the IRT Division, NYCTA" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 3 (1): 3.
7. "IRT Changes in Service -- April 8, 1960" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 3 (1): 3. April 1960.
8. "IRT Passengers Get New 148th St. Station". The New York Times. May 14, 1968. p. 95. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
9. "New IRT Schedules - Increased Service to Flatbush Avenue". New York Division Bulletin. July 1983.
10. "Notice of Public Hearing". New York Amsterdam News. February 26, 1983. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
11. "Coming Transit Reductions: What They Mean for You," The New York Times, August 20, 1995, p. CY10
12. Bleyer, Jennifer (July 17, 2005). "In a City That Never Sleeps, Two Stations That Doze". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
13. Christian, Nichole M. (March 3, 1998). "Subway Line Repairs Start With Confusion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
14. "About NYC Transit - History". October 19, 2002. Archived from the original on October 19, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
15. "Service Enhancements on 3 Line" (Press release). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
16. Neuman, William (June 19, 2008). "Subway Service Increase to Be Less Than Hoped". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
17. "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting December 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 12, 2016. pp. PDF-169 to PDF-175. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
18. "Clark St Tunnel Reconstruction Weekend Service Changes". web.mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 8, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
19. "Transit and Bus Committee Meeting June 2019" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 24, 2019. p. 94-97. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
20. "5 Subway Timetable Effective November 17, 2019". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. November 17, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
21. "Subway Service Guide" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.

External links

• MTA NYC Transit – 3 Seventh Avenue Express
• MTA Subway Time – 3 Train
• "3 Subway Timetable, Effective November 17, 2019". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved January 16, 2020.