Myrtle/Broadway is an express station shared by the J and M lines, but since I took the Z to get here, I kinda need to acknowledge the fact that the Z is real. It’s also not an accessible station, and has relics of the subway system’s past.
First off, the history. The station was originally a 2-level stop, with the upper level running between Metropolitan Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge. However, since service across the Brooklyn Bridge was killed in the ’40s, service to what’s now Jay St.-MetroTech via the Myrtle Avenue elevated was on life support and eventually was killed south of Broadway in 1969. The elevated still exists, albeit with a flat junction, towards Middle Village as today’s M line. Also, presently, the B54 bus largely replaced service down Myrtle Avenue’s elevated viaduct.
As for the station itself, it’s not an accessible station. However, platforms have countdown clocks, benches, wastebaskets, the usual affair. There’s restrooms in the station mezzanine (they are probably traumatizingly bad), a station agent, an OMNY machine, among other standard affairs. Street level has the aforementioned connection to the B54 bus along with the B46 and B47 towards the Williamsburg Bridge and a hospital nearby. The station was also the site of a rather viral photo.
The good: It went viral. Also, it’s a transfer station between the J and M.
The bad: Mostly the accessibility. Also, I presume it’s a tad sketchy at night.
Nearby points of interest: THE HOLY LAND. In all seriousness though, there’s a couple of bars, a church, and section 8 housing.
Transit connections:
6th Ave. (M)
Nassau St. (J)
MTA bus (B46, B47, B54)
Overall, it’s not miserable as far as inaccessible stations go. However, I do presume it can get rather sketchy, and it did feel somewhat sketch while I was here. But, given this is NYC, there are much worse places.
Rating: 6/10
