BMT Canarsie Line
The BMT Canarsie Line (sometimes referred to as the 14th Street–Eastern Line) is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is served by the L train at all times, which is shown in medium gray on the New York City Subway map and on station signs.
This article is about the rapid transit line. For the former surface trolley line from Williamsburg to Canarsie, see B60 (New York City bus).BMT Canarsie Line
City of New York
27 (3 demolished)
228,540[1]
1865–1931
2
- At-grade (eastbound track at Wilson Avenue, section from East 105th Street to Rockaway Parkway)
- Elevated (eastbound track south of Wilson Avenue, Broadway Jct. to north of East 105th Street)
- Underground (north of Broadway Jct. except for eastbound track at Wilson Avenue)
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
600V DC third rail
The line is part of the BMT Eastern Division, and is occasionally referred to as the Eastern District Line. This refers to Williamsburg, which was described as Brooklyn's "Eastern District" when the City of Williamsburg was annexed by the former City of Brooklyn. This was the location where the original Brooklyn subway portions of the line were laid out. Only later was the line connected to the tracks leading to Canarsie. Eastern District High School, near the line's Grand Street station, had preserved this toponym until it was closed in 1996, later reopened as Grand Street Educational Campus.
The Canarsie Line was first a steam railroad, then a Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT), later Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), elevated line. It was extended into Manhattan via subway in 1924–1928. Since the early 2000s, the line's signal system has been converted to an automated system. The Manhattan section of the line was partially closed during off-peak hours from early 2019 to April 2020 to allow for a renovation of the 14th Street Tunnel, which the line uses to cross the East River.
