Marble Hill station (officially Marble Hill–225 Street) is a local rapid‑transit station on the IRT Broadway‑Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway system. It is served at all times by the 1 train. The station is located at the intersection of Broadway and West 225th Street in the Marble Hill neighborhood, a geographically isolated part of the borough of Manhattan that is physically attached to the Bronx.
History
The station opened on October 27 1906 as part of the original Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) extension from 157th Street to 242nd Street (the "Dyckman Street–Van Cortlandt" extension). The construction of the Harlem River Ship Canal (completed in 1895) had separated Marble Hill from Manhattan Island, creating the unique geographic situation that the station serves. The station was originally named “Marble Hill” and was later renamed “Marble Hill–225 Street” to conform with the MTA’s naming conventions. The station interior and platforms have undergone several renovations, most notably in the early 2000s when the MTA installed new lighting, tactile warning strips, and updated signage.
Station layout
Marble Hill station has two side platforms serving two tracks. The platforms are approximately 520 feet (158 m) long, sufficient for standard IRT “A‑division” trains of ten cars. The station is built on a viaduct that spans the Harlem River Ship Canal and the surrounding highway infrastructure. The original decorative elements, including mosaic name tablets and a “H” (for Harlem) tile band, remain largely intact. The station does not have a free crossover or cross‑under; passengers must exit to street level and re‑enter to transfer between directions.
Entrances and exits
There are two street‑level entrances/exits. The primary entrance is located on the east side of Broadway at West 225th Street, with a staffed booth and turnstiles. A secondary, unstaffed entrance is on the west side of Broadway near the same intersection, equipped with an Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gate. Both entrances provide stair access to the platforms; no elevators or escalators are present, making the station non‑accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Ridership
According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) annual ridership reports, Marble Hill station recorded approximately 1.2 million entries in 2022, ranking it among the lower‑used stations on the IRT Broadway‑Seventh Avenue Line. Ridership is influenced by the station’s residential catchment area and its limited connectivity to other transit services.
Connections
Marble Hill station offers connections to local bus routes operated by the MTA Bus Company, including the Bx12 and Bx15 routes that run along Broadway. The station is within walking distance of the Metro‑North Railroad’s Hudson Line stations at the nearby Bronx County Savings Bank parking lot, though no direct physical interchange exists.
Surrounding area
The station serves the Marble Hill neighborhood, characterized by a mix of residential housing, small businesses, and institutional facilities such as the Manhattan College campus and several public schools. The area’s unique legal status—being part of Manhattan borough while physically attached to the Bronx—makes Marble Hill station one of the few NYC subway stations located on the mainland rather than on Manhattan Island.
Future plans
As of the latest MTA Capital Program documents, there are no approved projects to install elevators or otherwise render Marble Hill station ADA‑accessible. Periodic maintenance and aesthetic improvements are scheduled under routine system upkeep.