After Over 40 Years, MTA Reopens 4th Avenue-9th Street Station House

As the MTA continues its Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation Project—basically rebuilding it—the agency has reopened the 4th Avenue-9th Street station house, which has been closed for 40 years. NYC Transit President Thomas Prendergast said, "During the initial phases of this project, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to reopen the east side station house on 4th Avenue. We are grateful to the elected officials whose contributions allowed us to do even more than we had planned at this historic station."

The station house has new lights, floors, repainted walls, and new turnstiles. The MTA adds, "Residents of Park Slope and points east can now avoid crossing busy 4th Avenue in order to get to the station, benefiting the majority of the 11,400 customers who use the station on an average weekday." Here are some more details:

Although this entrance is now open, there is much more work to come. The set of doors leading to and from 4th Avenue are temporary and the doors leading to and from 10th Street will remain closed at this time. Both sets of doors are scheduled to be completed later this year. In addition, the historic arch spanning 4th Avenue, which had been closed in with advertising billboards on both sides, will be restored. This will give the station a lighter, more open look.

Also underway at the 4th Avenue station:
- Repair and restoration of all exterior tower stone and brickwork;
- Repair and painting of viaduct underside over 4th Avenue;
- Replacement of lighting beneath viaduct over 4th Avenue and sidewalks (will double existing illumination);
- Restoration of all four entrance globes (on 4th Avenue and on 10th Street);
- Restoration of all storefront windows (on 4th Avenue and on 10th Street). There will be 3 stores on the east side and 3 on the west side, and MTA Real Estate is projecting a contract award in 2013;
- Restoration of some platform windows;
- Restoration of station platforms and canopies; and
- Installation of a PA system on station platforms.

Expected completion date for the component work at 4th Avenue-9th Street is fall 2012.