Alrighty, after a one month hiatus from the blog to recover from burnout and life circumstances, I have finally returned. And with that, is Franklin Ave. & Fulton Street. Sweet! Located questionably in Crown Heights (this is disputed), this local station serves both an IND line (the C) and the BMT shuttle.
The shuttle platform has a countdown clock, canopy, and the usual amenities. Not a lot to say, it’s short (2 cars). Gets the job done, and it’s accessible. It’s also above street level on an embankment, and as such there’s a walkway connecting to the IND section of the station.
The mezzanine is nothing to remark about, with the usual amenities and whatnot. The IND platforms are also pretty standard, with the C stopping here whenever it’s running, and the A taking its stead overnights. However, there’s something different about these platforms! Above the IND tiling are stickers that resemble standard MTA signage, reading “Respect”. So, what the hell does this have anything to do with this (or Franklin St. on the #1 line, for that matter)?
Well, I’ll tell you what: it actually comes back to late Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul”. The story goes that passengers and members of the community put up makeshift memorials on the walls of these two stations honoring the then-ill singer in 2018, only for the MTA to then remove it. Presumably, after facing backlash from the community, the MTA then turned around and put up stickers memorializing Franklin in the stations resembling actual MTA signage. Now, I don’t know entirely how “Respect” ties into it as I’m not familiar with her works, but nevertheless, it remains a notable part of the subway.
Now, with that in mind, is there anything else notable about the station that I overlooked? Not really. Overall, not an awful station, and it’s a bit unique in a way, owing to the memorializing of Franklin.
The good: It’s accessible and has connections to both the shuttle and the IND! Furthermore, the fact there’s something memorializing Aretha Franklin is cool. Also, the skyline view of downtown Brooklyn from the overpass is cool, too.
The bad: The transfer between the C and shuttle is a bit lengthy, but whatever.
Nearby points of interest: A few playgrounds, a supermarket, a mosque, a church, and a few restaurants and bars. Fulton Street itself is a bit of a commercial corridor.
Transit connections:
MTA subway (Lines C, FAS)
MTA bus (B25, B48)
Overall, it’s not a bad station, and is a little unique among the others.
Rating: 8/10
