46th Street–Bliss Street station

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The **46th Street–Bliss Street station** (announced as simply **46th Street station** on trains) is a local station on the IRT Flushing Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 46th Street and Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, Queens, it is served by the 7 train at all times.

## History

The Flushing Line was opened from Queensboro Plaza to Alburtis Avenue (now 103rd Street–Corona Plaza) on April 21, 1917, with a local station at 46th Street.

The platforms at 46th Street were extended in 1955–1956 to accommodate 11-car trains.

In December 2019, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that this station would become ADA-accessible as part of the agency's 2020–2024 Capital Program.

## Station layout

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 File:46th-Bliss Streets Entrance.jpg
This elevated station has three tracks and two side platforms. The center track is used by the rush hour peak direction <7> express train. This is the easternmost (railroad north) station on the IRT Flushing Line's concrete viaduct above Queens Boulevard. East of here, the line curves north and becomes elevated over Roosevelt Avenue.

Each platform has concrete windscreens painted in beige and green canopies in the center and waist-high beige barriers at either side. The windscreens contain stained glass windows as part of an artwork called "Q is For Queens" by Yumi Heo installed in 1999. They depict various images related to Heo's children book illustrations. This can also be found on the station's main entrance.

### Exits

This station has two entrances/exits, both of which are station houses built within the viaduct's concrete structure. The main one is at the west (geographic south) end of the station and has two staircases and one turnstile bank to each platform, token booth, and four street stairs built within the viaduct's support pillars. These stairs lead to all four corners of 46th Street and the parking lot underneath the viaduct and between the two sides of Queens Boulevard. This entrance does not allow a free transfer between directions (even though it has the layout that could allow one as both turnstile banks lead to the center of the station house).

The station's other entrance is unstaffed, containing just HEET and exit-only turnstiles, two staircases to each platform, and two street stairs, also built within the support pillars, going down to either western corners of 47th Street and the parking lot. This entrance has a waiting area that allows a free transfer between directions.

## Naming

 File:Bliss 46 IRT south side jeh.jpg
46th Street was originally named simply *Bliss Street* after early ferry operator and industrialist Neziah Bliss, whose other namesakes include the nearby neighborhood of Blissville. His name was dropped from the street in the 1920s. The subway station retained the name until 1998, during which time the station name was the inspiration for the electronic band *46bliss*. In 1998, the MTA removed it from maps and signage, but by 2003, neighborhood activist Pat Dorfman collected 1,900 signatures, successfully lobbying the MTA and the City Council to restore the old street and station names. The MTA did so in 2004, and the Council added the ceremonial name; street intersection signs near the station now feature a secondary Bliss St plaque.

## External links

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* nycsubway.org — "Q" is For Queens Artwork by Yumi Heo (1999) along with the 40th Street — Lowery Street and the 33rd Street — Rawson Street stations.
* Station Reporter — 7 Train
* The Subway Nut — 46th Street–Bliss Street Pictures Template:Webarchive
* MTA's Arts For Transit — 46th Street–Bliss Street (IRT Flushing Line)
* 46th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
* 47th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
* Platforms from Google Maps Street View

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1. ↑ Template:Cite news
2. ↑ Template:Cite book
3. ↑ Press Release - MTA Headquarters - MTA Announces 20 Additional Subway Stations to Receive Accessibility Improvements Under Proposed 2020-2024 Capital Plan (December 19, 2019).
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 MTA Neighborhood Maps: Jackson Heights. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (2015).
5. ↑ Template:Cite news