New York subway goal: no more than 2 stops from an accessible station

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) aims to increase subway accessibility for reduced mobility passengers.  MTA announced 70 subway stations that will receive an unprecedented $5.2 billion investment in accessibility. 48 of them were revealed earlier in September, 20 more were added just a few days ago, and two more stations will be added later. MTA goal is to ensure that customers no more than 2 stops from an accessible station. 

“New Yorkers deserve a subway system that works for everyone. This historic investment of $5.2 billion for accessibility in the next Capital Program will be life-changing for our customers,” - said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye.

“We are very serious about the subways being accessible to as many people as possible, which is why accessibility is a top priority for me since day one,” said MTA NYC Transit President Andy Byford. “Investing in accessibility at 70 subway stations will open up significant portions of the subway map for people who rely on elevators or ramps for access to the system.”

“With this list of stations, we are going beyond our commitment to put customers no more than two stations away from an accessible station within five years, filling coverage gaps and increasing access to key transfer points, terminals, and high-ridership stations,” said Alex Elegudin, NYC Transit’s Senior Advisor for Systemwide Accessibility. “We will continue to work closely with advocates and communities to prioritize future accessibility investments, and work internally to accelerate these projects while endeavoring to limit any disruption to service.” 

In September, the MTA released the proposed 2020-2024 Capital Plan, a historic plan that invests $51.5 billion across the region’s subways, buses, commuter rail systems and bridges and tunnels over the next five years. The plan is the largest in MTA history and includes $40 billion devoted to NYC Transit’s subway system and bus network, with top priority given to accelerating accessibility. NYC Transit’s Fast Forward plan to modernize the subway system established the goal of making at least 50 more subway stations accessible in five years so that customers would not have to travel farther than two stops to reach an accessible station.

The full list of 68 stations is listed below. The asterisk (*) denotes a newly identified station:

Manhattan

• Harlem-148 St (3)*
• 110 St (6)*
• 181 St (A)*
• 7 Av (B, D, E)*
• Lexington Av-59 St (N, R, W)*
• 59 St (4, 5, 6)*
• Essex St (J, M, Z)
• Delancey St (F)
• 42 St-Bryant Park (B, D, F, M) / 5 Av (7) /5 Av
• 6 Av (L)
• 14 St (F, M)
• 14 St (1, 2, 3)
• 96 St (B, C)
• 81 St-Museum of Natural History (B, C)
• Dyckman St (1)
• 168 St (1)
• 137 St (1)
• 86 St (4, 5, 6)

Brooklyn

• 18 Av (D)*
• Jefferson St (L)*
• Nostrand Av (A, C)*
• Broadway Junction (A, C)*
• Broadway Junction (J, Z)
• Broadway Junction (L)
• Lorimer St (L)
• Metropolitan Av (G)
• 36 St (D, N, R)
• Church Av (B, Q)
• Avenue H (Q)
• Sheepshead Bay (B, Q)
• Kings Hwy (N)
• Norwood Av (J, Z)
• Myrtle Av (J, M, Z)
• Grand St (L)
• Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
• 7 Av (F, G)
• Avenue I (F)
• Kings Hwy (F)
• Neptune Av (F)
• Classon Av (G)
• Junius St (3)
• New Lots Av (3)
• Borough Hall (4, 5)

The Bronx

• Wakefield-241 St (2)*
• Kingsbridge Rd (4)*
• 167 St (B, D)*
• Burnside Av (4)*
• 3 Av-138 St (6)*
• Van Cortlandt Park-242 St (1)
• Tremont Av (B, D)
• Parkchester (6)
• E 149 St (6)
• Brook Av (6)
• Mosholu Pkwy (4)

Queens

• Court Sq-23 St (E, M)*
• Northern Blvd (M, R)*
• 33 St-Rawson St (7)*
• Bliss St (7)*
• Parsons Blvd (F)*
• Beach 67 St (A)
• Briarwood (E, F)
• Broadway (N, W)
• Woodhaven Blvd (M, R)
• Steinway St (M, R)
• Rockaway Blvd (A)

Staten Island Railway

• Clifton
• New Dorp
• Huguenot