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    MTA Unveils new accessible entrance at 42 St-Times Square subway station

    May 18, 2022
    Updated features include a new elevator, larger entry and exit options for commuters, along with a modernized turnstile area.
    Related To: MTA – New York City Transit
    MTA
    Mta 628397c131b21

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveiled a new subway entrance at the 42 St-Times Square Station, the only one currently opening directly into the heart of Times Square.  

    The new 5,000-square-foot mezzanine space is part of the broader 42nd Street Connection Project, encompassing a series of major improvements to the busy crosstown corridor in Midtown Manhattan. The celebration of this new entrance coincides with the resurgence of the Times Square District, as the peak spring and summer travel season approaches.   

    “[This] event highlights two of the MTA’s top priorities – dramatically increasing accessibility in the subway system and supporting the revival of New York’s office and entertainment districts,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We’re adding ADA elevators faster than ever before, and we’re determined to achieve full accessibility – for disabled riders, seniors, people with strollers and packages -- everybody.”    

    The entrance allows customers to directly enter and exit Broadway Plaza.  New subway entrance features include:  

    • New accessible elevator: A new elevator, the sixth at the station in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is part of the MTA’s ongoing private-public partnership with Jamestown and the company’s $500 million redevelopment of the One Times Square building – the site of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. The sleek, black-trimmed design of the elevator provides a modern feel and is complete with a new two-way communication system installed in the elevator cab for those with hearing and speech impairments, providing information to customers in case of an emergency.  It will connect the Times Square Station to Broadway Plaza between 42nd and 43rd Streets.  
    • New entrance and exit options: The entrance includes a brand new, modernized canopy over the stairs, replicating sparkling Waterford Crystals which encompass the world-famous New Year’s Eve Crystal Ball. The canopy displays a total of 238 triangular glass frames, which can be seen when looking up while using the stairs. The new subway entrance features a staircase which is 15 feet wide and provides an additional 450-square feet of space and an additional circulation for the new station. Soffits located on the ceiling of the new entrance, on the mezzanine level, encompass historic plaster molding from when the station was originally built. A new historic panel was also installed at the bottom of the stairway, depicting notable events throughout the station’s history.    
    • New and modern turnstile/mezzanine level: The new Times Square station entrance features energy-efficient LED lighting; four new digital information screens to keep customers updated on train arrivals and notifications; 10 new turnstiles; two emergency gates; and 10 glass barrier panels located between turnstiles and emergency exit gates. Eighteen CCTV cameras were also installed at the mezzanine level and two cameras were installed in the elevator, helping to boost surveillance at the highly trafficked station.  
    • Two new MTA Arts & Design mosaics: Commissioned by the MTA’s public arts program, two new mosaics by artist Nick Cave, referred to individually as “Each One” and “Equal All,” are located near the new subway entrance and rebuilt 42nd Street Shuttle platform. The unveiling marks the completion of the expansive permanent artwork ‘Every One, Each One, Equal All.’ The third section is installed in the 42 St Connector.      

    “This new subway entrance provides a second accessible street entrance to the Times Square station, which is particularly valuable at the single busiest station in our system,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer and Senior Advisor Quemuel Arroyo. “I am proud that our partnerships with private developers continue to prioritize accessibility improvements like this, moving us ever closer to our systemwide accessibility goals. This new entrance will increase access for those with disabilities, parents with strollers, and everyday commuters, supporting the resurgence of Times Square with improved access.”  

    Richard Davey, president, New York City Transit, added, “I look forward to seeing more riders use this newly renovated station as the City’s recovery continues and we start to welcome more tourists this spring and summer. Ridership is already showing great progress. We hit 5 million riders on the subways and buses on May 5 for the first time since March 13, 2020. But as far as we’ve come, we still recognize that we need to do even more to attract new riders. I’m laser focused on safety. I’m particularly glad to see the station upgrades include 20 CCTV cameras.”  

    The new subway entrance at the 42 St-Times Square Station is part of the MTA’s investment into the 42nd Street underground corridor which included upgrades to Grand Central, Bryant Park and Times Square stations, focusing on redesigning passageways and platforms, adding new elevators, expanding stairways and transforming the 42nd Street Shuttle train into a fully accessible service.       

    The opening of the entrance marks the completion of the three-year revitalization project that was completed on-time and below budget.    

    Approximately 640,000 customers pass through the Times Square subway station each weekday and is used more than any of the 472 stations within the subway system, according to MTA.