There's No Spellcheck for Subway Mosaics

Good news: as per a new report on Subchat.com, the fix consisted only of adhesive tape with letters of a non-matching font, and the fix has already been torn off by someone!

Long live BRODAWAY!

I'm usually all for the spread of information, but by exposing this "spelling mistake" to such a wide audience, and to much of the NY media, I assume it compelled NYCT to go ahead and fix it! As I wrote above, BRODAWAY was an endearing little piece of history, long known to subway buffs and NYC history buffs, and I always hoped it would remain. But now, this little bit of subway trivia is GONE, as per a report on Subchat.com.

Just to let you know that yesterday afternoon (Monday 2/16/2009) that I visited the Broadway station of the IND "G" Line, and the misspelled "Brodaway" tile sign is no more. It seems that MTA NYC Transit did have it now corrected by using a thermal tile marking device by covering the squares in black (I did see the original lettered outline underneath), then place each a white "A" and "D" over it, but with a slightly bolder font, in what is now in their proper setting.

I'm usually all for the spread of information, but by exposing this "spelling mistake" to such a wide audience, and to much of the NY media, I assume it compelled NYCT to go ahead and fix it! As I wrote above, BRODAWAY was an endearing little piece of history, long known to subway buffs and NYC history buffs, and I always hoped it would remain. But now, this little bit of subway trivia is GONE, as per a report on Subchat.com.

Just to let you know that yesterday afternoon (Monday 2/16/2009) that I visited the Broadway station of the IND "G" Line, and the misspelled "Brodaway" tile sign is no more. It seems that MTA NYC Transit did have it now corrected by using a thermal tile marking device by covering the squares in black (I did see the original lettered outline underneath), then place each a white "A" and "D" over it, but with a slightly bolder font, in what is now in their proper setting.

I don't think this "mistake" should be corrected. "Brodaway" has long been an element of NYC subway lore among train enthusiasts. I doubt anyone is ever misled by the misspelling, so there's no reason to pay (whatever small or large cost it would take) to fix it. It's history, and it's cool. Leave it be.

12 years and $250 million later: "Broadway".

If only half the commenters on this page were bright enough to realize that many station features and signage, such as this Broadway misspelling, were put up when the station was built years ago.

That station, in fact, was opened in 1937. So much for the kneejerk "union label" reference.

There is another subway-related typographic error I've been curious about for a long time. Most (or all) of the 'Do not lean on door' signs on the N train (maybe the Q,R,W, also?) have terribly noticeable typographical errors. The 'a' is a point size smaller than all other letters and the 'o's are of another typeface altogether. What's the story here?

I have a photo of it on flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/briancf/2337784760/

Broda means "beard in Polish". That's all I'll say.

it was-a me..! mario!

It's been mentioned, and pictured, on this page for years:

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/stations?207:3188

Look for da Union label!

Shhh, (you know it would cost the MTA over $1mil to fix that while shutting down service there late night and weekends for 3 weeks), if they ever found out.

Almost as bad as the directional signs at 23rd and 6th in Manhattan. Apparently, you can take the F train "Dowtown & Brooklyn."

If only Gothamist and the MTA had competent employees that double checked their work.

We all know that's unpossible.

The "Mean Strees" of NYC.

it was an omen!

B ROD AWAY?

A-ROD AWAY!!!

Definitely old news. First time I noticed this was last May.

G train. Why am I not surprised?

"Too bad people can't post comments on subway stations; the typo would have been corrected immediately."

I see what you did there.

Are you even surprised? NY KNOWS the MTA is INCOMPETENT, GREEDY and HIGHLY CORRUPT!

Viva la revolucion! Off with their heads!

Yep, the MTA is so incompetent, it managed to misspell a mosaic thirty one years before it existed. And they want to raise the fare!

FAIL

Weird, I noticed this for the first time this weekend too and I've been taking this subway at this stop for years. Although I can attest to the fact that the MTA hasn't done ANYTHING to this station in an incredibly long time.

is this in greenpoint? that's kind of the polish pronunciation.

Brodaway? Thataway!

Good one LOL

That tile looks mighty clean (even the grout is clean) to be 72-years-old.

That has been there since the station was opened in 1937. Kevin Walsh mentions it on his Forgotten-NY site. Pretty funny stuff though, I always like to point it out to people.

LOVE how quickly the MTA replies "can't imagine we've done any work there recently". 'We don't really DO maintenance on the G line...'