16 Staircases Newly Installed or Replaced with Two New Fare Control Areas
Project Completed On Time, Under Budget and Improves Station Circulation
See Video of Today’s Event
See Photos of Station Improvements and Today’s Event
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced completion of the Flushing-Main St station improvement project in Queens, totaling an additional 1,200 square feet of space for customer circulation. The work consisted of replacing eight staircases, installing eight new staircases, creating four new points of entry to the station and installing two new fare control areas, for a total of four. These transformative upgrades will improve customer flow as additional state of good repair work such as steel rehabilitation and waterproofing will ensure the integrity of the station’s infrastructure for its 44,000 average weekday riders – Queens’ busiest station without transfers.
“The Flushing-Main St subway station expansion was one of the largest modernization projects ever undertaken by the MTA – and it was the right thing to do,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “This station serves about 44,000 customers on an average weekday – the 11th highest ridership across all 472 stations. Installing new staircases, creating new entries, and expanding the mezzanine improves the passenger flow and provides a safer, more comfortable commute. This project – delivered on time and under budget! — shows the MTA’s commitment to rebuilding a system to better serve today and tomorrow’s ridership.”
“This project combines critical state of good repair work and station expansion to vastly improve the customer experience for the tens of thousands of daily riders who use Flushing-Main St station,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “Implementing innovative contracting tools like Design-Build allowed Construction & Development to deliver this vital project better, faster, and cheaper.”
Additionally, as part of the renovation project, the security camera system was replaced with new upgraded equipment, and 15 digital screens, along with five new countdown clocks, were installed across platforms and mezzanines, enhancing the customer journey by delivering more real-time and location-specific information. The Flushing-Main St 7 subway station, a terminal station, is accessible with one elevator serving the Manhattan-bound platform.
The scope of work involved in the project included:
- Installation of four new street-to-mezzanine stairs
- Installation of four new mezzanine-to-platform stairs
- Installation of two new fare control areas
- Rehabilitation of four existing street-to-mezzanine stairs to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant
- Rehabilitation of four existing mezzanine-to-platform stairs to be ADA compliant
- State of good repair work including steel rehabilitation, concrete spall, and leak mitigation
The Notice to Proceed was issued in December 2021 with actual construction beginning in July 2022, following utility relocation work. The design-build project was completed on-time and approximately $9 million under budget, at $48 million, despite challenges including ensuring the structural stability of nearby buildings and managing logistics at the busy Roosevelt Av and Main St intersection.
“These new and renovated staircases will be a tremendous boost to all who use this facility,” said Representative Grace Meng. “The project will improve access, ease overcrowding and provide straphangers with a better and safer experience at the Flushing-Main Street station. Flushing is a vibrant and bustling community and mass transit projects like these are crucial to continuing the area’s growth and prosperity. Thank you to MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and all who helped make this project happen.”
"As one of the busiest stations in the entire subway system, Flushing’s Main Street Station has long been plagued by problems with accessibility,” said Senator John Liu, member of the Senate Transportation Committee. “These new staircases are a welcome investment that will enhance the efficiency of our public transit system by providing straphangers with more options for entry and exit and easing bottlenecks. Many thanks to the MTA for this significant investment in building a more inclusive and interconnected community."
“Flushing Main Street is one of the busiest and most congested places in America, and the MTA plays a critical role in turning this busy hub into an inclusive economy for workers, consumers, small business owners, and working families,” said Assembly Member Ron Kim. “The Main Street circulation and stairs project symbolizes the MTA’s and the State’s commitment to continue investing in Flushing and the outer boroughs, because as we all know, all roads do not just lead to Manhattan!”
“Flushing is one of the busiest bus-to-train transfer locations in New York City, making the Main Street station a vital hub and link in our city’s mass transit system,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “These new entrances and stairways will alleviate congestion and make the commute smoother for the tens of thousands of straphangers who pass through this station every day. I want to thank the MTA for undertaking this project and doing so with minimal disruptions to subway service during the nearly two years it took to see it to completion.”
“I am thrilled with the completion of this important project, which will greatly benefit all the customers who use this busy and vitally important station,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This project will strongly improve customer circulation at Flushing-Main Street and lead to a much more pleasant experience for so many subway passengers. I look forward to continuing to work with the MTA on similar projects that will improve the experience for all who ride our subway.”
“As a transit hub, Downtown Flushing has one of the busiest subway stations in New York City, and with over a hundred thousand people passing through every day, the Main Street train station is often packed full of people creating congestion on the sidewalks,” said Downtown Flushing Transit Hub Business Improvement District Executive Director Dian Yu. “With these new staircases Main Street will hopefully be seeing less overcrowding and more safe and smooth commutes for everyone.”