The X1A soft X-ray undulator beamline at the NSLS has been rebuilt to serve
two microscopy stations operating simultaneously. Separate spherical-grati
ng monochromators provide the resolving power required for XANES spectrosco
py at the C, N and O absorption edges. The exit slits are fixed and define
the coherent source for the experiments. The optical design and the operati
onal performance are described.