Authority Calls for Critically Needed Federal Funds to Make Dozens More Stations Accessible
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced today the completion of work to bring full accessibility to the Greenpoint Av Subway station in Brooklyn. The improvements provide customers at the station with a trio of new elevators as well as a wide range of other upgrades to the station’s infrastructure. MTA officials were joined by Council Member Stephen Levin and representatives for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and State Senator Brian Kavanagh in marking the formal launch of the upgraded station at an event this morning.
A new street-level elevator on the east side of Manhattan Avenue between Greenpoint Avenue and Kent Street will connect customers from the sidewalk to the mezzanine on the south end of the station. Two additional elevators will provide access to the northbound and southbound platforms from the station mezzanine.
In addition to the state-of-the-art elevators, the completed station features fully compliant converted stairwells as well as the replacement of three staircases. Customers are now also greeted with a new ADA platform boarding area, new detectable warning panels and rubbing board, and improvements to communications systems and electrical equipment. Railings, gates and turnstiles have been relocated to comply with ADA regulations. New sidewalk pedestrian ramps were installed at street level and the station agent booth was modified to a wheelchair user-friendly height. The mezzanines have been rearranged and ADA compliant employee facilities are now present as well.
MTA Construction & Development has successfully delivered station accessibility projects at nine stations in the past six months alone: Astoria Blvd, 86 St, 1st Av, Bedford Av, Chambers St, Bedford Park Blvd, 59 St, Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway and now Greenpoint Av.
“As a mom traveling with a stroller and a transit official dedicated to making the system more accessible for all of our customers, I know how important elevators are and how significant this accomplishment is for Greenpoint residents,” said Sarah Meyer, Chief Customer Officer for New York City Transit. “We have plans to do dozens more of these critical accessibility projects in the years to come, but we make these plans without certainty from the federal government about our fiscal situation. We are hopeful that the new administration will provide the emergency funding we need so that we can move ahead with making the transit system work for everyone.”
“Accessibility enhancements allow all New Yorkers and visitors to have access to our transit system,” said MTA Board Member and Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Victor Calise. “The newly-improved Greenpoint Avenue station is one of a number of ADA projects that the MTA has completed in recent months, despite the pandemic and fiscal challenges. I will continue to work with MTA leadership to ensure that the needs of the disability community are at the forefront of all decision making and I hope that the MTA receives the federal funding necessary to push accessibility forward at an even faster pace.”
"The opening of this new elevator at the Greenpoint Avenue stop of the Subway train is a long-awaited and needed benefit to the community,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “Accessibility is crucial to our public transportation system and we need to continue to work towards even more such improvements. This area has several senior centers, and adding the elevators will make that much easier for them to use our public transportation system. In these difficult times we need positive news such as this and I thank the MTA for moving ahead and working towards full accessibility for our residents."
“As we work to make every station in New York City ADA compliant, I am thrilled that this long awaited improvement to the Greenpoint Avenue Subway station is ready to use,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney. “An elevator will ensure that EVERY New Yorker can use this station and get around the city more easily.”
“I applaud the MTA for making the Greenpoint Avenue G station ADA accessible through the addition of new elevators, which will be a welcome improvement for anyone for whom staircases might pose an obstacle,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh. “I recognize that these changes are taking place during a time of immense financial difficulty for New York and for the MTA. I thank the MTA leadership and staff, especially all of the tradespeople who worked to complete this project. I share their commitment to keeping our transit system running well and making it ever more accessible.”
“Access is an important and necessary part of every discussion that we have around transportation equity in our communities,” said Senator Julia Salazar. “I am so glad to see that inclusivity is still a priority for NYC Transit, and we need to continue to fight for more funding to expand access and provide more equitable transportation solutions for all our New Yorkers."
"Public transit must be made accessible to everyone,” said Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol (D-North Brooklyn). “We must do all we can to minimize transportation barriers because accessible transit will help those with disabilities engage with and contribute to their communities. The completion of the elevators at the Greenpoint Avenue G station is an important step towards making the New York City transit system more accessible to Greenpointers.”
"The new ADA upgrades to the Greenpoint G station are long overdue, and will help make the station accessible to all residents. At a time when ridership levels are beginning to trend upward after plummeting at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more critical than ever that we take steps to ensure all riders can use the system safely and accessibly,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “We need greater investments in the pending federal stimulus package to not only help close the MTA's significant budget deficit, but also to expedite necessary ADA improvements throughout our subway system. I thank the MTA and my colleagues in government for their partnership, and look forward to making all stations throughout our borough and city accessible to all New Yorkers.”
The completion of the $23.4 million contract comes amidst a backdrop of tremendous fiscal duress for the MTA, which faces more than 9,000 job cuts and massive reductions in service in the absence of federal support to cover an approximately $15.9 billion deficit through 2024. The MTA has requested $12 billion in emergency aid in the federal government’s next COVID-19 relief package. Because of the lingering uncertainty, the Authority has suspended any awards on new capital contracts except for those that are funded under previous programs or make use of use-it-or-lose-it federal dollars. A lack of emergency funding has further implications on the economy: the MTA's current Capital Plan would create 7,300 New York State jobs for every $1B spent in the state.