Editing IND Crosstown Line (section)

=== Development and 20th century ===
Plans for a crosstown subway line were floated as early as 1912.<ref name="Raskin-RoutesNotTaken-2013">{{Cite Routes Not Taken}}</ref><ref name="vanshnookenraggen 2015"/> In 1923, a plan for such a line, to be operated by the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]] (BRT) from the [[Queensboro Bridge]] under Jackson Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, Roebling Street, Bedford Avenue, and Hancock Street to [[Franklin Avenue (BMT Franklin Avenue Line)|Franklin Avenue]] at the north end of the [[BMT Franklin Avenue Line]],<ref>Transit Commission, [http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/new_subways_ind_proposal.html New Subways: Proposed Additions to Rapid Transit System], 1922</ref> was adopted by the city.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Subway Routes Adopted by City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/08/04/archives/two-subway-routes-adopted-by-city-estimate-board-accepts-wash.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 4, 1923 |page=9 |access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> However, the following year, [[Mayor Hylan]] announced his opposition to it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hylan About Faced, Says Citizens Union |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/04/06/archives/hylan-about-faced-says-citizens-union-mayor-accused-of-a-complete.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 6, 1924 |page=13 |access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref> In addition, residents of central Brooklyn, which was already heavily developed, opposed an elevated line because of noise and aesthetic concerns, but the BRT would not build a subway because an elevated was the cheapest option.<ref name="vanshnookenraggen 2015">{{cite web |author=vanshnookenraggen |title=Mysteries of the Queens Boulevard Subway |website=vanshnookenraggen |date=September 23, 2015 |url=http://www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/2015/09/mysteries-of-the-queens-boulevard-subway/ |access-date=October 4, 2015}}</ref>

Eventually, the line was moved and incorporated into the city's [[Independent Subway System]] (IND).<ref name="NYTimes-HylanSubway-CulverCrstwnQBL-1925">{{cite news |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1925/03/21/101651400.pdf |title=New Subway Routes in Hylan Program to Cost $186,046,000 |date=March 21, 1925 |page=1}}</ref> The junction with the [[IND Queens Boulevard Line]] in Long Island City was originally supposed to have a second [[Wye (rail)|wye]], with service from Manhattan via the [[53rd Street Tunnel]] planned to feed into the Crosstown Line. This would have been part of a loop service between the Crosstown and [[IND Eighth Avenue Line|Eighth Avenue Line]]s.<ref name=NYTimes-HylanSubway-CulverCrstwnQBL-1925/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252015%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%25201925%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%25201925%2520-%25201394.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fd531a21b3927569aeb3ea6be6f13c8ba#page=1|title=Bids for Test Boring in L. I. City For Crosstown Line Due May 22|date=May 6, 1925|newspaper=Queens Daily Star|access-date=May 1, 2016|via=Fulton History}}</ref>
[[File:Queens Borough, New York City, 1910-1920; the borough of homes and industry, a descriptive and illustrated book setting forth its wonderful growth and development in commerce, industry and homes (14781638832).jpg|left|thumb|1920 proposal]]
The first contract to build the Crosstown Line, for a section north of [[Nassau Avenue (IND Crosstown Line)|Nassau Avenue]] in Brooklyn, was awarded in 1928.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/01/22/archives/subway-extensions-for-long-island-three-contracts-for-work-in-the.html|title=SUBWAY EXTENSIONS FOR LONG ISLAND; Three Contracts for Work in the Greenpoint Section for Over Five Miles of Track. WILL COST-OVER $15,000,000 The New Fifty-third Street Terminal Under East River Now 45Per Cent. Completed.|date=January 22, 1928|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> The portion of the line crossing [[Newtown Creek]] between Brooklyn and Queens, now known as the Greenpoint Tubes, was built without the use of a [[tunneling shield]] or compressed air, contrary to the convention of the time. The tunnel was bored through solid rock, crossing under the [[East River Tunnels]] of the [[Long Island Rail Road]] and the [[IRT Flushing Line]], then lined with concrete.<ref name="BklynEagle-INDGGTube-Ap1929">{{cite news|last1=Snapp|first1=Fletcher G.|title=Newtown Creek Tunnel First Tube of Kind Bored Without Compressed Air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/59882699/?terms=%22subway%22%2B%22court%22%2B%22bond%2Bst%22|access-date=August 28, 2016|work=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=April 24, 1929|page=3}}</ref>

On August 19, 1933, the line was opened north of Nassau Avenue, and the [[GG (New York City Subway service)|GG]] began operation to [[Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Queens Plaza]].<ref name="NYTimes-INDQBLCrstwnOpen-1933">{{cite web|title=Two Subway Units Open at Midnight – Links in City-Owned System in Queens and Brooklyn to Have 15 Stations|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/08/18/99841892.pdf|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 7, 2015|date=August 18, 1933}}</ref> The entire Crosstown Line was completed and connected to the [[IND Culver Line]] on July 1, 1937, whereupon the GG was extended in both directions to [[Smith–Ninth Streets (IND Culver Line)|Smith–Ninth Streets]] and [[Forest Hills–71st Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line)|Forest Hills–71st Avenue]].<ref name="bde19370701">{{cite news |title=New Crosstown Subway Line Is Opened |url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/52688792/?terms=crosstown%2Bsubway |access-date=December 24, 2015 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]] |date=July 1, 1937}}</ref>

In 1946, as part of a $1&nbsp;billion plan issued by the [[New York City Board of Transportation]], a branch of the IND Crosstown Line was to be built, with the routing via Franklin Avenue and connecting with the [[BMT Brighton Line]]. This would have replaced the [[BMT Franklin Avenue Line]].<ref>{{cite news |date=December 6, 1946 |title=Borough Subway Relief Still 2 to 3 Years Off |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3881852/1946_subway_proposal/ |access-date=January 22, 2016 |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} Beginning of text, p. 1:[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3881860/1946_subway_proposal/]</ref>

In 1986, the [[New York City Transit Authority]] launched a study to determine whether to close 79 stations on 11 routes, including the entire Crosstown Line, due to low ridership and high repair costs.<ref name="Brooke 1986 p781">{{cite web |last=Brooke |first=James |date=April 29, 1986 |title=Subway Aides to Weigh Cuts on 11 Routes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/29/nyregion/subway-aides-to-weigh-cuts-on-11-routes.html |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="n139526241">{{Cite news |last=Gordy |first=Margaret |date=1986-04-29 |title=MTA Studies Citywide Cuts in Subway Lines, Stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-mta-studies-citywide-cuts-in-sub/139526241/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |work=Newsday |pages=3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-mta-studies-citywide-cuts-in-sub/139526291/ 27]}}</ref> Numerous figures, including New York City Council member [[Carol Greitzer]], criticized the plans.<ref name="n139526241" /><ref name="Finder 1986 j495">{{cite web |last1=Finder |first1=Alan |last2=Connelly |first2=Mary |date=May 4, 1986 |title=The Region; On Shrinking The Subways |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/04/weekinreview/the-region-on-shrinking-the-subways.html |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>