April 18, 2017 By Hannah Wulkan
A local group is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first 7 train rolling in to Queens.
Transportation advocacy group Access Queens is throwing a 100th Anniversary celebration for the Corona extension of the 7 train, which saw the addition of 11 stations in Queens, from Queensboro Plaza to 103 Street-Corona. At the time, those stations were expected to take 15,000 commuters back and forth each day.
Today, the 7 train has 22 stations in Queens and services 525,000 riders each weekdays, with 622 trips across the line.
To commemorate the first trip from Grand Central Station in to Queens on April 21, 1917, Access Queens and the New York Transit Museum will hold a commemoration with several speakers, followed by a ride on the 7 train from Grand Central to Corona, on Friday afternoon.
The commemoration ceremony will kick off at 1 p.m. and there will be several speakers who will talk about the impact the train has had on the city and what’s needed in the future. The ceremony will take place on the Flushing-Bound Platform on the lower level at Grand Central.
The centennial ride will leave Grand Central around 2 p.m., which is the exact time that the first 7 train to go in to Queens left Grand Central 100 years ago.
“The 7 train is very important to Queens,” said Access Queens senior director Brandon Mosley. “When it shuts down, people and businesses in Queens are significantly affected. There are lots of memories tied to the 7 train, like the world fair, sports games at the Mets stadium or the tennis stadium, and access all the way to Flushing.”
In addition to commemorating the impact of the 7 train on Queens, the event will serve as a platform for transportation advocates to speak on the transportation needs in Queens and the improvements that still need to be made.
Mosley pointed out that the 7 train is currently undergoing a $774 million upgrade to add a computer-based control system, but he acknowledged that there are many problems that still need to be addressed.
“One thing that we want to do is take a step back and look at the big picture, because conversations about the 7 train have been happening on a granular scale and we want the conversation to be broader,” Mosley said, pointing out that often the conversation focuses on one specific aspect, rather than the system as a whole.
He said that one of the biggest concerns surrounding the 7 train is the expected influx of ridership on an already very busy train line. He pointed to the massive development in Long Island City adding “a new population the size of Albany,” and pointed to the anticipated L train shutdown bringing crowds of commuters in to Court Square.
“A hundred years ago when the extension opened, the city was anticipating 15,000 riders each day, but now there are 22 stations and more than 500,000 riders daily, so obviously ridership has increased beyond anything that original engineers would dream of,” Mosley said. “A lot of the components haven’t been updated for decades, and the MTA is playing catch-up now to upgrade the 7 train with computer based control.”
Other issues Mosley pointed out included the 7 train often skipping stations to stay on schedule and the lack of communication about delays and service changes well enough ahead of time.
Despite these issues, the 7 train is consistently ranked highly by straphanger reports. A report card from the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign 1, 7 and L trains as the best in the city last year, pointing out that it has the highest amount of scheduled service in the city, is cleanest, and breaks down less often than the average line.
However, the report did note that the 7 line is very crowded and below-average in regularity of train arrivals.
Mosley said that the event on Friday would recognize the importance of the 7 train to the borough and to the city as a whole.
“Even though 7 train essentially has been around for 100 plus years, it’s our train and it belongs to us in Queens,” he said. “Queens matters, and is just as important as Brooklyn and Manhattan, so we deserve to have seat at table when discussing transportation. Though it has brought many headaches, most would agree that we want to preserve 7 train and make it better.”
A Facebook page for the event has been created for people to RSVP.
Survey photograph of site for 40th Street – Lowery Station, Queens: IRT Flushing Line], 8/18/1913;
Approach to Willets Pt Station (Transit Museum)
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34 Comments
$30+ million dollars a day, and it still looks like it hasn’t changed in over 100 years. i’m sure the service was much MUCH better back then. the mta is so primitive and so corrupt, nothing can possibly fix it until some other mode of mass transit is invented.
You have free speech…IDIOT..READ YOUR OPINION..JACKASS..BLAMING TRUMP!!!LIBERALS..IDIOTS
Fan of dough boy. It was people like u who said high crime rates were no big deal until the police said it didn’t have to be that way. Things can change for the better if we have good people solving the problem. I’m sure u or one of your relatives has one of those cushy ta union jobs.
Excellent point, El loco. I look forward to hearing some of your solutions.
“Dismantling the whole system” seems to be what 45’s cabinet is after as well (in addition to discouraging free speech).
Get lost you moron, and now I hope the rangers lose
To accuse me of suggesting anyone committ a crime is irresponsible. When Dave is old enough to ride the 7 train without his mommy holding his hand he will see how bad service is. We have spent billions fixing this disaster that just doesn’t work. I believe that the line should be dismantled and replaced with something that works. Many people in SUNNYSIDE come from foreign countries that discourage free speech and do not like when I express my opinion. God bless America and Let’s Go Rangers!
So true — the MTA just doesn’t work! Only 4.3 million people ride it everyday. If it were say, 5 million, Then I could understand.
Can’t agree more when people say, “NYC has the WORST public transportation” — they need to get it together. Why can’t the subway stop right in front of my house and take me directly to where I get my YANKEE sweatpants and canned meats? Not fair!
As an alternative to 7train delays, please download the Uber app…
Worst train ever!!!
El loco- I always knew you were just an idiot, but in this day and age we live in for you to make a comment about blowing up a train, i hope the fbi investigates you. Are you really that stupid or is there something mentally wrong with you. Or both. If you said that in an airport you would be arrested. They should block you from any further comments. Deport you back to whatever 3rd world country you snuck in from. A New low from the lowest . Your filth.
Time to dig the 7 underground and make more room for cars. Sorry what am I saying, for bikes. Bikes!
Blow up the 7 line. It’s the worst!
typical el loco hate, you know you can move out if you hate this place so much?
Please not in my neighborhood.
You’re right. I will stop commenting. Sorry
Hey Dave you clown I’m waiting for the 7 train now. But oh no service has been suspended for signal problems. Finish your homework and ask mommy to tuck you in. The 7 train sucks!
I agree with you. When do you plan to ride in it?
Bring back the 7 redbirds for a day!
Oh the memories, took at out to the end to Flushing to HS for 4 years. Now the SF Bay area BART is just as crowded….
Due to a signal malfunction at Hunters Point, the celebration is experiencing delays at this time.
To facilitate the celebration, gropers are asked to assemble in the rear car and flashers in the front, switching cars at each station. Surfers are asked to wait until the train clears the tunnels before ascending to the roof of the car. Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy the celebration!
Such clever! do one about airlines next
Stop using my screen name.
Will do buddy. Accept my resignation
Best train in ny. Least headaches out of any train line in ny.
“….sports games at the Mets Stadium…”
.
I’ve heard of Shea Stadium and Citifield but “the Mets Stadium” is a new one for me.
I took the 7 trolly to Mets field when I was a kid.
I’ve been calling it Met’s Stadium since it opened. The 7-train conductors were too, at first, but Citibank probably complained and they started saying Citifield. Personally, I resent the connection between Citibank and the Mets, and I resent corporations buying stadiums and renaming them with ridiculous corporate names. “Mets Stadium” sounds much better.
Love the 7 train! Great to see these photos. Great article!
I’m writing this comment as the “7 is being held in the station due to a signal malfunction at 111th street.”
The 7 train acts like its 100 years old.
Best comment!
I’d be totally ok with privatizing the MTA and having Amazon or Google run it.
4/192017 I just get off the train, I was stuck in the train for 45 mm not moving signal problem!!
And that malfunction resulted in a total #7 shutdown 4/19 from Manhattan through queens and everyone had to get off the train and fight to get onto buses to continue home