The L platforms at Union Square consist of a single island platform for the two track line that crosses beneath the Broadway and Lexington Avenue Subway lines. It has a colorful trimline along the track walls with little Us inside it. The platform has a series of exits, starting from its west end there are two staircases up to a mezzanine with a little fare control area of low turnstiles to two streetstairs on the SW corner of Broadway and 14 Street. There is also a passageway that curves north and connects to the southern end of the mezzanines above the N,Q,R platforms. Next on the platform is a single staircase directly up to each of the N,Q,R platforms. These have little intermediate landings to provide a bit of distance before connecting to the platforms extreme southern ends. The final means of access is two staircases followed by the elevator that makes the L station ADA compliant up to the southern end of the 4,5,6 Lexington Avenue Line mezzanine.
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Arts For Transit at Union Square Union Square Project, 2000 Glass, Enameled Steel, and aluminum By Mary Miss |
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| (union_sq_l1) A countdown clock in front of the elevator to the mezzanine from the L platform 21 April, 2007 (union_sq_l2) The entrance to the passageway from the N,Q,R mezzanine to the small fare control area that really belongs to the L | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l3) The turnstiles to 14 Street and Broadway directly above the L platform | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l4) The platform trimline with a U for Union Square inside it | 31 December, 2009 |
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| (union_sq_l5) One of the staircases up to the L train's own mezzanine includes all transfers although continuing farther down the platform makes all of them shorter 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l6) R143 #8101 stops at Union Square, notice the yellow columns | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l7) Close up of R143 #8101 stopped at Union Square | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l8) Passengers storm onto a R143 L train stopped at Union Square | 31 December, 2009 |
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| (union_sq_l9) The bottom of the staircase from the uptown N,Q,R platform has a sign for the two directions of L service, the downtown platform is just beyond 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l10) Passengers file down the stairs towards the L platform from the entrance from the 4,5,6 station | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l11) The turnstiles in the L trains personal fare control area | 31 December, 2009 (union_sq_l12) Brooklyn or 8 Avenue? Looking down to the platform from a staircase to it | 16 September, 2011 |
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| (union_sq_l13) A street stair to the L trains direct entrance 16 September, 2011 (union_sq_l14) The roof between the two street stairs at the entrance that is on the L trains own mezzanine | 16 September, 2011 (union_sq_l15) Passengers swipe into the system right above the Canarsie Line platform | 16 September, 2011 (union_sq_l16) One of the L entrances is still closed post Superstorm sandy although 4 train service has been restored | 3 November, 2012 |
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| (union_sq_l17) Close up of the service alert saying 4,5, and 6 trains have been restored post-Superstorm Sandy 3 November, 2012 (union_sq_l18) The corridor to the L train's gate is open but is taped off because L service hasn't been restored post Superstorm Sandy | 5 November, 2012 |
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