"New York City's tallest subway station will soon have elevators... "The Smith-9th Street stop in Gowanus -- the tallest station in the city and one of the tallest in the world -- rises nearly 90 feet above ground. It lacks elevators and efficient escalators, making accessibility difficult for many New Yorkers, including people with disabilities, seniors and commuters carrying packages." "That's about to change. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who represents the area, said the station will get elevators as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's approved $68.4 billion capital plan from 2025-2029" If ever a train station needed a major facelift, it this station. Talk about not in ADA compliance, hardly any seating on the platform and decrepit conditions. But here's something's to consider while we wait for elevators: 1. Exercise: yes, taking my "beloved "( and that is laced with so much sarcasm) R train and climbing 6 flights of stairs does make my Apple Watch very happy. Imagine my steps count, heart rate, calories burned.. off the charts! Wait it gets better! 2. More exercise! Remember the verse in the song " Spinning Wheel" by 3 Dog Night: " What goes up, must come down..????" Yes, if you need to exit at the Smith-9th Street exit, there are 4 flights of steps to climb down. There are escalators.. uh uh.. but they're going up. 3. Decrepit conditions: when you are climbing down those stairs, not a pretty sight my friends. Smile and pretend you are on a beach.. 4. Andy Byford: Remember him? Ex MTA tmcommissioner ?? I sure do. In fact, I attended a conference he gave in one of the Bay Ridge schools. He had a lot of great ideas.. like why are there bus routes that don't serve communities the way they should, and oh yes, the renovation of Smith and 9th...that was six years ago. "Andy Byford left his role as New York City Transit President in January 2020 because a state-led reorganization of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority scaled back his duties, centralizing major projects and leaving him sidelined from core decision-making. He also cited a tense, intolerable working relationship with then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, noting he was frequently undermined, excluded from key operational meetings, and bypassed by the governor's office. " 5. Waiting game: how and why is it taking this long to perform a major overhaul to a station that serves roughly 2.9 million riders? Questions, plans, renovations.. More to come, in the meantime I know my exercise goals are reachable at this station. read more

MTA - Smith-9th Sts Subway Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Typical MTA subway station with broken down escalators. Recently took the F train here to attend a whisky tasting event within walking distance. This station was renovated a few years ago? I couldn't tell. Still looked worn out. Nice city skyline view off the platform though. read more

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As all note, the views, wow, they make up for the weather, life, relationship problems, family woes, money troubles, that wild dog that ate your pet, it's true, even the urine smell, shady neighborhood, traffic on the BQE visible nearby, and the foul carcinogenic Gowanus underneath you all disappear when you see the beauty of New York Harbour and Lady Liberty signalling Dirty Jerz just beyond her arm's reach. Whether the sun gleams off the waves behind the Staten Island Ferry or a rainy day makes Red Hook look 10% more industrial, the views! Station has a booth and 2 TVMs, they're good. Not much else, a lot of stairs and escalators so leave 3 mins to get up and down from platform to street-level door. The station is in a bit of a rough neighborhood that's a mix of brave gentrifying folk from Carrol Gardens, school kids, industrial workers (lots of scrapping, light manufacture, cement mixing, auto repair, and hardware distribution sorts nearby), and transit workers make the station mix colorful just like NYC. read more

During your renovations I am VERY happy to see that the lovely green and white mosaic tiles that say "Smith and 9th" (located on the platforms) have been saved and incorporated into the new version of you. Yay! read more

I always thought this station could be used in a good murder movie, because it has all the 'perks' of this being THE perfect spot for THE perfect murder MWAHAHAHAHA. ::cough:: And here's the reasons why: 1) Dimly (if at all) lit at night 2) pealing paint on the walls 3) shady people waiting in dark corners 4) lack of anything potentially safe to hold onto when waiting (and praying to God) for the train to come. All that's missing is Drew Barrymore standing huddled in a corner, cupping the receiver of her cell phone saying, "Who are you?!?! What do you want!?" in a high shrill voice and TA-DA! You've got great movie potential! Are you taking notes Michael Bay? Yeah? I thought so. Send a check in the mail; and sure, feel free to blow up this station in your movie if you'd like. This might encourage the MTA to fix it faster. MTA - why has this station been so long ignored??? read more

Well it's finally back. After more than a year after they said it would reopen the Smith and 9th station has finally reopened to make the lives of the residents of Red Hook a little better. I for one am happy I dont have to get off on Carroll st anymore as the stroller mafia was a little rough over there and knowing that the train wont plunge into the Gowanus Canal is also a treat. The station does look a bit better as the feeling youre about to get hit over the head around every bend is not as strong and they put up a pretty cool mural celebrating it as the highest station. The other real good thing is the benefits that will occur to the small businesses in the area that have been hanging on by a thread without the subway traffic. read more

Newly renovated and ready to go. This is a common station for F and G train patrons. It is above ground with ready cell phone access for anyone who needs to make a call, check email, browse the internet, or send out a text. The station is new and has not been trashed yet, but I'm sure someone will do it eventually. read more

This is "my" station, the place where I get off the F to make to trek into Red Hook (home). I wouldn't have a problem if the UP escalators weren't off 99% of the time. This is really annoying during the summer as it's extremely hot before you get to the outside part of the station. Also, I'm really tired of people who feel the need to push past me when the UP escalators are working. If you wanna walk so bad, take the EMPTY staircase next to us, numb nuts. Otherwise, the outside has a nice view of the skyline, etc. read more

MTA - Smith-9th Sts Subway Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Two fun facts about the Smith-9th Sts. stop: - It is the highest subway station (87.5 feet) in not only all five boroughs, but all the world! Certainly one of the more Instagram-worthy spots along an already globally iconic public transportation system. - A Goodfellas scene between Robert DeNiro and Lorraine Bracco was shot underneath these tracks, giving Smith and 9th some cinematic, time-capsule, Scorsese street cred. Beyond that, it's a train over the Gowanus Canal, one of the most polluted bodies of water in the country (another national highlight!), so perhaps its elevation is all that more necessary to keep our distance a bit from the toxic Superfund site. Smith and 9th is the closest subway to the otherwise sequestered Red Hook, but truthfully, is still a hike from the heart of the hood (Van Brunt St. and the waterfront and whatnot). The recent renovations have brought the station (somewhat) into the 21st century, although I certainly, selfishly didn't mind a slightly quicker commute by blowing past this stop for the past two years. For agoraphobic Manhattanites, if you couldn't already tell, this is one of those above-ground trains I'm sure you thought were just jokes told to you by outer-borough residents. Yes, that means cell phone service. And no, you haven't hopped on the F train and somehow ended up in Chicago or Boston. These really do exist, right here in New York City. Enjoy the views of Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, that Kentile Floors sign, and yes, the Gowanus Canal, before arriving at Smith and 9th. And then you can enjoy 87.5 feet's worth of stairs. read more

This stop looks and feels like a death trap. It's grimy and gross and the escalators NEVER work and also the bridge looks like it's about to collapse. Just pray you're not on the train that eventually falls into the Gowanus Canal. No one will bother to retrieve your corpse from its watery grave. read more

In keeping with some of the other reviews so far...yes..I'll go as far as to designate this my favorite subway station in Brooklyn. Its certainly got the most character. Its spacious. Has incredible views. The lone drawback is the outlandish challenge posed by consecutive interlocking stacks of escalators one needs to take to reach the platform. The whole thing is reminiscent of a London Tube station. UnGodly number of stairs. How can they not have an elevator? Maybe they do? Hope so, because if an escalator is out-of-order you are in for a CLIMB. I personally, don't mind this--exercise is always welcome and I've never seen it so crowded that every staircase is "filled". Know what I mean? "Filled" with people taking each step, one step-at-a-time. Doesn't happen here. See, lazy Brooklynites usually opt for the escalator (working or not) so I usually charge up the concrete staircase. There's always a clear passage to zoom. Furthermore, the stairs are not those claustrophobic, black, MTA stairs which squeeze the breath right out of you. This is an enormous space, filled with fresh, free-flowing air! It's open to the winds. This station is 'giant' in the right way: vertically! Not a grimy, buried-underground maze for skulking, slinking rats the way the rest of MTA is. For these ergonomic considerations alone, I salute and hail Smith/9th St station as a boon and a benefit to oppressed Brooklynites everywhere. Once you pick up a train here (F or G) of course, you have to put up with the repulsive cellphone-addicted urbanite drones who suddenly realize they have 'signal' back. It's like: hello--little junior high-school girls-- your gossip line is open again! Oh boo hoo, your umbilical cords were cinched off for the last five minutes when you were in dat nasty dark tunnel! How tragic read more

This is the highest subway station IN THE WORLD!!!! If that's not worth 5 stars, I literally have no idea what is.

My favorite thing about this station is that it's the first stop where your phone service and internet will work. (at least until the next station) read more

I lived in Red Hook when it was bad when it was called Little Vietnam. See my review. http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-hook-neighborhood-brooklyn#hrid:q2sMWeY6wol9C2nu4tTs3w I used to live in the PJ's at 426 Columbia Street. So all you little pretend Brooklynites, go back to your farm! By pretend Brooklynites I mean the ones who think chain stores and flip flops belong in Brooklyn. People who try to ride for free (not the subway) trying to ride Brooklyn for free that wear Brooklyn T shirts and try to tell their little friends back home that they are now from BK! Fugazzi! Anyway I was robbed at gunpoint back when NY had a lot of crime going from the PJ's to the train station and there was a huge blizzard. So I am not fond of the area or long walk to the train. To get on the F train back then at Smith and 9th every single train was overly crowded and you couldn't wait for one with room because there were none. My ballet training came in handy because to squeeze onto the train I had to stand in 5th position. However back then the escalator was broken for years and years so I developed buns of steel! And there is a good view of the Statue of Liberty to remind you of your freedom as you go to slave at the office and live in the hood! So 2 stars for my buns of steel! That's why people in the hood all look like Olympic athletes and don't have to work out. Living in the hood is a work out and you are sure to be in shape if you walk up the escalators at Smith and 9th. With these nice gentleman as neighbors who wouldn't love it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f15gBVoHiNM read more

My favorite subway station in all of Brooklyn so far. The views are phenomenal and the atmosphere seems to give you an essential Brooklyn. I love it!! read more

Not the prettiest station in the system, but it does the job. Transfer within the system between F & now G train to the 4th avenue lines bound for Sunset & Bayridge in one direction, or downtown brooklyn in the other. Good memories in the area as way back in time, my first apartment was on 5th avenue & first street. read more

I like this stop because it's right next to my house. It get's the F,G and R lines. Easy accessibility to the city and other places. The good thing about this stop is that it's not underground and so a few seconds before this stop, you get the phone signal. I'm waiting to see what it would look like after all the construction. read more

I went in today for an egg mcmuffin. I haven't been to a McDonald's in 10 years....I guess I have been right all this time. As I was ordering, I pointed out a roach as it was trotting between me and the order taker. She asked if I still wanted my breakfast. I said NO THANK YOU. Not very appetizing OR SAFE. Pretty disgusting. read more

I used to take the G train here and hated waiting for one to pull out. I used to come down here all the time back around ten years ago and dreaded waiting for any type of train to pull out of this station. There are some things that need to be redone in Brooklyn and this station is one of them. MTA has a lot of money and they need to stop giving raises as much as they raise the fare and just start cleaning and fixing up the transit system a little bit more. I understand how it was in the late 80s but this is 2012.. lets get with it read more

Awful memories of the G train at this station but now that I no longer live in Brooklyn, I usually take the F which isn't too bad considering that I don't need to make any transfers to my destination. The bad part is just the amount of time it takes to get there from one end of Queens to one end of Brooklyn. This station is pretty high and tall and I think you can see it briefly in Goodfellas. It's a bit of a creepy area late at night from what I remembered so just remember to be careful at all times. read more

This is my subway stop. This is one of the few stops worth stopping for. Smith-9th, on the F and the G lines is beautiful. It is the highest stop in the system, built so that tall ships could travel under it on the Gowanus Canal. The station itself is dilapidated and the double escalators frequently don't work necessitating a three or four story climb by stairs. However, it's charms make it worth it. On the Manhattan/Queens bound side one can walk down the waiting area for a view of beautiful Brooklyn - downtown and Park Slope and the park and more. Turn around, and perspective makes the statue of liberty seem like a plastic toy sitting on top of a red hook rooftop. Getting off on the Coney Island bound side is even better. A trick of perspective can make the New Jersey, Downtown Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn skylines all look like one. This view is absolutely unique and often stunning. So come hang out, look at some rooftop graffiti, and marvel at the highest stop in the system. Makes me wish the el was still going! read more

great...a stop that only 2 of the slowest possible trains in the city go to.

pray u can walk long distances cus theres lotsa steps

i moved to smith/9th the february before last. the station was already half closed (no northbound F trrains). the neighborhood is a great mix of people and things to do and i love being right at the crossroads of red hook, park slope, and carroll gardens. the station fully closed a year ago june, and the completion date has changed 47 times since then. the walk to carroll isn't THAT bad, but when i could be walking right across the st i can't help but be bitter. i feel like dropping to my knees and......begging....the construction guys that are all around to finish up soon please!! read more

i've chosen to walk from the carol st stop ever since i stopped eatin mcdonalds. seriously nasty(both mcdonalds and the station) i don't know why they bother to paint over the graffiti like 2 seconds after it happens, but they can't get it to smell nice? sheesh, it's an elevated station, i know it's not just the canal! anyway, they're closing this station for more than a year starting soon, hopefully i can change my review then! read more

Brand new station and no handicap access? Someone pocketed the change. Shame on the MTA!!