How The NYC Subway’s 121st Birthday Keeps WESS Moving

On October 27, 1904, the original line of what would become the New York City Subway system opened, — a 9.1-mile line with 28 stations that changed how millions of New Yorkers moved through their city. This means that today, that original line that WESS sits upon, is over 121 years old, a milestone that has direct implications on how we get around, learn, and live as students.

Now, this anniversary isn’t just a piece of trivia, but rather, it’s relevant to our daily lives, our school experience and our community. From getting to school on time, to accessing city-wide resources, the subway plays an important role, and as WESS students, recognizing that link helps us appreciate both our school and the city in which we learn in.

Most of us ride the subway to get to WESS; whether it's to arrive in the morning, go home, or commute for extracurricular activities. Sometimes these commutes can be daunting; I’ve personally met students that have to take 2 buses just to get to their extracurricular activities, or students that have to take a bus to a train just to get to school in the morning. The subway's schedule, stations, and reliability influence the way we plan and organize our days. On top of that, the subway network gives WESS students access to internships, museums, jobs, and colleges across the city. The 121-year legacy highlights just how important transit is in enabling those opportunities.

But, as the subway ages, issues like station maintenance, train delays, and accessibility become part of the conversation. For students, that means being aware of transit challenges (delays, service changes) and understanding how those affect your day, like arriving late to class, missing after-school programs, and other scenarios. I myself leave home on time every morning, but if the 1 train stalls at 72nd Street, as it does fairly frequently, I’m automatically late to the first period. My close friend and former WESS student, Sean, put it simply: “It’s not that we’re lazy—it’s just that we’re at the mercy of the MTA.” These are just a few stories, among hundreds of others, that highlight how an aging subway system doesn’t just affect commuters, but shapes how students learn, show up, and participate in the city around them.

But, just the fact that the subway opened over a century ago means our neighborhood has been connected to the center of New York City for generations. So, the next time you're riding the subway, take a moment to think: "This train line has brought thousands of students before me, and will bring many more after me."

Images sourced from Wikipedia Commons