On Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said it plans to apply for federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding that would allow it to advance a number of accessibility projects at five New York subway stations.
MTA said the money would be used to make the stations Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. So far, the agency has received more than $900 million in federal funds to advance other ADA upgrade projects at 36 stations since 2020.
If secured, officials said the funding would be used to upgrade projects at five stations in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, including 167 Street, Kingsbridge Road, 110 Street, Wakefield-241 Street and 145 Street.
“This group of stations carry tens of thousands of subway customers daily. The addition of 145 St adds another highly used station that also serves as a transfer point for riders,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey said. “While no two days are the same in Transit, the commitment to ensuring every rider has the ability to enter the system is always at the front of our minds. We look forward to adding five more stations to the accessibility map.”
In 2023, MTA was awarded $254 million in federal grants to advance ADA upgrade projects. The agency plans to award contracts for those investments this year, which will include elevator installations and other station improvement work like updating platforms to reduce gaps, adding tactile platform edge waring strips, modifying fare gates and improving handrails.
“Thanks to design-build contracting, project bundling, and support from the federal government, the MTA has been able to deliver accessibility projects at a record pace,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “This same approach will ensure the success of these five stations, adding to the record 41 subway stations currently in active construction.”