Cortlandt Street

Cortlandt Street sits directly beneath the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, close enough to the memorial pools that the station itself was rebuilt from scratch after the original 2001 damage. Today it reopened as a bright, white-tiled station with a design deliberately referencing the twin towers, and it functions as one of the main subway gateways to the 9/11 Memorial, the Oculus transit hub and the surrounding Financial District.

Above ground, this is one of the most visited few blocks in New York. The reflecting pools of the National September 11 Memorial sit just outside the station, the Oculus's rib-like white structure houses the Westfield World Trade Center mall, and One World Trade Center's observation deck rises just to the north. Wall Street and the rest of the Financial District are an easy walk south.

Station Overview

Cortlandt Street opened in 1917 on what is now the BMT Broadway Line and sits in Zone 1. It was closed for over 16 years after sustaining severe structural damage on September 11, 2001, and reopened in a fully rebuilt form in 2018. The N, Q, R and W trains all serve the station, and it is step-free with elevators to the street.

Lines and Connectivity

The N, Q, R and W trains run along Broadway through Manhattan before splitting further out - the N and Q continue into Brooklyn toward Coney Island, the R crosses into Brooklyn via Bay Ridge, and the W terminates at Astoria in Queens on weekdays. From Cortlandt Street, riders can reach Union Square, Herald Square and Times Square heading north in a matter of minutes, or continue one stop south to Whitehall Street for the Staten Island Ferry.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is underground, with a single island platform rebuilt after 2001 in white tile with a design motif that echoes the original twin towers. Wide, well-lit stairways and elevators connect the platform to the mezzanine, which links directly into the underground concourse network beneath the World Trade Center campus, including the Oculus.

Accessibility

Cortlandt Street is fully accessible, with elevators connecting the platform to street level as part of its post-2001 rebuild. The station was designed with modern ADA standards in mind from the start, so ramps, elevators and tactile platform edges are all present and well maintained.

Travel Tips

• Exit toward Church Street for the most direct route to the 9/11 Memorial pools and museum entrance.
• The Oculus and Westfield World Trade Center mall connect directly underground, so you can reach shops and other subway lines without going outside in bad weather.
• Book 9/11 Memorial Museum tickets online in advance, particularly around the September anniversary period when queues are longest.
• One World Trade Center's observation deck entrance is a short walk north on West Street - buy timed tickets ahead to skip the line.

Nearby Attractions

National September 11 Memorial and Museum - 2 minutes on foot. The twin reflecting pools mark the footprints of the original towers, and the museum below tells the story of the attacks and their aftermath.

Oculus and Westfield World Trade Center - directly connected underground. Santiago Calatrava's winged transit hub houses more than 100 shops and restaurants and links to PATH trains to New Jersey.

One World Trade Center - 5 minutes on foot. At 1,776 feet, it is the tallest building in the western hemisphere, with an observation deck on the 100th to 102nd floors.

Wall Street and the Financial District - 10 minutes on foot south. The New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall and the Charging Bull statue are all within easy walking distance.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The N, Q, R and W trains run 24 hours a day, though the W does not operate overnight and late-night frequency drops on all four lines. The area around the station is busiest on weekday mornings with Financial District commuters and throughout the day with tourists visiting the memorial. Early mornings before 9am tend to be the calmest time to see the memorial pools without crowds.