Cortlandt Street: A Rebuilt Hub in Lower Manhattan

The Cortlandt Street station is a subway complex located in Lower Manhattan, New York, adjacent to the World Trade Center site. It serves as an important connection point rebuilt after the events of September 11, 2001. Its strategic location in the Financial District makes it a vital access point to one of Manhattan’s most historically and economically significant areas.

Connections and Services

The Cortlandt Street complex consists of two interconnected stations serving different lines:

Cortlandt Street (Broadway Line)

• This part of the complex is a local station on the BMT Broadway Line of the New York City Subway.
• It is served by trains of the following services:
  • R (yellow)
  • W (yellow)
• Main entrance address: Integrated within the World Trade Center complex, under Church Street near Dey Street, New York, NY 10007

WTC Cortlandt (Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)

• This part of the complex is a station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway.
• It is served by trains of the following service:
  • 1 (red)
• Entrances to this section of the station are primarily through the World Trade Center Transportation Hub (Oculus).

The interconnection between these two stations, partly facilitated by the WTC Transportation Hub, allows passengers to make convenient transfers between the Broadway and Broadway–Seventh Avenue lines.

Importance and Location

• The station is located directly on the World Trade Center site in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.
• Its strategic location makes it a key access point to important destinations such as:

  • World Trade Center

    • National September 11 Memorial & Museum: A solemn tribute to the events of 2001.
    • One World Observatory: Panoramic views from the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
    • The Oculus: An impressive transportation and shopping hub designed by Santiago Calatrava.

  • Financial District

    • Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): The global financial heart.
    • Federal Hall: Site of the first US presidential inauguration.
    • St. Paul’s Chapel: A historic building that served as a resting place during the 9/11 recovery efforts.

  • Additional Nearby Attractions

    • Brookfield Place: A luxury shopping and dining complex facing the Hudson River.
    • Battery Park City: A planned community with waterfront parks and promenades.

History and Evolution

• The original Cortlandt Street station (BMT Broadway Line) opened on January 5, 1918.
• The station was severely damaged or destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks and remained closed for years.
• Both parts of the complex were completely rebuilt; the WTC Cortlandt station (Line 1) opened in September 2018, and the Cortlandt Street station (R/W lines) reopened shortly thereafter, also in September 2018, integrated into the new World Trade Center complex.

Interesting Facts

• The station is a symbol of New York’s resilience and reconstruction after September 11.
• The WTC Cortlandt station features a mosaic art installation titled “Chorus” by Ann Hamilton, which includes text from the Declaration of Independence and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• It is directly connected to the WTC Transportation Hub (Oculus), which offers access to PATH trains to New Jersey and additional subway connections.