IT ONLY TOOK 40 YEARS TO REOPEN THIS STATION

BP MARKOWITZ, MTA NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT REOPEN 4^TH AVENUE/9^TH STREET EAST SIDE STATION HOUSE ON F AND G LINE

On Thursday, February 23, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the MTA New York City Transit, elected officials and community members to celebrate the reopening of the 4^th Avenue-9^th Street east side station house on the F and G line after being out of operation for more than 40 years. The project was supported by $2 million in funding from BP Markowitz.

"The opening of the east side entrance to the 4th Avenue-9th Street station is a big win for the community and the first stage of what will be the eventual transformation of Fourth Avenue into a grand 'Brooklyn Boulevard,' " said BP Markowitz.  "Soon, the area adjacent to this entrance will be filled with retail, and the exterior archways and windows will be opened and restored to their original glory. Kudos to Assembly Member Joan Millman, the Park Slope Civic Council, MTA New York City Transit and everyone who fought so hard to make this a reality.".

Photo credit: Andy Inglesby / MTA NYCT

In photo: BP Markowitz celebrates opening of 4^th Avenue-9^th Street station house

Official release from MTA:

4th Avenue East Side Station House Reopens on the F G

Entrance Had Been Closed Since 1970s

MTA New York City Transit today announced the reopening of the 4th Avenue-9th Street station house on the F G line at the east side of 4th Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets after being shuttered for more than 40 years.  It is part of the station component work being done in conjunction with the massive Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation Project.  The work was completed by in-house forces with part of the funding secured by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz ($2 million) and Assembly Member Joan Millman ($800,000).    

"During the initial phases of this project, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to reopen the east side station house on 4th Avenue," said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast.  "We are grateful to the elected officials whose contributions allowed us to do even more than we had planned at this historic station," added Prendergast.

The entire station house has been completely restored with brand new lights, floors, repainted walls, and new turnstiles.  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.

"The opening of the east side entrance to the 4th Avenue-9th Street station is a big win for the community and the first stage of what will be the eventual transformation of Fourth Avenue into a grand 'Brooklyn Boulevard,' " said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.  "Soon, the area adjacent to this entrance will be filled with retail, and the exterior archways and windows will be opened and restored to their original glory.  Kudos to Assembly Member Joan Millman, the Park Slope Civic Council, MTA New York City Transit and everyone who fought so hard to make this a reality," he added.

"As a long-time supporter of improving mass transit, I am proud to have provided funding to improve the 4th Avenue-9th Street Station and helped to restore the station to its former glory," Assembly Member Joan Millman said.  "The renovations at the station are well underway and the transformation of this station will serve as a catalyst for turning 4th Avenue into Brooklyn's grand boulevard.  Over the last 10 years, 4th Avenue has seen an enormous amount of residential growth and this has increased the demand for mass transit in both Park Slope and Gowanus. The reopening of the east side station house on 4th Avenue is in response to these demands. Riders will no longer have to cross 4th Avenue to enter the station which alleviates a major safety concern. I want to thank the MTA and the Borough President for their commitment to improving transit service for all New Yorkers during these difficult economic times."

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.