NYC Parkchester Station Gains Full Accessibility
Parkchester station on Bronx's 6 line now fully accessible with two new elevators
Parkchester Station Adds Two Elevators
Two new elevators opened Thursday at Parkchester station on the Bronx's 6 line, making the station fully accessible for riders with disabilities, seniors, and parents with strollers. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced the completion January 9, with one elevator connecting street level to the mezzanine and another linking the mezzanine to both platforms. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said the elevators will make a real difference for people who need step-free access.
Part of Broader Accessibility Push
The Parkchester upgrade is part of the MTA's $5.2 billion accessibility plan announced in January 2020 to make at least 70 more stations accessible over five years. About 145 of the system's 472 stations—roughly 31%—now have accessible features, officials said. The agency didn't disclose the specific cost of the Parkchester project or when construction began. Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Vice President of Subways at New York City Transit, said the opening shows the agency's commitment to improving accessibility throughout the subway system.
Elevators Serve Vibrant Bronx Community
The two elevators provide step-free access throughout the station, eliminating barriers that previously prevented some riders from using the 6 line at this location. Quemuel Arroyo, Chief Accessibility Officer at the MTA, said every new elevator represents greater independence and mobility for thousands of New Yorkers. Parkchester serves a vibrant community in the Bronx, and now more residents can access the subway with dignity and ease, he told reporters. Specific ridership figures for the station weren't available.
NYC Lags Behind Newer Transit Systems
New York's subway system faces unique accessibility challenges because it opened in 1904, decades before federal accessibility requirements took effect. The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed in 1990, requires public transit systems to be accessible, but retrofitting old stations with elevators is complex and expensive due to underground infrastructure and building foundations. By comparison, Washington's Metro and San Francisco's BART systems built all stations with elevators from their openings in the 1970s, officials said.
Riders Can Track Elevator Status
The elevators are now in service for all riders who need step-free access at Parkchester station. Officials said they're continuing accessibility work across the system but didn't provide a timeline for upcoming projects. Riders can check real-time elevator status and plan accessible routes using Moovit, which provides updates for MTA subway lines throughout New York City.
