Bay Ridge subway station becomes fully ADA accessible
According to MTA officials, the project was made possible by support from the Federal Transit Administration, which helped to coordinate and avoid four weekends of shutdowns at the station and saved an estimated $900,000.
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In a historic effort, the Bay Ridge 95th Street Subway station officially became completely ADA accessible on Tuesday, making it the third accessible subway station in New York City.
The new elevators are one of the many renovations taking place at the Bay Ridge subway station, featuring one elevator running from the street down to the mezzanine below and another from the mezzanine to the platform.
Riders will be able to experience upgraded staircases, with freshly painted yellow tactile edges - also featured on platforms - as well as new communications, electrical and fire alarm systems, 360-degree cameras and accessible bathrooms.
According to MTA officials, the project was made possible by support from the Federal Transit Administration, which helped to coordinate and avoid four weekends of shutdowns at the station and saved an estimated $900,000.
With the station serving nearly 3,000 riders daily, MTA officials say the accessibility project was "about innovation and completing projects faster, better and cheaper" and consisted of "using every available tool, every possible strategy, to make the subway system accessible to all New Yorkers."
Frequent commuters, like Gregory Wortham, say they couldn't be happier with the much-needed changes. "I've seen people with disabilities, I've seen some elderly people have difficulty getting around," said Gregory. "So I think it was a great thing for the MTA to install this."
According to the MTA, the accessibility project is aiming to reach a court-approved settlement, which would ensure that 95% of the city’s subway stations are ADA accessible within 2025. At this time, the Bay Ridge 96th Street Subway Station is officially the 36th ADA accessible station in New York City, with the MTA planning for 67 total accessible stations across all five boroughs.
