NYC to invest $500 million in Broadway Junction makeover

Broadway Junction, one of the busiest subway stations in Brooklyn, is getting a long-awaited overhaul. New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would invest nearly $500 million in this Brooklyn transit hub in an effort to bring more economic opportunities, services, and amenities to this long-underserved community. The makeover includes changes to the Broadway Junction station and the surrounding neighborhood. 

The half-billion-dollar investment mostly comes from the MTA. The agency would allocate $400 million to bring ADA accessibility to the entire Broadway Junction station, replace escalators and create a new entrance with direct access to the L train. The remaining $95 million will be used to build two new public plazas on either side of Van Sinderen Avenue and Fulton Street and improve street safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Growing up in Brownsville, using the J line, the A line, the L, the double L to move throughout the city. And for far too long this amazing connection of our public subway system has been ignored,” said Mayor Adams. “I am who I am because of this neighborhood, and I've seen how members of this community have been left behind for too long. Too often the government has made promises and then broken them. That ends in this administration.”

The renovation project would create 2,300 construction jobs and make public transit more accessible for residents of nearby neighborhoods, including Bushwick, Brownsville, Ocean Hill, Cypress Hills, and East New York. In addition, these public realm improvements would also benefit residents of the new 433 homes that have recently been completed or are in construction, with more than 1,700 additional residential units on their way. 

Brooklyn’s Broadway Junction first opened in 1885. Today, this station serves A, C, J, Z, and L train lines, as well as several bus routes and the Long Island Rail Road, making it a crucial transportation gateway for NYC commuters. The planning and design for the Broadway Junction makeover will begin this summer. The project would break ground in 2027 and be complete by 2030.  

“From the MTA's point of view, Broadway Junction is the heart of the MTA,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, President of MTA Construction and Development. “It's the third-busiest station complex in Brooklyn. 100,000 daily users are using the A and the C, the J and the Z, and the L lines. It's great connectivity and we've all recognized that for many, many years, and we just needed to make the improvements to unlock all of the opportunity in this district.”

Image credit:

New York City Economic Development Corporation

Resources:

“Mayor Adams, MTA Announce new Investments in Public Space, Good Jobs, Affordable Housing Around Broadway Junction Subway Station,” (NYC, 2023)

“Broadway Junction is getting a $500 million makeover,” by Christina Izzo (Time Out, 2023)

“MTA, city invest nearly $500M into Broadway Junction and surrounding area,” by Eyewitness News (ABC7 News, 2023)

“Brooklyn’s Broadway Junction Is Getting A Well-Deserved $500 Million Facelift,” by Shenae Craig (Secret NYC, 2023)