MTA to install elevators at 12 additional subway stations in New York City.

Transit officials have announced plans to enhance accessibility at twelve subway stations across New York City’s transit network, a move aimed at improving access for riders with disabilities. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveiled this initiative during a press conference held on Tuesday. The selected stations, which span four of the city’s five boroughs, were chosen based on feedback gathered from public surveys.

MTA Chairperson Janno Lieber underscored the importance of this initiative, describing it as a testament to open and effective governance. The announcement was made at the Franklin Avenue station, which serves the No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 subway lines in Crown Heights and is one of the designated sites for accessibility upgrades. Lieber referenced the MTA’s commitment to making 95% of its 472 subway stations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by adding elevators and ramps, a goal outlined in a historic agreement reached in 2022. This agreement emerged from the resolution of lawsuits concerning accessibility in the subway system.

Lieber emphasized the MTA’s determination to fulfill this promise, stating that the organization is keen to deliver on its commitments to riders and advocates alike. The planned installations will include elevators at several key locations. In addition to Franklin Avenue, elevators will be added at the adjacent Botanic Gardens stop on the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, one of the city’s oldest subway lines. Other Brooklyn stations set to benefit from these improvements include the Grand Army Plaza station, which serves the Nos. 2 and 3 trains, as well as 53rd Street on the R line.

Bronx stations slated for upgrades are Woodlawn on the No. 4 line, Eastchester-Dyer Avenue on the No. 5 line, and Fordham Road on the B and D lines. In Queens, new elevators will be installed at both the Grand Avenue-Newtown and 63rd Drive-Rego Park stops on the M and R lines. Manhattan will also see enhancements at the 190th Street station on the A train and Cathedral Parkway-110th Street on the No. 1 line.

These projects are currently in the planning phase. Jamie Torres-Springer, head of construction and development at the MTA, indicated that the projects would be grouped according to subway line before being put out for contract. However, no specific timeline for the start of these enhancements has been established. The MTA has allocated funding for 60 new accessible subway stations in its capital project plan covering the years 2025 to 2029, reflecting a sustained commitment to improving transit accessibility across New York City.