Houston Street: A Key Stop on the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line

The Houston Street station is a local subway station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of West Houston Street and Varick Street in Manhattan, it serves the Greenwich Village and SoHo neighborhoods, offering access to a dynamic and culturally rich area of the city.

Connections and Services

The Houston Street station offers the following services:

Houston Street (Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)

• This station is a local stop on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.
• It is served by trains of the service:
  • 1 (red)
• Main entrance address: West Houston Street & Varick Street, New York, NY 10014

Station Design

• The station has two side platforms and four tracks.
• The two central tracks are used by express trains (services 2 and 3), which do not stop at this station.
• Trains of the 1 service use the local outer tracks.
• Entrances and exits are located at the intersection of West Houston Street and Varick Street.

There are no direct transfers to other subway lines within this station.

Importance and Location

• The station is located at the intersection of West Houston Street and Varick Street, serving the Greenwich Village and SoHo neighborhoods in Manhattan.
• Its strategic location makes it a key access point to important destinations such as:

  • SoHo (South of Houston Street)

    • Known for its designer boutiques, art galleries, and cast-iron architecture.
    • The SoHo historic district, where many historic cast-iron buildings can be found.
    • New York City Fire Museum.
    • Trendy shops and restaurants.

  • Greenwich Village

    • A historically bohemian neighborhood with tree-lined streets and townhouses.
    • Near Hudson River Park.
    • Numerous live music venues and bars.

  • Additional Nearby Attractions

    • Film Forum: An independent non-profit cinema.
    • Children’s Museum of the Arts.

History and Evolution

• The Houston Street station was inaugurated on July 1, 1918, as part of the extension of the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line.
• It is part of the original system of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT).
• It has maintained its basic configuration over the years, serving as a key local stop on this vital line.
• The station preserves original design elements from the IRT era.

Interesting Facts

• The station serves as an important gateway to the vibrant neighborhoods of SoHo and Greenwich Village.
• Its name comes from Houston Street, one of Lower Manhattan’s main east-west thoroughfares, named in honor of William Houstoun.
• Unlike the Texan pronunciation, ‘Houston’ in New York is pronounced ‘HOW-stun’ (/ˈhaʊstən/).
• It is a fundamental stop for accessing the commercial and cultural areas of western Lower Manhattan.