Accessibility improvements on
the way for Lower Man. stations
The 14th St. station for the 1-2-3 lines, at Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, has been fast-tracked for
more accessibility.
BY GABE HERMAN
With much of the city’s subway
system still lacking
accessibility, the MTA has
announced 48 stations citywide will
become ADA-compliant and get elevators
under its proposed 2020-2024
Capital Plan.
The plan puts $5.5 billion toward
making 70 stations accessible.
The remaining 22 have not
yet been identifi ed. Among the 48
stations selected thus far, 12 are
in Manhattan.
They include several Lower
Manhattan stations, including Essex
Street on the J, M and Z lines;
Delancey Street for the F train; 14th
Street stations for the F, M, 1, 2 and
3 trains; and Sixth Avenue for the
L train.
Four of the stations will be fasttracked
for completion by being
added into the current 2015-2019
Capital Plan. Three of those stations
are Manhattan locations
on 14th Street.
Only about one in four of the
city’s 472 subway stations currently
have elevators, which provide
access for disabled people and others
with mobility issues, including
the elderly.
“These 48 stations are a terrific
first step and help get us closer
than ever to achieving systemwide
accessibility that all New Yorkers
deserve,” said MTA NYC Transit
President Andy Byford. “We look
forward to hearing from our customers
and the community as we
work to identify the additional
22 stations.”
NYC Transit had set a goal of
adding elevators to 50 more stations,
so that riders would be no
more than two stops away from
an accessible station anywhere
in the system.
“We are committed to expanding
accessibility and the proposed
investment in the next capital plan
is a massive boost to our efforts,”
said Alex Elegudin, NYC Transit’s
Senior Advisor for Systemwide
Accessibility. “We worked
collaboratively with communities
across the city to identify these
stations where our resources can
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
be put to use to benefit the largest
number of customers.”
Factors for selecting stations
also included locations where renovations
could be made most efficiently
in the shortest amount of
time, and with the least disruption
to service.
“Fast-tracking accessibility
in subway stations is the surest
way to elevate the socioeconomic
status of New Yorkers
with disabilities,” said James
Weisman, president & CEO of
the United Spinal Association.
“The ability to use mass transit
in our city is fundamental
to work, recreation and education.
More stations made accessible
as quickly as possible is
a new, welcome and insightful
approach. This is a historic investment
in that direction, so
we applaud the MTA for taking
this step.”
The MTA board unanimously
approved the 2020-2024 Capital
Plan on Sept. 25, and it will now
go to the MTA Capital Program
Review Board for a final vote.
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