NYC Subway Access Improves at Four Stations

MTA completes elevator and escalator replacements at four Manhattan and Brooklyn stations

MTA Upgrades Elevators at Four NYC Subway Stops

Riders at four Manhattan and Brooklyn subway stations now have improved access after the MTA completed elevator and escalator replacements. The transit agency upgraded equipment at 14th Street-Union Square, DeKalb Avenue, 145th Street, and Lexington Avenue-63rd Street stations as part of its accessibility agenda. The projects replace aging equipment before breakdowns occur, officials said.

Context

The improvements are part of the MTA's ongoing accessibility agenda, which prioritizes replacing older elevators and escalators before they fail. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber emphasized that proactive replacement prevents service disruptions that affect riders who depend on elevators for station access. The transit agency stated that funding from Governor Hochul has made these replacement projects possible. Additional elevator replacement projects are currently underway at stations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

Details

At 14th Street-Union Square in Manhattan, crews replaced a street-to-mezzanine elevator serving the L, N, Q, R and W lines. The DeKalb Avenue station in Brooklyn received three new elevators, including one street-to-mezzanine and two mezzanine-to-platform units serving the B, Q and R trains. At 145th Street in Manhattan, one escalator serving the B and D train platform was replaced. The Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station in Manhattan now has three new mezzanine and platform escalators in service.

Timeline

The four stations now have the upgraded equipment in service, officials confirmed. The MTA didn't provide specific dates for when each individual station's work was completed. Additional elevator replacement projects are currently underway at other stations across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, though officials haven't announced completion timelines for those projects.

Impact

The upgrades aim to improve access for riders who depend on elevators and escalators, particularly those with mobility challenges, strollers, or heavy luggage. The proactive replacements also prevent service disruptions caused by equipment failures that can strand riders or force them to find alternate routes. Riders can check Moovit for real-time service information and accessible route planning across the MTA subway system.