The Wakefield–241st Street station (signed as 241st Street) is a terminal station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 241st Street and White Plains Road in the Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx.[3] It is served by the 2 train at all times.[4] This station is geographically the northernmost station in the entire New York City Subway system.

 Wakefield–241 Street
 "2" train
New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
The southeast entrance at 241st Street
Station statistics
AddressEast 241st Street & White Plains Road
Bronx, New York
BoroughThe Bronx
LocaleWakefield
Coordinates40°54′11″N 73°51′00″W / 40.903°N 73.85°W / 40.903; -73.85
DivisionA (IRT)[1]
LineIRT White Plains Road Line
Services   2 all times (all times)
Transit
StructureElevated
Platforms1 island platform (in service)
2 side platforms (unused)
Spanish solution
Tracks2
Other information
OpenedDecember 13, 1920; 103 years ago (1920-12-13)
Accessiblenot ADA-accessible; accessibility planned
Opposite-
direction
transfer
N/A
Former/other names241 Street (used on entrances and platform signs)
East 241 Street
Becker Avenue
Traffic
2023794,723[2]Decrease 0.5%
Rank335 out of 423[2]
Services
Preceding station New York City Subway New York City Subway Following station
Terminus
Local
Nereid Avenue
Location
Wakefield–241st Street station is located in New York City Subway
Wakefield–241st Street station
Wakefield–241st Street station is located in New York City
Wakefield–241st Street station
Wakefield–241st Street station is located in New York
Wakefield–241st Street station
Track layout

Street map

Map

Station service legend
Symbol Description
Stops all times Stops all times
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Stops weekdays and weekday late nights Stops weekdays and weekday late nights
Stops weekends and weekend late nights Stops weekends and weekend late nights

History

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The station officially opened on December 13, 1920, as East 241st Street, when the final portion of the line was opened. The line had been extended one stop north from East 238th Street.[5] This portion of the line had its opening delayed, owing to construction on the line between the two stations for the construction of the 239th Street Yard. Additional time was required to modify the structure to avoid a grade crossing at the entrance to the yard.[6] The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.[7][8]

The station was renovated from July to December 2005 at a cost of $17.25 million.[9] The station, as part of the renovation, got a new high-quality public address system, new platform edge and ADA tactile warning strips, major structural repairs, new canopies over the stairs and platforms, repaired walls, renewed floors, and a redesign of the area around the station booth.[10][11]

In 2019, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that this station would become ADA-accessible as part of the agency's 2020–2024 Capital Program.[12] In May 2024, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the MTA $157 million for accessibility renovations at five stations, including Wakefield–241st Street.[13][14][15] The funds would be used to add elevators, signs, and public-announcement systems, as well as repair platforms and stairs, at each station.[15]

Station layout

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Platform level Side platform, not in service
Track 2   toward Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College (Nereid Avenue)
(No service: Gun Hill Road)
Island platform
Track 3   toward Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College (Nereid Avenue)
(No service: Gun Hill Road)
Side platform, not in service
Mezzanine Fare control, station agent, MetroCard and OMNY machines
Ground Street level Exit/entrance

At this station, there are two tracks, one center island platform and two disused side platforms here. The two tracks end at bumper blocks at the north end of the platforms. The station was formerly set up as a Spanish solution with alighting passengers using the side platforms and boarding passengers using the island platform. Now all passengers use the island platform.[16]

The middle of the platform features a backlit track departure sign labeled Tracks 3 and 2, indicating which train leaves first.[17] There are also crew quarters at platform level.

To the south of the station, the tracks make a connection to the 239th Street Yard before splitting into three tracks.[16] Just three blocks north of the station on White Plains Road lies the border between The Bronx and Westchester.

The 2006 artwork featured at the station is Permanent Residents and Visitors by Alfredo Ceibal, which focuses on birds living in and visiting the city. The artwork is made of faceted glass in the platform windscreens.[18][19]

Exits

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The exit is at the north end. Fare control is past the bumper blocks, from where there is one stair to the southwest corner of 241st Street and White Plains Road, and two stairs to the southeast corner.[3]

Names

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This terminal station has gone by a number of different names. Becker Avenue was an earlier name for the station at the time of its construction,[20] and it officially opened as East 241st Street on December 13, 1920.[21] By 1984, it was renamed 241st Street on entrances and platform signs.[22]

The station was initially signed on the New York City Subway map as 241st Street–Wakefield. It has been signed on the map under its current name since 1998.

References

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  1. ^ "Glossary". Second Avenue Subway Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) (PDF). Vol. 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2003. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Annual Subway Ridership (2018–2023)". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Neighborhood Map Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  4. ^ "2 Subway Timetable, Effective June 26, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Subway Line Extended: White Plains Avenue Branch Opens to 241st Street Tomorrow" (PDF). The New York Times. December 12, 1920. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "www.nycsubway.org: Operation of the White Plains Road Line (1917)". www.nycsubway.org. March 24, 1914. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "City Transit Unity Is Now a Reality; Title to I.R.T. Lines Passes to Municipality, Ending 19-Year Campaign". The New York Times. June 13, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration". New York Herald Tribune. June 13, 1940. p. 25. ProQuest 1248134780.
  9. ^ MTA 2006 Adopted Budget - February Financial Plan - Part 3 (PDF) (Report). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2006. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "Subway riders have mixed reactions to 241st Street stop closure during renovations". Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "241 St Station Closed for Rehabilitation" (PDF). New York City Transit. July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "Press Release - MTA Headquarters - MTA Announces 20 Additional Subway Stations to Receive Accessibility Improvements Under Proposed 2020-2024 Capital Plan". MTA. December 19, 2019. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "All Stations Accessibility Program FY24 Projects". Federal Transit Administration. May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Modernize Transit Stations, Improve Accessibility Across the Country" (Press release). Federal Transit Administration. May 28, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Gonella, Catalina (May 28, 2024). "NYC subway stops and East Orange NJ Transit station are getting accessibility upgrades". Gothamist. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Dougherty, Peter (2006) [2002]. Tracks of the New York City Subway 2006 (3rd ed.). Dougherty. OCLC 49777633 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Barnes, John (July 23, 2006). "Track departure sign". www.nycsubway.org. 241 Street. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  18. ^ Rosenfeld, Robbie (July 22, 2010). "Permanent Residents and Visitors by Alfredo Ceibal". www.nycsubway.org. 241 Street. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  19. ^ "Art en Route: A Guide to Art in the MTA Network" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  20. ^ "Chapter 2: Interborough Routes and Stations". www.nycsubway.org. Public Service Commission. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  21. ^ "Subway Line Extended: White Plains Avenue Branch Opens to 241st Street Tomorrow" (PDF). New York Times. December 12, 1920. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  22. ^ Panse, Richard (March 20, 2005). "241 Street, before 2005 renovation". www.nycsubway.org. 241 Street: www.nycsubway.org. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
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