MTA announces initial actions of landmark active travel strategic plan

Credit: Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials have announced a series of initial actions that are being undertaken through its landmark Bike, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan, which include capital projects enhancing bike and pedestrian access to MTA bridges, additional bike parking infrastructure at subway stations throughout the system, and the initial commuter rail stations to pilot improved car-free connectivity to local communities.

The Strategic Action Plan, first announced in May 2022, will outline how pedestrians, cyclists, and micro-mobility users can better access MTA facilities and services in collaboration with local governments, advocacy groups and stakeholders.

“Increasing access and connections to MTA services is one of my top goals,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “(This) announcement represents the first steps in a comprehensive strategy to provide more car-free access to transit across the New York region. As MTA ridership continues to rise, the actions we unveiled today (26 October 2022) will upgrade connections to transit for cyclists, pedestrians and micro-mobility users and bring more riders back to the MTA’s subways, buses and commuter railroads.”

“I am excited to have 10 communities served by Metro-North and LIRR participate in our First-Mile/Last-Mile pilot programme,” said Metro-North President and Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi. “These stations will provide a blueprint for how we can enhance car-free connections to commuter rail, and make rail travel a more accessible option for customers throughout the region.”

MTA launches strategic plan to enhance active travel access to mass transit

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said: “We are working closely with the MTA to identify subway stations with a high need for bike parking, focusing on outer-borough, end-of-line areas that can better connect New Yorkers to transit.”

The MTA Board has also approved the award of a capital project recommended by the Strategic Action Plan to improve cycling and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access on the Cross Bay Bridge. With this project, MTA will renovate the south approach of the bridge’s shared use path with an ADA-compliant ramp. This capital project is funded in the 2020-2024 Capital Plan and the construction contract will be awarded by the end of 2022.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), bike parking infrastructure will be installed at 37 subway stations that currently lack bike racks within 100 feet of station entrances. MTA has provided NYC DOT with this priority list to help focus its ongoing efforts to add bike parking at important transit hubs and stations across the region.