NYC subway accessibility upgrades are set to move forward at five more stations, with elevator projects and related station improvements included in the work.

R46 A train at Nostrand Avenue subway station in Brooklyn
Archive photo of an R46 A train at Nostrand Avenue station in Brooklyn. Photo: GeneralPunger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

On Monday, the MTA said it will issue a Request for Proposal⁠ for work that includes elevator installation and other upgrades intended to make the selected stations accessible for riders with disabilities.

NYC subway accessibility upgrades funded by congestion pricing

Funding for the projects will come from revenue from congestion pricing⁠. Around $15 billion from the programme is being used to support upgrades at these five stations, along with 20 other stations that had already been announced.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the work shows how congestion relief revenue is being directed into transit improvements.

“Wondering what congestion relief revenues are paying for? Well, here are five accessible subway stations to add to the list,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “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.”

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Five subway stations selected for elevator work

The five stations selected for accessibility work are Neptune Avenue on the F line, 18 Avenue on the N line, Jefferson Street on the L line, Nostrand Avenue on the A and C lines, and Fort Hamilton Parkway on the D line.

Fort Hamilton Parkway, 18 Avenue, Jefferson Street and Neptune Avenue were chosen as part of efforts to improve the geographic distribution of accessible subway stations. Nostrand Avenue is set to receive three elevators because it is a busy express station serving a major commercial district.

What changes for passengers?

The five-station package is intended to reduce gaps in accessible subway coverage, not only add elevators at individual stops. The MTA says Fort Hamilton Parkway, 18 Avenue, Jefferson Street and Neptune Avenue each fill a gap of four consecutive inaccessible stations, while Nostrand Avenue was selected as a busy express station serving a major commercial area. The work also fits into a broader accessibility programme: according to the MTA, the subway has 160 fully accessible stations, including 60 completed since 2020, and the 2025–2029 Capital Program includes $7.1 billion for station accessibility.

Other planned work includes platform repairs, staircase replacement, security improvements and additional station upgrades.

Qualified firms must submit proposals in September, and the MTA plans to select a contractor for the project by the end of the year.

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