[3][5][6] The Queens Boulevard Line was in part financed by a Public Works Administration (PWA) loan and grant of $25 million.

E trains ran local to Hudson Terminal (today's World Trade Center) in Manhattan, while the GG (predecessor to current G service) ran as a shuttle service between Queens Plaza and Nassau Avenue on the IND Crosstown Line.

[18] In December 2022, the MTA announced that it would award a $146 million contract for the installation of eight elevators across four stations, including Northern Boulevard.

West of the station, the express tracks turn south and run along a separate routing under Northern Boulevard.

[26][27] Dark teal I-beam columns run along both platforms at regular intervals, alternating ones having the standard black station name plate with white lettering.

The outer walls of this trough are composed of columns, spaced approximately every 5 feet (1.5 m) with concrete infill between them.

[28]: 3 There are heavy columns across one part of the station, where the New York Connecting Railroad to the Hell Gate Bridge crosses over.

[29][30] There is an emergency exit at the western end of the northbound platform at this station, which leads to the D3 and D4 express tracks below.

The exit from the Manhattan-bound platform will be reopened as a part of the ADA accessibility improvements; it will receive an elevator.