[4][5] On December 9, 1924, the New York City Board of Transportation (BOT) gave preliminary approval for the construction of the IND Eighth Avenue Line.

[17] A request for proposals was put out on May 18, 2023 for the contract for a project bundle to make 13 stations accessible, including 96th Street.

[21] The platforms have no trim line, but name tablets read "96TH ST." in white sans-serif font on a midnight blue background and black border.

Blue columns run along both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black station name plate in white numbering.

The other fare control area at 97th Street, at the station's extreme north end, is unstaffed, containing High Entry/Exit Turnstiles.

This exit was closed by 1940[25] and possibly as early as November 1932 - just two months after the opening of the station - due to frequent vandalism.