G (New York City Subway service)
Encyclopedia
The G Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown Local is a rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...

 service of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...

. It is the only full-time non-shuttle service that does not enter Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

. It is colored light green on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map, since it runs on the IND Crosstown Line
IND Crosstown Line
-External links:*...

.

The G operates between Court Square in Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...

 and Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

 in Kensington, Brooklyn
Kensington, Brooklyn
Kensington is a neighborhood in the center of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is the area south of Prospect Park and the Green-Wood Cemetery. It is bordered by Coney Island Avenue to the east, Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue to the north, McDonald Avenue and 37th Street to the...

, at all times. It only serves two stations in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....

 (Court Square and 21st Street).

History

The original Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown Local service began on August 19, 1933 as a shuttle between Queens Plaza
Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Queens Plaza is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the large Queens Plaza interchange, it is served by the E train at all times, by the R train at all times except late nights, and by the M train on weekdays except late nights.While situated...

 on the IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...

 and Nassau Avenue
Nassau Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)
Nassau Avenue is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Manhattan and Nassau Avenues in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, it is served by the G train at all times....

 using the designation GG. The entire IND Crosstown Line
IND Crosstown Line
-External links:*...

 was completed on July 1, 1937, including the connection to the IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
The IND 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...

. GG service ran at all times between Forest Hills – 71st Avenue and Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

. Soon after, it was cut back to Smith-9th Streets.

In July 1968, service was again extended to Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

 and the train operated as an express on the IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
The IND 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...

. This service pattern ended in August 1976 because many customers at local stations on the Culver Line wanted direct access to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

 and the G was cut back to Smith - Ninth Streets.

In 1985, use of double letters to indicate local service was discontinued, so the GG was relabeled G.
On May 24, 1987, the and services switched terminals in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....

. As part of the reroute plan, Queens Plaza became the northern terminal for the G train on evenings, nights, and weekends.

Beginning on September 30, 1990, G service was extended to 179th Street during late nights to replace the , which terminated at 21st Street – Queensbridge.

In May 1997, due to construction on the connector between the IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...

 and the Queens Boulevard Line, G trains terminated at Court Square on evenings, nights, and weekends.

On December 16, 2001, the 63rd Street Connector opened and Court Square became the northern terminal for the G train during midday and rush hours. Service along the IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...

 was replaced by the new train. G service was extended to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue other times.

On July 5, 2009, the G was once again extended south at all times to Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

. This was required for overhaul of the Culver Viaduct.

Due to the MTA financial crisis, the G was to be cut back from Forest Hills – 71st Avenue to Court Square at all times beginning June 27, 2010. However, due to planned track repairs during the times the G normally ran on the Queens Boulevard Line, it ceased running north of Court Square on April 19.

Expansion of Queens Boulevard Service and G Cutback Controversy

When the connector to the IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...

 from the IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...

 was completed in December 2001, it not only introduced the new service, but allowed up to nine additional trains on the Queens Boulevard Line during peak hours. However, to make room for the train on Queens Boulevard, the G had to terminate at Court Square on weekdays.

The service plan was designed to redistribute Queens-bound passenger loads in the heavily-used IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...

 (under 53rd Street in Manhattan) and better service and transfer opportunities as the allowed direct access to 53rd Street and the IND Sixth Avenue Line
IND Sixth Avenue Line
The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...

 for Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens connecting communities from Midtown Manhattan to Jamaica...

 local customers. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...

described the service plan as "complex and heavily criticized;" several years experience with the service running, however, has shown its value. trains, while by no means consistently full, have taken some load off the train, which was rerouted via 63rd Street, though many riders complained that the passenger load on the has worsened as it is now the only express train that runs along 53rd Street. This is, in part, due to riders' propensity to board an express even in situations where it offers no real advantage in travel time over the local. In response to complaints from G riders at public hearings about losing a major transfer point to Manhattan-bound trains at Queens Plaza
Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Queens Plaza is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the large Queens Plaza interchange, it is served by the E train at all times, by the R train at all times except late nights, and by the M train on weekdays except late nights.While situated...

, the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...

 agreed to a number of compromises, including installing a moving sidewalk in the passageway between Court Square and 23rd Street – Ely Avenue () on the Queens Boulevard Line. In addition, a free out-of-system MetroCard transfer to 45th Road – Court House Square on the IRT Flushing Line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...

 was created at those two stations—one of only two such transfers in the system. This special transfer was discontinued when construction of an in-system transfer at the corner of 23rd Street and 45th Road opened on June 5, 2011, which made both stations ADA-accessible
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....

.

The MTA also agreed to extend the G to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue during evenings and weekends (when the was not running), and run more trains on that route. There was a two hour period where the G, , and were all supposedly running at once since the stopped running at 10:00 p.m. and the G was extended to 71st Avenue at 8:00. The authority "had spent several hundred thousand dollars on tests, trying to figure out a way to keep the G train running past Court Square and farther into Queens on weekdays, but because of the addition of the train, which shared space along the Queens Boulevard lines with the trains already there, the , , G, and trains could not fit during the daytime, when service is heaviest."

To increase service and reduce waiting time, the G would need more trains, but there were not enough cars, so the solution was to reduce the length of trains from six cars to four, sticking all the leftover cars together to make the extra trains. This, however, meant there would be more riders packed into smaller trains. Some passengers also missed trains because they were standing at the wrong part of the platform as the trains are only about half their length, although there are signs indicated where the train stops at some stations such as the 4 and 6 markers on the tracks.

A community group, Save the G!, has regularly lobbied the MTA for more G train service since the original cutbacks when the was introduced in 2001. They made the restoration of service to the Queens Boulevard Line at all times an issue in the 2002 New York gubernatorial race, but the transit authority said, "Unfortunately, putting the G back to full service is just not an option, given our track capacity—and that's not likely to change."

They have also lobbied for the creation of another free out-of-system transfer between Broadway
Broadway (IND Crosstown Line)
Broadway is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Broadway and Union Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it is served at all times by the G train.- Description :...

 and Hewes Street
Hewes Street (BMT Jamaica Line)
Hewes Street is a local station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Hewes Street and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times except weekdays in peak direction and the M train weekdays...

 on the BMT Jamaica Line
BMT Jamaica Line
The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to...

, which is only two blocks away. However, the MTA said, "We have no intention of making that a permanent free transfer."

Most stations along the IND Crosstown Line were built with multiple exits to the street. Over the years, many lower-use exits were closed (as they were in other parts of the subway), as the city was concerned that they were a magnet for criminals and there was insufficient traffic to justify staffing them full-time, but in July 2005, in response to community pressure, the MTA agreed to re-open the South Portland Avenue exit of Fulton Street
Fulton Street (IND Crosstown Line)
Fulton Street is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway, located on Lafayette Avenue between South Portland Avenue and Fulton Street in Brooklyn. It is served by the G train at all times....

. The New York Times described it as a "minor victory" for "a maligned line." This minor win is truly minor as one must still use the underpass at Fulton St in order to exit one the other side nearby Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech or just Tech, and also administratively as High School 430, is a New York City public high school that specializes in engineering, math and science and is the largest specialized high school for science, technology, engineering, and...

.

Due to construction on the Queens Boulevard Line, the G train frequently terminated at Court Square even at times when the published timetable says it runs to 71st Avenue. Some riders were suspicious that the service disruptions were "simply a de facto way to implement the original plan of halving G train service." The original plans called for the G terminate at Court Square at all times. The plan was shelved in 2001 in face of community opposition, but implemented in 2010. An MTA spokesman says that "It's not personal…. If you want to keep the system up to date, you need to make sure the track and switching are all in good repair."

Service Pattern

The following table shows the lines used by the G service:
Line From To Tracks
IND Crosstown Line
IND Crosstown Line
-External links:*...

Court Square Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets all
IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
The IND 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...

Bergen Street
Bergen Street (IND Culver Line)
Bergen Street is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Bergen Street and Smith Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. It is served by the F and G trains at all times....

Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

local

Stations

For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.
Stations Subway transfers Connections
Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....

Court Square (IND Queens Boulevard Line
IND Queens Boulevard Line
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan and Queens, New York City, United States. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan under 53rd Street and east through Queens to Jamaica...

 at Court Square – 23rd Street)
(IRT Flushing Line
IRT Flushing Line
The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route...

)
21st Street
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

Greenpoint Avenue
Greenpoint Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)
Greenpoint Avenue is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Greenpoint and Manhattan Avenues in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, it is served by the G train at all times....

Nassau Avenue
Nassau Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)
Nassau Avenue is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Manhattan and Nassau Avenues in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, it is served by the G train at all times....

Metropolitan Avenue (BMT Canarsie Line
BMT Canarsie Line
The Canarsie Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn...

 at Lorimer Street)
Broadway
Broadway (IND Crosstown Line)
Broadway is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Broadway and Union Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it is served at all times by the G train.- Description :...

Flushing Avenue
Flushing Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)
Flushing Avenue is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Flushing and Union/Marcy Avenues in the boundary of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it is served at all times by the G train....

Myrtle–Willoughby Avenues
Bedford–Nostrand Avenues
Classon Avenue
Classon Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)
Classon Avenue is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Classon and Lafayette Avenues in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, it is served at all times by the G train....

Clinton–Washington Avenues
Fulton Street
Fulton Street (IND Crosstown Line)
Fulton Street is a station on the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway, located on Lafayette Avenue between South Portland Avenue and Fulton Street in Brooklyn. It is served by the G train at all times....

Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets (IND Fulton Street Line
IND Fulton Street Line
The IND Fulton Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway, extending from the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River through all of central Brooklyn to a terminus in Ozone Park, Queens. The IND Rockaway Line branches from it. It forms part of the A...

)
Bergen Street
Bergen Street (IND Culver Line)
Bergen Street is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Bergen Street and Smith Street in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. It is served by the F and G trains at all times....

Carroll Street
Carroll Street (IND Culver Line)
Carroll Street is a local station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway, located in the neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, at Carroll and Smith Streets. It is served by the F and G trains at all times....

Smith–Ninth Streets Closed for rehabilitation until March 2012
Fourth Avenue
(BMT Fourth Avenue Line
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...

 at Ninth Street)
Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Seventh Avenue, occasionally referred to as Seventh Avenue – Park Slope, is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway, located at Seventh Avenue and Ninth Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn...

15th Street – Prospect Park All Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

-bound trains skip this station due to reconstruction.
Fort Hamilton Parkway
Fort Hamilton Parkway (IND Culver Line)
Fort Hamilton Parkway is a local station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the F and G trains at all times.There are two local tracks and two side platforms...

All Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....

-bound trains skip this station due to reconstruction.
Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....


External links

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