The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced significant progress made in expanding accessibility across the transit system this year, including the completion of multiple projects and awards for future Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) station initiatives on the subway and bus system, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
Subways
This year the MTA launched expanded pilots of multiple features to improve wayfinding in subway stations including floor decals on subway platforms that indicate accessible boarding areas, as well as features for customers with visual disabilities such as tactile subway line maps and NaviLens wayfinding signage. NaviLens is an app that uses unique codes to provide audio and visual wayfinding guidance and arrival status information in more than 40 languages.
In December, the MTA replaced an entire fare array at the Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport station with accessible wide-aisle fare gates following a pilot at Atlantic Av-Barclays Center and Sutphin-Archer in Spring 2023. Continuing that progress, earlier this week the MTA released a Request for Information (RFI), taking the initial step toward secure, accessible and modern fare gates to better meet the Authority’s goals of promoting fare compliance and improving accessibility and the overall customer experience.
In 2023, the MTA completed ADA upgrades at eight subway stations across all five boroughs and awarded packages for ADA upgrades at 16 more – including a significant rehabilitation of the Broadway Junction station complex.
Buses
In March, the MTA announced the expansion of the Bus Open Stroller pilot program to ease the challenge of traveling with young children on local and SBS buses. Over 1,000 buses on 57 routes across all five boroughs now have one designated area for a single open stroller near the rear door.
In July, the MTA launched a new pilot for customers who use wheelchairs to test a new automated wheelchair securement system on buses. The Quantum system allows passengers to secure themselves on the bus with a touch of a button and minimal operator assistance.
This year hundreds of new and retrofitted buses hit the streets with audio/visual Digital Information Systems (DIS), flexible flip-up seats, and wider doors and ramps, advancing our progress toward?making our buses more universally accessible.
The Authority also expanded automated camera enforcement to 600 buses across 80 miles of bus lanes, and secured State approval to begin enforcing blocked bus stops and double-parked vehicles in 2024.?This will help ensure customers who need to use the ramp or lift can seamlessly enter and exit the bus.
Long Island Rail Road
Within the current Capital Program, MTA Construction & Development is moving forward with ADA upgrades at nine Long Island Rail Road stations. New elevators and upgrades are planned for Amityville, Copiague, Laurelton, Lindenhurst, Locust Manor, Massapequa Park and St. Albans. Earlier this month, the MTA announced it will move forward with upgrades to make Hollis Station accessible as well as improve accessibility at Babylon and Forest Hills. All LIRR stations are advancing in either construction or design for ADA accessibility.
The existing accessibility components at Auburndale and Valley Stream stations will also be upgraded, including new elevators between street and platform level, modification of canopies, new sidewalks and curb ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North is in the final phase of installing new elevators at Hartsdale, Scarsdale and Purdy’s on the Harlem line. The work also includes benches, leaning bars and new lighting at the overpass located in Hartsdale and Scarsdale stations.
Within the current Capital Program, MTA Construction & Development is moving forward with ADA upgrades at three Metro-North stations located in the Bronx. Completely new station platforms and amenities, and two new elevators will be installed at both Woodlawn and Williams Bridge. Botanical Garden will also be rehabilitated, and the station elevators will be upgraded.
Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels has leveraged MTA’s infrastructure assets to promote walking and cycling and enhance safety across the region. So far, the MTA has completed a new bike/pedestrian ramp connecting the northern walkway of the Manhattan span of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge that will connect to the future East River Greenway in East Harlem.
Access-A-Ride
This year, Access-A-Ride raised the bar on what the MTA considers an on-time pick up for customers. The Authority is now measuring against a 20-minute window instead of a 30-minute window.
–via Press Release
