Vasilij Pavlov

In my thesis, I explore the transformation of Astoria-Ditmars station into a revolutionary multimodal hub that challenges New York City's Manhattan-centric transit paradigm. I discuss the way our city's transportation network, which once offered comprehensive service across all five boroughs, became increasingly centralized following post–World War II suburbanization, leaving valuable rail corridors dormant and outer-borough residents underserved.

Drawing inspiration from European "wing stations," like Berlin's Ostkreuz and Munich's Ostbahnhof, I propose remaking the northern terminus of the N and W subway lines into an intermodal junction connecting existing subway service with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and a direct LaGuardia Airport monorail. My design creates efficient interborough connections that bypass Manhattan entirely, dramatically reducing travel times between Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

I have also focused on incorporating the neighborhood's Greek cultural heritage into the transit infrastructure. My ground-floor design reinterprets the traditional Mediterranean bazaar as a vibrant marketplace serving both commuters and locals. I chose mass timber construction for its sustainability benefits and warm aesthetic, which contrasts dramatically with typical utilitarian transit architecture while referencing both Greek building traditions and contemporary environmental practices. The station is enveloped with glazing that marks it as one of the main transit nodes within New York City.

My implementation strategy consists of three phases: first integrating the subway and Amtrak platforms, then developing the airport link, and finally expanding regional commuter rail connections. This approach delivers immediate improvements while building momentum for comprehensive change.

Through this thesis I demonstrate how transit centers can transcend mere infrastructure to become catalysts for neighborhood revitalization and a means of affirming civic identity. I propose a new model in which dormant rail corridors are reused and transit is embedded in engaging public spaces, providing equitable, sustainable urban transportation that strengthens community bonds while connecting people to opportunities throughout our city and beyond.