MTA to award contracts for 17 accessible stations in 2023

Credit: Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced that it is strengthening its commitment to make the New York City (NYC) subway 95% accessible, with contracts to be awarded for 17 additional accessible stations  in 2023.

The 2020-2024 Capital Program is MTA’s most ambitious accessibility programme, with $5.2 billion available to make 67 stations accessible – more than the previous three capital programmes combined.

In 2022, contracts had been awarded for 13 new stations, including eight stations as part of the agency’s first public-private partnership package. As a result, MTA is currently in construction at 34 stations throughout the system.

In 2023, MTA intends to award ADA station upgrades at 17 stations across the city. As construction continues at previously awarded stations, the MTA also projects that accessibility upgrades will open at 12 new stations throughout the year. 

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“We are determined to make the NYC Transit system fully accessible, not just for persons with disabilities, but also for seniors, for parents with children who are in strollers and travellers with luggage,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “That’s why we are doing station accessibility projects at four times the pace of previous MTA Capital Programs, and why we made an agreement with disability advocates that we won’t slow down until the system is truly accessible to everyone, once and for all.”

“More elevators and ramps, spread throughout the subway system creates a mass transit system that is open to everyone,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “A large number of riders with disabilities, customers with children in strollers and visitors with luggage will benefit by being able to get to work, school and entertainment easily.”

Furthermore, MTA continues its commitment to accessibility across all parts of the system by utilising Accessibility Task Forces that provide a forum for the exchange of information about services, as they relate to persons with disabilities and their transportation needs.

The Task Forces also assists MTA in identifying opportunities for enhancing accessibility and soliciting feedback on upcoming capital projects and policy issues.