The IRT 4,5 platforms that lead to the Jeraleman Street Tubes and the East Side Subway, are the oldest at the Borough Hall Station. This stop dates from 1908 and is the first subway station in Brooklyn; it has two side platforms, for the two track line. The platform walls have decorative terra-cotta wall relieves of interlocking B Hs for the trim line, and a terra-cotta top-line to a decorative mosaic trim-line. Most of the platform walls look quite intricate. An exception to this is towards the extreme eastern (southern) ends of the platforms where they were extended, the mosaic work here is basic blocky Borough Hall text painted on the tiles of the platform walls.
For exits the station has a small mezzanine at the extreme northern (western) end of the station that is a part time with a bank of turnstiles and a customer service agent. Streetstairs lead up to the NW and SW corners of Joralemon and Court Streets.
The main station exit is quite unusual and is towards the middle of the platforms; it consists of three overpass-levels above the platforms, their overpass levels because they're visible up above from the platforms. The outside two overpasses are within fare control, each has two staircases from it down to each platform. At the northern end of these overpasses (above the Manhattan-bound platform) there High Entrance/Exit Turnstiles, at the southern end (above the Utica/Flatbush-bound platform) are very small banks of turnstiles. There is a central mezzanine level outside of fare control that connects the two exits, at the southern end to Jeraleman Street in front of the Municipal Building; there are also now locked doors that once led into the basement of the Municipal Building, this is where the token booth is since the turnstiles are here. At the northern end of the overpass are a pare of exits that lead to Jeraleman Street right outside Borough Hall. These streetstairs are unique with black railings on top of stonework, designed to blend in with Borough Hall.
In addition to these exits, the East Side Line is connected to the rest of the station complex by a passageway from the end of the Manhattan-bound (2,3) West Side Line platform to an area that is completely beyond all of the station exits, but not by much, on this station's Manhattan-bound platform. Technically the Manhattan-bound 4,5 platform is ADA accessible by passengers using the elevator at the other end of the Manhattan-bound 2,3 platform and going down to the passageway to the Manhattan-bound 4,5 platform.
Photos 1-5: May 12, 2007; 6: June 9, 2008; 7-13: JUne 18, 2009; 14: December 28, 2010; 15-16: November 1, 2012; 17: November 12, 2013; 18-21: January 6, 2011; 22-26: September 25, 2023;
A mosaic Borough Hall name tablet, there is a decorative terra-cotta wall reliefs above it.
Looking down the Manhattan-bound platform at Borough Hall towards one of the staircases up to the overpasses that lead to street level.
Looking down the passageway between the Manhattan-bound 2,3 and 4,5 platforms at Borough Hall.
Passengers walk through the passageway between the Manhattan-bound 2,3 and 4,5 platforms at Borough Hall
A mosaic copy of the intricate terra-cotta interlocking BH wall reliefs at Borough Hall.
Painted on Borough Hall text in the 1950s tiled portion of the extreme eastern (southern) end of the station at Borough Hall.
Another view down the Manhattan-bound side platform at Borough Hall with its green columns and a Woodlawn-bound R142 4 train stopped in the station.
One of the intricate BH terra-cotta wall reliefs at Borough Hall.
Approaching a staircase up to the overpass level at Borough Hall, there is a sign saying for Brooklyn 4,5 to cross-over to other platform.
Looking down the New Lots & Utica-bound platform at Borough Hall, the platforms still have old-fashioned wooden benches on them as well, all the staircases up to overpasses, and mezzanine levels have signs for the M,R,2,3 crossover to other platform.
Looking across the tracks to the Manhattan-bound platform at Borough Hall, pairs of staircases up to the overpasses that are visible from the tracks are in view, as well as the overpass that is outside of fare control.
Looking up to one of the overpass levels at Borough Hall at High Entrance/Exit Turnstiles that provide the only exits above the Manhattan-bound platform.
Looking down the Utica/Flatbush-bound platform at Borough Hall towards the Court Street exit.
Snow from the Christmas 2010 blizzard has somehow gotten two stories underground and onto the platform at Borough Hall
Getting to the Manhattan-bound platform after Superstorm Sandy, currently discharge only with all service (4 trains originating here to New Lots Avenue only) on the opposite platform
The countdown clock at Borough Hall post Superstorm Sandy shows the only destination and service available after the storm, the 4 train to New Lots Avenue, No Manhattan Service or service on any other line
A mosaic reproduction of the BH terra-cotta reliefs on one of the portions of the platform that was extended
Passengers get off a 4 train to exit to Joralemon Street, Borough Hall and the Municipal Building
The token booth in front of the entrance to the Municipal Building and a narrow bank of turnstiles
The closed (boxes are visible) doors into the Brooklyn Municipal Building
Last Updated: February 5, 2023
This website is not allifiated with MTA New York City Transit, their official website is here
This Website is maintained and copyright © 2004-2024, Jeremiah Cox. This website is not affiliated with any transit provider. Please do not remote link images or copy them from this website without permission.
