Streetcars “are as dead as sailing ships,” said Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in a radio speech, two days before Madison Avenue’s streetcars yielded to buses. Throughout history, New York City’s mayors have devoted much time and energy to making the transit system as efficient as possible, and able to sustain the City’s growing population. The history of New York’s transit system is a mix of well-remembered, partially forgotten, and totally obscure happenings that illustrate the grit, chaos, and emotion of the five boroughs at different points in history.
The images in this slideshow look at New York transit between 1940 and 1968 — a pivotal period when technology was developing rapidly and the City was seeing intense growth. They are taken from Andrew J. Sparberg’s book From a Nickel to a Token: The Journey from Board of Transportation to MTA.
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Chrystie Street connection opens, 1967
In November 1967, work was completed on a significant new subway under Chrystie Street on the Lower East Side. Above, work proceeds on the new Grand Street Station, a part of the project. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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A BMT car in 1940
In June 1940, New York City’s government purchased two privately owned subway companies, one of which was the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corp. (BMT). Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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An IRT car in 1940
The other subway company purchased by the city in 1940 was the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). BMT and IRT were unified with the Independent Subway System to form one giant system. The NYC Board of Transportation operated the entire system. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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BMT Brooklyn trolleys in 1940
Subway unification also included the BMT’s very large trolley and bus system. Pictured here is Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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9th Avenue El in 1940
As soon as unification occurred, some elevated lines in Manhattan and Brooklyn were closed and razed. This is Manhattan’s 9th Avenue Elevated at 110th Street, shortly before it went out of service. The double decker bus shown operated until 1953. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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NYC Board of Transportation bus, 1941
Mayor LaGuardia replaced a number of Brooklyn trolley routes with buses in 1941. Above is one of those new buses at Fulton Street. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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Third Avenue elevated closes
In May 1955, Manhattan’s Third Avenue Elevated made its final run and the structure was soon removed. Pictured is a southbound express train charging through 34th Street Station. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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The "nickel ride" ends in 1948
The historic 5¢ fare ended on July 1, 1948, when the subway fare was raised to 10¢. Bus and trolley fare was 7¢ while riders outside of Manhattan paid 12¢ to ride a combination of the subway and buses. Photo credit: Andrew J. Sparberg
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New IRT subway car, 1957
Beginning in 1955, large numbers of new subway cars appeared. Above is a R21 IRT car on the #1 Broadway line. It’s shown at the 240th Street Yard in the Bronx. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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Transit strike, 1966
In January 1966, a twelve day citywide transit strike occurred, beginning on the first day mayor John Lindsay took office. Above, pickets are seen at the 207th Street and Broadway subway station. Photo credit: TWU Local 100 Archives
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IRT West Side Line is rebuilt, 1957-‘59
In 1957-‘59, the Transit Authority rebuilt seven stations on the IRT West Side Line (todays 1, 2, and 3 trains) to accommodate 10 car trains. Shown above is 96th Street before it was modified, showing the separate local platforms that were closed in 1959. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
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R42 car fleet ordered, 1968
On March 1, 1968, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) became the parent body for the New York City Transit Authority, an arrangement which continues today. The first subway cars the new agency ordered were the R42 class; the R42 was the first car class 100% equipped with A/C. About 50 R42s are still in service in 2015. Photo credit: New York Transit Museum.
Heading image: New IRT subway car, 1957. New York Transit Museum. Used with permission.
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