Brooklyn subway accessibility upgrades have entered procurement at five stations, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority planning new elevators and related station work funded through congestion pricing revenue.

Accessible subway station elevator in Brooklyn
Illustrative photo of an accessible MTA subway station elevator in Brooklyn. Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA / CC BY 4.0

MTA opens RFP for Brooklyn subway accessibility upgrades

The agency has issued a Request for Proposals⁠ for a design-builder to carry out the upgrades. Qualified firms have until Sept. 14 to submit proposals, and the MTA plans to award the design-build contract by the end of the year.

The five-station package covers Neptune Av on the F line, 18 Av on the N line, Jefferson St on the L line, Nostrand Av on the A and C lines, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy on the D line. The planned elevator additions include one at Neptune Av, two at 18 Av, two at Jefferson St, three at Nostrand Av, and two at Fort Hamilton Pkwy.

The project also covers platform repairs, fare-control improvements, staircase replacements, and security and safety upgrades across the five stations.

According to the MTA, the stations were selected to improve the geographic distribution of accessible stops across the subway system. Fort Hamilton Pkwy, 18 Av, Jefferson St, and Neptune Av were chosen because each addresses a gap of four consecutive inaccessible stations on its respective line. Nostrand Av was selected as a busy express station serving a major commercial area, and the accessibility work complements the reopening of the Bedford Avenue entrance at that station.

Congestion pricing funding supports station work

The work is being made possible by congestion pricing funding⁠, which is providing $15 billion for the MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan. That funding supports projects to rebuild, improve, and expand New York’s transit system. The five Brooklyn stations join 20 other stations already slated for accessibility improvements enabled by congestion pricing funding.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said:

“Wondering what congestion relief revenues are paying for? Well, here’s another five accessible subway stations to add to the list,”

“Drivers are appreciating speedier crossings and reduced congestion since the toll program started, but everyone is glad the air is cleaner, streets are safer, and our mass transit system is getting major upgrades.”

MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres Springer said:

“The benefits of congestion pricing add up more every day: air quality is improving and traffic is down—all while generating billions of dollars to improve the transit system New Yorkers rely on,”

“These accessibility upgrades will be transformative for Brooklyn riders, and they’re exactly the kind of work congestion pricing allows us to deliver better, faster, and cheaper.”

New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said:

“Thousands of Brooklyn riders will have new opportunities to use our system with these accessibility and station improvements,”

“Ensuring every New Yorker has access to safe and reliable transit remains a top priority for NYC Transit.”

MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo said:

“The MTA is improving access for all our customers especially for riders with mobility needs, parents and caregivers with children on strollers, aging adults, and anyone with access needs like bags or luggage,”

“With these five stations we are getting that much closer to delivering a completely accessible transit system for all.”

Don’t miss…Stadler Salt Lake City expansion opens in Utah

MTA plans more ADA-accessible stations

The MTA said the subway system currently has 160 fully accessible stations, including 60 completed since 2020. The announcement was made as the authority marks Disability Pride Month in July with events and announcements highlighting work underway to build a transit system that works for everyone.

In its 2025-2029 Capital Plan, the MTA is also committing nearly $7.1 billion to station accessibility⁠. The programme is intended to make 60 more stations newly ADA-accessible and modernize another 45 subway elevators.

What will change for passengers?

The five Brooklyn stations are part of a wider MTA accessibility programme, not a standalone elevator package. The authority says a 2022 agreement with accessibility advocates set a path to provide ADA access at 95% of stations by 2055. It also says the 2025-2029 Capital Program would make more than two-thirds of all subway rides take place to or from accessible stations by the time the plan is complete. That keeps the focus on network coverage as well as individual station upgrades.

Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny welcomed the inclusion of Neptune Av on the F line, saying:

“I strongly support and applaud the MTA’s continued commitment to ADA compliance throughout the NYC transit system,”

“Every New Yorker deserves barrier-free access to our subway system and I am pleased to report that the Neptune Av Fline station in my district, which is over 100 years old, is on the list for extensive upgrades and elevator installation that will allow everyone to use that station. Thank you, MTA, for moving forward and committing yourself to an inclusive subway system open to everyone regardless of their mobility issues.”

Assembly Member William Colton said the planned work at 18 Av would benefit local riders:

“I am delighted that the MTA is adding two elevators at the D line’s 18 Av station,”

“This improvement, which is crucial in terms of increasing accessibility at this heavily-used station, will be welcomed by the many people who live nearby – those with disabilities, seniors, parents with children in strollers, and others – whose ability to take the subway has been impacted by the flights of stairs they currently need to climb. The new elevators will truly make life easier for my constituents as well as the many people who come to the area to work, shop, visit family and friends, and go to medical appointments.”

Assembly Member Souffrant Forrest said:

“Accessibility isn’t optional. For far too long, riders with disabilities, seniors, and parents with strollers have been unable to use the Nostrand Av station like everyone else,”

“This is a long-overdue step for our community, and I’ll continue working to ensure these improvements are delivered without delay for the riders who need them most.”

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez said the Jefferson St L station upgrades would support communities in Bushwick:

“Reliable and accessible public transit is essential,”

“The accessibility upgrades coming to the Jefferson St L station are meaningful investments for the neighborhoods and communities I represent, and will make a real difference for seniors, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and everyone who depends on the subway. I look forward to seeing these improvements become a reality in Bushwick.”

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Rail equipment thefts disrupt New Zealand services