A view of the station in March 1918, before it openedName mosaic
Following the completion of theoriginal subway, there were plans to construct a line along Manhattan's east side north of 42nd Street. The original plan for what became the extension north of 42nd Street was to continue it south throughIrving Place and into what is now theBMT Broadway Line atNinth Street andBroadway. In July 1911, the IRT had withdrawn from the talks, and theBrooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) was to operate on Lexington Avenue. The IRT submitted an offer for what became its portion of theDual Contracts on February 27, 1912.[5][6]
In 1913, as part of theDual Contracts, which were signed on March 19, 1913,[7] the Public Service Commission planned to split the originalInterborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) system from looking like a "Z" system (as seen on a map) to an H-shaped system. The original system would be split into three segments: two north–south lines, carrying through trains over the Lexington Avenue andBroadway–Seventh Avenue Lines, and a west–east shuttle under 42nd Street. This would form a roughly H-shaped system.[8][9] It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of theUpper East Side andthe Bronx.[10][11]
The 96th Street station opened on July 17, 1918, with service initially running betweenGrand Central–42nd Street and167th Street via the line's local tracks.[3][12] On August 1, the "H system" was put into place, with through service beginning on the new east and west side trunk lines, and the institution of the42nd Street Shuttle along the old connection between the sides.[13][14] The cost of the extension from Grand Central was $58 million.[15]
The city government took over the IRT's operations on June 12, 1940.[16][17] The station was renovated in the 1990s, and had its original tilework restored.
The station has two local tracks and twoside platforms. The 6 stops here at all times, and the 4 stops here during late nights.[19][20] Theexpress tracks run on a lower level and are not visible from the platforms.[21] The station is between103rd Street to the north and86th Street to the south.[22] Fixed platform barriers, which are intended to prevent commuters falling to the tracks, are positioned near the platform edges.[23][24]
A crossover is provided, with a mosaic in the mezzanine entitledCity Suite, commissioned in 1994. There are new[when?] "96th Street" mosaics, and a window in themezzanine overlooks the tracks, giving a view of oncoming trains from the south. The south end of the station features a rounded ceiling due to problems encountered during construction. Both platforms have emergency exits from the lower level express tracks.
^"Petition for Subway in Lexington Ave".The New York Times. May 22, 1912.ISSN0362-4331.Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 16, 2009.A petition is being circulated among the residents and property owners of the section just south of the Grand Central Station, in Park and Lexington Avenues, protesting against the proposed abandonment of the construction of the Subway in Lexington Avenue, between Forty-third and Thirty-second Streets.
^"Transit Unification Completed As City Takes Over I. R. T. Lines: Systems Come Under Single Control After Efforts Begun in 1921; Mayor Is Jubilant at City Hall Ceremony Recalling 1904 Celebration".New York Herald Tribune. June 13, 1940. p. 25.ProQuest1248134780.
^"96th Street Neighborhood Map".mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 2018.Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. RetrievedDecember 28, 2020.
Note: Service variations, station closures, and reroutes are not reflected here. Stations with asterisks have no regular peak, reverse peak, or midday service on that route. See linked articles for more information.
Stations and line segments initalics are closed, demolished, or planned (temporary closures are marked with asterisks). Track connections to other lines' terminals are displayed in brackets.Struck through passenger track connections are closed or unused in regular service.
(late nights)
(all times) <6> 
(weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction)
NYCT Bus:M96,M98,M101,M102,M103[2]
2.2%
towardWoodlawn late nights(103rd Street)
do not stop here
