MTA makes two stations fully accessible

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has made two stations — the 14 St. station complex and the 68 St.-Hunter College station — fully ADA accessible. 

14 St. station complex 

The authority completed installing four new elevators to provide access to the downtown platform at the 14 St. F, L, M station and the downtown 1, 2, 3 platform. In addition to the accessibility work, crews created an enlarged mezzanine and new concession stand, installed new lighting and tiles, repaired concrete, steel and paint defects and refinished platforms featuring ADA boarding areas for an improved customer experience. MTA notes the entire complex has 25 new staircases and 39 renovated staircases, as well as five platform upgrades, which includes new tactile warning strips and ADA boarding areas. 

In November, the MTA opened two elevators providing access to the street level and uptown level at the 14 St. 1, 2, 3 station. Earlier this year, the MTA opened three new elevators providing access from the street to the 6 Ave. L platform and the uptown F, M platform.   

“The new MTA is completing accessibility projects five times faster than ever before and one of the main reasons we’re able to open elevators here and throughout the system is the support of the Biden Administration, which contributed $247 million towards this megaproject through [United States Department of Transportation] USDOT and our congressional delegation, led by Senate Majority Leader [Chuck] Schumer,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.  

“Newly accessible stations like the 14 St. station complex are the fruits of our efforts to deliver projects better, faster and cheaper,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “These accessibility upgrades coupled with critical state of good repair work and station environment improvements have transformed 14 St. into a welcoming transit hub for all New Yorkers.”   

MTA notes approximately 131,000 customers use the 14 St. complex on a given weekday. The complex serves six lines in four boroughs, as well as two PATH train lines. 

The $300 million megaproject to make ADA upgrades to the 14 St. complex includes $247 million in federal funds. MTA says approximately 23.5 percent of the project budget has been awarded to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms, which exceeds the project's original 22.5 percent DBE goal. 

“In addition to accessibility upgrades, customers at 14 St. can look forward to a brighter, cleaner and safer station,” said New York City (NYC) Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “Looking for ways to improve the customer experience is a priority at NYC Transit and part of that is making sure the system is accessible for everyone.”  

“Today's achievement reflects years of vision and the MTA working closely with us at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA),” said FTA Region 2 Regional Administrator Michael Culotta. “We want to ensure that when we are making investments in public transit, we are making investments in public transit for everyone, regardless of disability. The Federal Transit Administration is proud to have contributed $200 million towards the ADA improvements at this three-station complex and we're proud that over the last several years, the Federal Transit Administration has provided the MTA with over $3.3 billion to make improvements throughout its entire transit network.”  

68 St.-Hunter College station 

The agency has added three new elevators to the 68 St.-Hunter College 6 station. In addition to the new elevators, crews upgraded platforms and extended the mezzanine, improved passenger circulation with new entrances and reconstructed stairs and installed better wayfinding signage. MTA notes that 68 St.-Hunter College, which serves 20,000 daily riders, is the ninth subway station to be made accessible in 2024. 

The project includes one new street-to-mezzanine elevator and two new mezzanine-to-platform elevators, six new stairways and nine refurbished stairways. Crews created an enlarged mezzanine and new concession stand, installed new lighting and tiles, repaired concrete, steel and paint defects and refinished platforms featuring ADA boarding areas for an improved customer experience. 

MTA notes several safety enhancements were made in the station, including a new fire alarm system, CCTV cameras and upgraded communications systems, lighting, signs and customer information. 

“As demonstrated by the recent pace of projects opening, today’s MTA is on a mission to make our subway system much more accessible,” Lieber said. “The newly accessible 68 St.-Hunter College station will provide connections for 20,000 daily riders -- including of course students, but also many thousands of seniors, parents with strollers and people with disabilities. These improvements wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Biden Administration, which contributed $140 million towards this project through USDOT and our congressional delegation, including Senate Majority Leader Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.”   

“These ADA improvements will make the 6 train more accessible for generations of New Yorkers who live, work and learn on the Upper East Side," Torres-Springer said. "The MTA’s historic investment in projects like these will forge a safer and more reliable transit system and we're proud to deliver them better, faster, and cheaper than ever."  

According to MTA, the $177 million project includes $140 million in federal funds. Approximately 22.6 percent of the project budget has been awarded to DBE firms. The project’s contractor is Forte-Citnalta Joint Venture and the elevator manufacturer and installer is Mid-American Elevator Co. 

“Making 68 St.-Hunter College accessible is a major win for customers traveling to and from Manhattan, who will benefit from new elevators, entrances and a brighter and cleaner station,” Crichlow said. “We’re committed to providing the best customer experience possible by expanding accessibility for ease of travel across the transit system.”  

“Today's achievement reflects years of vision and the MTA working closely with us at the Federal Transit Administration,” Culotta said. “We want to ensure that when we are making investments in public transit, we are making investments in public transit for everyone, regardless of disability. The Federal Transit Administration is proud to have contributed $200 million towards the ADA improvements at this three-station complex and we're proud that over the last several years, the Federal Transit Administration has provided the MTA with over $3.3 billion to make improvements throughout its entire transit network.”