The Dual Contracts of 1913, also known as the Dual Subway System, were contracts for the construction and/or rehabilitation and operation of rapid transit lines in the City of New York. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A contract is an exchange of promises between two or more parties to do or refrain from doing an act which is enforceable in a court of law A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway or metro(politan system is an electric passenger railway The City of New York The majority of the lines of the present-day New York Subway were built or reconstructed under these contracts. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency The contracts were "dual," in that they were signed between the City and two separate private companies.
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Background
Contract 3 was signed between the City and the IRT, operator of the original subway line in New York City. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT was the operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904 as well as earlier Elevated railways Contract 4 was signed between the City and the Municipal Railway Company, a subsidiary of the BRT (later BMT), formed especially for the purpose of contracting with the City for construction of the lines. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT was a Public transit Holding company formed in 1896 to acquire and consolidate lines in Brooklyn and Queens The Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation ( BMT) was an Urban transit Holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United Contracts 1 and 2 were the original subway contracts between the City and the IRT for the first subway in New York. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT was the operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904 as well as earlier Elevated railways See also History of the New York City Subway The first regularly-operated subway in New York City was built by the city and leased to the Interborough These contracts predated the Dual Contracts.
Under the terms of Contracts 3 and 4, the City would build new subway and elevated lines, and rehabilitate and expand certain existing elevated lines, and lease them to the private companies for operation. A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway or metro(politan system is an electric passenger railway The cost would be borne more-or-less equally by the City and the companies. The City's contribution was in cash raised by bond offerings, while the companies' contributions were variously by supplying cash, facilities and equipment to run the lines.
The contract negotiations were long and sometimes acrimonious. For instance, when the IRT was reluctant (if not totally opposed) to the BRT's proposed access to Midtown Manhattan via the Broadway Line, the city and state negotiators immediately offered the BRT all of the lines under proposal - including such obvious IRT tie-ins such as the upper Lexington Avenue Line, and both lines in Queens. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York The BMT Broadway Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United The IRT quickly gave in the 'invasion' of Midtown Manhattan by the BRT.
The assignment of the proposed lines in Queens proved to be an imposition on both companies. Instead of one company enjoying a monopoly in that borough, both proposed lines — a short line to Astoria, and a longer line reaching initially to Corona, and eventually to Flushing — were assigned to both companies, to be operated in what was called "joint service. Astoria is a Neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the borough of Queens in New York City. Corona Queens (zip code 11368 is a neighborhood in the former Township of Newtown in the New York City borough of Queens surrounded by Flushing Flushing, founded in 1645 is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, ten miles (16 km east of Manhattan " The lines would start from a huge station called Queensborough Plaza. Queensboro Plaza is an elevated New York City Subway station over Queens Plaza in Long Island City, at the east ( Queens) end of the Queensboro The IRT would access the station from both the 1907 Steinway Tunnel and an extension of the Second Avenue Elevated from Manhattan over the Queensborough Bridge. The Steinway Tunnel carries the train of the New York City Subway under the East River between 42nd Street in Manhattan and 51st Avenue The IRT Second Avenue Line was an Elevated railway in Manhattan, New York City, United States, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit For the bridge in New York City see Queensboro Bridge Queensborough Bridge is a highway bridge in New Westminster, British Columbia The BRT would feed the Queens lines from a new tunnel from 60th Street in Manhattan. Technically the line was under IRT 'ownership', but the BRT/BMT was granted trackage rights in perpetuity, essentially making it theirs also. Railway companies can interact with and control others in many ways
The BRT had a big disadvantage, as both Queens lines were built to IRT specifications. This meant that IRT passengers would have a one-seat ride to Manhattan destinations, whereas BRT passengers had to make a change at Queensborough Plaza. This came to be important when service was extended for the 1939 World's Fair, as the IRT was able to offer direct express trains from Manhattan, and the BRT was not. The 1939-40 New York World's Fair, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (also the location of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair) was one of the largest Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York This practice lasted well into the municipal ownership of the lines, and was not ended until 1949. Both companies would share in the revenues from this service. To facilitate this arrangement originally, extra long platforms were constructed along both Queens routes, so separate fare controls/boarding areas could be established. This quickly turned out to be operationally unworkable, so eventually a proportionate formula was worked out. The bonus legacy of this construction was that the IRT was able to operate 11-car trains on this line, and when the BMT took over the Astoria Line, minimal work had to done to accommodate 10-car BMT units. The Astoria Line is a Rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria Queens.
Several provisions were imposed on the companies, which eventually led to their downfall and consolidation into City ownership in 1940:
- The fare was limited to five cents, and this led to financial troubles for the two companies after post-World War I inflation. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All
- The City had the right to "recapture" any of the lines it built, and run them as its own.
- The City was to share in the profits.
IRT lines
The following lines were built under the Dual Contracts for the IRT:
- Astoria Line and Flushing Line
- Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line south of Times Square–42nd Street, including the Brooklyn Branch
- Lexington Avenue Line north of 42nd Street–Grand Central
- Jerome Avenue Line
- Ninth Avenue Line from 155th Street to the Jerome Avenue Line
- IRT Pelham Line
- White Plains Road Line north of 177th Street
The following lines were rebuilt with extra tracks:
- Ninth Avenue Line from 125th Street to 155th Street (one new track)
BMT lines
All Manhattan and Queens BMT lines were built under the Dual Contracts, as were all subway and some elevated lines in Brooklyn. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT was the operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904 as well as earlier Elevated railways The Astoria Line is a Rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria Queens. The Flushing Line is a Rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route The IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (also known as the Seventh Avenue Line) is a New York City Subway line Times Square–42nd Street is the busiest station complex of the New York City Subway, joining four lines (three trunk lines plus the Shuttle) with a free transfer The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan Grand Central–42nd Street is a major station complex in the New York City Subway, and was the second busiest station in 1994 The IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, also known as IRT Woodlawn Line, was opened in 1917 as a branch of the IRT Lexington Avenue Line The IRT Ninth Avenue Line, often called the Ninth Avenue Elevated, was the first Elevated railway in New York City, first opened in 1868 as the The IRT Pelham Line is a Rapid transit line on the New York City Subway, served by the train The White Plains Road Line is a Rapid transit line of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, serving the central Bronx. The IRT Ninth Avenue Line, often called the Ninth Avenue Elevated, was the first Elevated railway in New York City, first opened in 1868 as the Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York The Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation ( BMT) was an Urban transit Holding company, based in Brooklyn, New York City, United
Lines and line segments built new
- 14th Street Eastern Line west of Broadway Junction
- Astoria Line and Flushing Line east of Queensboro Plaza (trackage rights over IRT)
- Broadway Line
- Brighton Beach Line between DeKalb Avenue and Prospect Park
- Fourth Avenue Line
- Fulton Street Line east of Grant Avenue
- Jamaica Line east of Cypress Hills
- Manhattan Bridge tracks and approaches
- Nassau Street Line between Chambers Street to a merge with the Montague Street Tunnel to Brooklyn
Grade-separated rights-of-way built to replace surface railroads
- Brighton Beach Line between Neptune Avenue (south of Sheepshead Bay) and Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue. The Canarsie Line (sometimes referred to as the 14th Street&ndashCanarsie Line) is a Rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway Broadway Junction is a New York City Subway station complex shared by the elevated BMT Canarsie Line and BMT Jamaica Line, and the underground The Astoria Line is a Rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, serving the neighborhood of Astoria Queens. The Flushing Line is a Rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route Queensboro Plaza is an elevated New York City Subway station over Queens Plaza in Long Island City, at the east ( Queens) end of the Queensboro Railway companies can interact with and control others in many ways The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT was the operator of the original underground New York City Subway line that opened in 1904 as well as earlier Elevated railways The BMT Broadway Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United The BMT Brighton Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United DeKalb Avenue is a station shared by the BMT Fourth Avenue Line and the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection Prospect Park is a station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway, located at Empire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush The Fourth Avenue Line is a Rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under 4th Avenue in the New York City The Fulton Street Line or Kings County Line was an Elevated rail line mostly in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The Jamaica Line (earlier also Broadway Line or Broadway (Brooklyn Line) is an elevated Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New Cypress Hills is a Skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood The Manhattan Bridge is a Suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street with The BMT Nassau Street Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system Chambers Street is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway. The Montague Street Tunnel carries the and trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn The BMT Brighton Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United Sheepshead Bay is an express station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway. Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (also known as Coney Island Terminal) is a major Rapid transit station in Coney Island, Brooklyn Four-track elevated structure.
- Culver Line between Ninth Avenue and West Eighth Street (merge with Brighton Beach Line). The Culver Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island Ninth Avenue is a bi-level express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 39th Street West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium is a station on the BMT Brighton Line and the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Three-track elevated structure.
- Myrtle Avenue Line east of Wyckoff Avenue. The Myrtle Avenue Line, also called the Myrtle Avenue El. is a fully elevated line of the New York City Subway, as part of the BMT division Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues is a New York City Subway station complex formed by the intersecting stations of the BMT Canarsie Line and the BMT Myrtle Two-track elevated structure.
- Sea Beach Line from Fourth Avenue Subway to Gravesend–86th Street. The BMT Sea Beach Line is a Rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, connecting the BMT Fourth Avenue Line subway Gravesend–86th Street is a station on the BMT Sea Beach Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 86th Street and West 7th Street Four track open-cut.
- West End Line between Ninth Avenue and Bay 50th Street. The West End Line, now a subway line in Brooklyn, New York City, is a branch line from the Broadway ( Manhattan)-Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn subway Ninth Avenue is a bi-level express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 39th Street Bay 50th Street is a station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Bay 50th Street and Stillwell Three-track elevated structure.
Existing rights-of-way rehabilitated and expanded
- Brighton Beach Line from Prospect Park to Church Avenue. The BMT Brighton Line is a Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United Prospect Park is a station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway, located at Empire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush Church Avenue is a station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway, located at Church Avenue near East 18th Street in the Flatbush Existing open cut widened and expanded from two to four tracks.
- Jamaica Line from merge with line from Marcy Avenue to Broadway Junction. The Jamaica Line (earlier also Broadway Line or Broadway (Brooklyn Line) is an elevated Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New Marcy Avenue is a station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Broadway Junction is a New York City Subway station complex shared by the elevated BMT Canarsie Line and BMT Jamaica Line, and the underground Elevated line expanded from two to three tracks.
- Myrtle Avenue Line from Broadway–Myrtle to Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues, including track connection to Jamaica Line. The Myrtle Avenue Line, also called the Myrtle Avenue El. is a fully elevated line of the New York City Subway, as part of the BMT division Myrtle Avenue (sometimes called Myrtle Avenue–Broadway to distinguish it from the nearby Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues station is a two-level elevated station Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues is a New York City Subway station complex formed by the intersecting stations of the BMT Canarsie Line and the BMT Myrtle The Jamaica Line (earlier also Broadway Line or Broadway (Brooklyn Line) is an elevated Rapid transit line of the B Division of the New Elevated structure expanded from two to three tracks.
- Fulton Street Line from Nostrand Avenue to east of split from Canarsie Line at Pitkin Avenue. The Fulton Street Line or Kings County Line was an Elevated rail line mostly in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The Canarsie Line (sometimes referred to as the 14th Street&ndashCanarsie Line) is a Rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway Two track elevated expanded to three tracks and new flying junction complex with six tracks replaced two tracks between former Manhattan Junction in East New York and Pitkin Avenue. A flying junction is a Railway junction at which one or more diverging or converging tracks in a multiple-track route cross other tracks on the route by bridge to avoid conflict This portion gave the Canarsie Line two dedicated tracks.
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