Handicapped Activist Law-Suits Settled and 95% of New York Subway Stations Accessable end of 2055

[daveklepper]

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that
the Metropolitan Av  and Lorimer St  stations are now accessible to
customers in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). The project included the installation of six new elevators,
three at each station, with one street elevator and two
mezzanine-to-platform elevators at each station. In addition to the
new elevators, two new platform stairs were built for better passenger
circulation at Metropolitan Av , and six sets of stairs were built –
four on the platform and two street-level – and one set of
street-level stairs was newly refurbished to meet ADA compliance at
Lorimer St .

Other station upgrades include new tactile strips on platform edges
for customer safety, new ADA boarding areas, new accessible fare
control equipment at both station entrances, as well as new station
signage, broken tile replacement on the stations’ ceilings and walls,
and a new public announcement system.

The newly installed elevators include new fire alarm systems, smoke
and heat detectors and cameras inside the elevator cabs, all to
enhance customer safety. Each elevator is also equipped with an
emergency two-way communication system which gives riders the ability
to communicate with dispatchers in the event of an emergency via
standard voice communications or visually by answering on-screen
questions, which greatly improves communication for riders with
hearing or speech disabilities. The mezzanine area around the new
elevators was also regraded to create ADA accessible pathways.

“With this opening at Metropolitan Av-Lorimer St , 151 MTA subway
stations are now accessible to everyone – seniors, parents with
strollers, everyone,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “We’re
knocking out these ADA accessibility projects at four or five times
the pace of prior MTAs, and we’re not going to slow down.”

“Making Metropolitan Av-Lorimer St accessible is a major win for
Brooklyn customers, bringing not just the benefits of new elevators
but also new stairwells to improve customer flow in a critical
transfer station,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey.
“I especially want to thank our partners at MTA Construction &
Development for delivering this project with innovative construction
methods that minimized service disruptions. Customers can look forward
to further improvements in the year ahead, with ten additional
stations slated to receive accessibility upgrades.”

"Newly accessible stations at Metropolitan Av-Lorimer St  mark the
completion of Construction & Development's first Design-Build ADA
package,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie
Torres-Springer. "This exciting milestone represents the MTA's
successful implementation of innovative contracting methods to deliver
projects better, faster, and cheaper."

“Transforming our transit system into one that’s accessible for all
remains a top priority for all of us in MTA leadership,” said MTA
Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “Opening these two
accessible stations is a huge step forward for subway access for
Brooklynites and all New Yorkers, and marking this milestone of more
than 150 accessible stations bring us one step closer to achieving an
accessible system.”

The Metropolitan Av-Lorimer St  upgrades were fully funded by a grant
from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This project marks the
completion of an ADA-improvement package of eight subway stations,
which is MTA Construction & Development’s first such package being
delivered better, faster, and cheaper through innovative contracting
tools such as design-build and project bundling. Metropolitan Av  also
received ‘State of Good Repair’ work alongside these upgrades.

The ADA upgrades at Metropolitan Av  provided an opportunity for
Brooklyn-based artist Jackie Chang to add two new compositions to her
existing installation of six mosaics, titled Signs of Life. The
artwork is centered on graphic symbols and bold text to spark
contemplation as ‘food for thought’ for those traveling through the
station. The new mosaics were added to the Metropolitan Av  mezzanine,
where all eight mosaics can now be appreciated by customers entering
and leaving the station.

At Lorimer St , Brooklyn-based artist Chloë Bass was commissioned by
MTA Arts & Design to create mosaic artwork for the reconfigured fare
control area in the station’s entrance. Titled Personal Choice #5, the
artwork features various gestures of touch in three compositions,
overlaid with text written by Bass. The artwork is a poetic
representation of human connections. Personal Choice #5 was unveiled
as part of the station upgrade project being celebrated today.

Delivering Accessibility Projects Better, Faster, and Cheaper

The pace in which the MTA is awarding contracts for accessible
projects is five times what it was before 2020. The MTA has awarded
contracts for 13 stations in 2020, 10 stations in 2021, 13 stations in
2022, and 16 stations in 2023. There are accessibility upgrades funded
by private developers at the 57 St  station in Manhattan, and the
Queensboro Plaza  station in Queens.

When ridership plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MTA took
the opportunity to fast-track accessibility improvements at 15 subway
stations. Following today's announcement, there are 151 ADA accessible
stations and 38 stations in construction for accessibility upgrades.

The 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan includes a historic investment of $5.2
billion to make 67 subway stations ADA accessible, more than any
capital plan in the MTA’s history and more than the last three capital
plans combined. In addition, the Authority is delivering accessibility
projects at an unprecedented pace, completing 28 ADA stations since
2020, more than double the number of ADA stations completed in the
previous six years.

“Reliable public transportation is essential for countless New
Yorkers, and the installation of accessible elevators at the Lorimer
Street  and Metropolitan Avenue  stations in Williamsburg will help
ensure people aren't left behind due to disability,” said
Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. “I look forward to continuing to
work to ensure that New York City's public transportation is
accessible for all.”

“Public transit can only deliver its full potential when it provides
the infrastructure and resources that allow all New Yorkers —
especially New Yorkers with disabilities — to ride safely and easily,”
said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “The new elevators
and accessibility upgrades at the Lorimer  are precisely the work we
must be prioritizing as we build a sustainable, green city that meets
the mobility needs of its residents. Thank you to the MTA for
spearheading these essential improvements.”

 

 

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that
the Tremont Av  subway station in the Bronx is now fully accessible to
all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The
project included the installation of three new elevators, with one
taking customers from the street to the mezzanine, and two taking
customers from the mezzanine to the platform, as well as two
reconstructed and relocated staircases and new ADA platform edges.

The installed elevators include a new fire alarm system, smoke and
heat detectors and cameras inside the elevator cabs, all to enhance
customer safety. Each elevator is also equipped with an emergency
two-way communication system which gives riders the ability to
communicate with dispatchers in the event of an emergency via standard
voice communications or visually by answering on-screen questions,
which greatly improves communication for riders with hearing or speech
disabilities.

“With these upgrades at Tremont Av  there are now 149 fully accessible
stations across the subway system,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno
Lieber.“That means tangible quality-of-life improvements for customers
with disabilities, parents with strollers, and all kinds of other
folks. Across the MTA we’ve already opened five newly accessible
stations this year, and we intend to continue pushing the pace
throughout 2024.”

“Newly accessible stations like Tremont Av  are the fruits of our
efforts to execute projects more efficiently through innovative
delivery methods like project bundling,” said MTA Construction &
Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “We are completing ADA
upgrades in record time, which will greatly improve accessibility not
just in the Bronx but throughout our transit system.”

“Our top priority is creating a transit system that’s accessible for
everyone,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “The
new elevators at Tremont Av , along with the other accessibility
upgrades installed, will increase transit access for thousands of
Tremont residents. I’m excited to see even more stations become
accessible in 2024.”

“Public transportation is equity,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer
Shanifah Rieara. “In Tremont, a community that is often overlooked and
underserved, it is amazing to bring these new accessibility resources
to this neighborhood. Thank you to all the hardworking crews for
making this possible for Bronxites today and beyond.”

“The speed at which we’re upgrading stations like Tremont Av  is a
testament to how dedicated transit crews are to creating a fully
accessible subway system,” said New York City Transit President
Richard Davey. “We’re only just getting started – there are 12 more
stations set to receive accessibility upgrades by the end of this
year.”

The Tremont Av  station ADA upgrades are part of an ADA improvement
package of three subway stations, which also includes 149 St–Grand
Concourse . This package is one of several that MTA C&D is delivering
better, faster, and cheaper through innovative contracting tools such
as design-build and project bundling.

 

 

 

 

 

ReplyForward   Add reaction

 

[Overmod]

Here is the MTA's list of rules:

https://new.mta.info/safety-and-security/personal-electric-vehicle-policy?auHash=RnyjUTDCo3RkN3N7NrcT65eUVx3NAhw4CffrHb6uNUM

It appears to me that a number of currently-popular scooter-type devices will be difficult if not impossible to use in both subways and buses: it would be interesting to see 'personal mobility equipment' that can be folded as MTA expects, or that a disabled person can carry through stations, or that fits existing racks and storage.

[daveklepper]

April 24, 2023 Some editing.  Several speeces omitted.

MTA Announces Policy Permitting Personal Electric Vehicles on Subways, Buses and Commuter Railroads, Fulfilling a Goal of Micromobility Strategic Action Plan

Agency Outlines Safety Guidelines for Personal Electric Vehicles on Mass Transit Charging and/or Riding Electric Vehicles Within MTA Facilities or On Board MTA Vehicles is Prohibited The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today adopted a policy that allows the transport of personal electric vehicles (PEV) on MTA property and on board transit, with the exception of MTA express buses, and outlined the rules for safe transport. This policy supports New York State’s and New York City’s micromobility programs encouraging the use of personal vehicles such as bikes and scooters, particularly for first and last mile transportation, enhancing the transit experience by supporting multi-modal journeys and providing seamless integration. The policy will increase access to MTA transit by for people who do not live within walking distance from a transit station and fulfills one of the short-term goals established by the Extending Transit’s Reach, the MTA’s landmark Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan issued in January.  “Safety is the MTA’s priority,” said MTA Chief Safety & Security Officer Patrick Warren. “This policy safely introduces a way for passengers to bring personal electric vehicles on board transit while supporting the rise in micromobility and accessibility to transit.”  “An accessible transit system that is reachable and convenient to use benefits all New Yorkers,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “System accessibility is essential for all MTA riders and this policy allows riders in less well served areas to better connect with the transit system in a safe manner.” “Today’s announcement of the new overarching policy regarding the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in stations and on board subways, trains and buses is very welcome,” said Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) Lisa Daglian. The rules apply to all customers, MTA employees, contractors, consultants, andetc. For bike regulations, see here. Charging of PEVs in or on any MTA train, subway, bus, platform, station, facility, or terminal is prohibited Walk with it, don’t ride it If the PEV can be folded, it must be folded, or compacted and carried, except for on MTA express buses. Any form of PEVs, including foldable permissible PEVs, are prohibited inside MTA express buses. PEVs must remain powered off during transport Doors, seats, aisles and emergency equipment must be kept clear PEVs and their batteries must never be left unattended, discarded, stored, locked to any MTA asset within the system, or abandoned for any reason Cannot exceed 100 pounds in weight Must have a wheel diameter not exceeding 27 inches nor be more than 80 inches long or 48 inches high Hoverboards are not permitted in the system Must use batteries that are Underwriter Laboratory (UL) certified and listed Must not emit environmental contaminants Must not have damaged batteries Property of a shared or rented PEV provider (e.g., Citi Bike, Lime, Bird, Lynx, etc.) into the system is not allowed These rules go beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MTA employees and customers should always give priority to people with disabilities. Read more here.

 

[NittanyLion]

BEAUSABRE

If "take the bus" is the answer, then let's scrap the subway and replace it with busses

 

DC Metro, which has been fully accessible from opening day, still has to do this to cover elevator outages.  There's no workaround without resorting to the unlikely or impossible (I can't imagine how long a spiral ramp would be to get to some of the deeper stations).

[daveklepper]

Please visit the MTA website and check your ridership figures against their's.

Who is right?

I think you are nuts if you think that the State Legislature, City Council. Mayor, Borough Presidents, Governor, and the population' majority, would be anything but committed to retention and further improvement of the subway system.

And if you think you can do a better job of obtaining funds and how to allocate what's obtained, with better handicapped-access being only one of several needed improvements, by all means apply to the MTA for a job in transportation planning. 

The only time I had deep and heartfelt criticism was their very detailed planning for 14th-Street-Canarsie (L-Line) closure.  And those plans went into the wastebasket, and a far-better approach to the problem was effected.

From what I recall from their lazgtest figures, and I probably shoul,d haveSub posted them, and will when the next batch arrives, overall ridership of the Subway System is now at 80% pre-pandemic levels. 

I'd appreciate learning the actuakl extent of Station ADA compliance for the CTA and the program toward 100%.

 

  

[BEAUSABRE]

"Temporary" for a THIRD OF A CENTURY....You have to laugh. There may not be a subway system in the 2050's

From Bloomberg is a comparison of ridership figures 2023 compared to 2019 of some of the stations with heaviest passenger load. 

Times Square - 36 percent

Grand Central - 33 percent

Harold Square - 31 percent

Union Square - 33 percent

The riders have left and they ain't comin' back

Implications -

1) There is a hole of at least 60 percent in MTA's projected revenues from fares. Neither the city or the state has the funds to cover it as they have their own problems

2 That means MTA will have to reduce expenses

a) Cut employees across the board, operations, maintenance and security included

b) That means less trains with fewer operating personnel and more cars deadlined for parts which can't be ordered as the budget is shot

c) That means dirtier stations with more lights out, overflowing trash bins, etc

d) That means fewer police on a system that many New Yorkers already think is unsafe. They use Uber and Lyft instead if they can afford it. Only the poor and desperate ride the trains

e) There are no funds for preventive maintenance, let alone impprovements

The upshot is the system goes into a death spiral as fewer passengers ride the trains (who wants to wait around for long periods in dirty, badly policed stations for dirty, badly policed, poorly maintained trains?), which cuts revenue, which leads to further cuts by the MTA, which drives away more passengers

Sorry, for the bad news, Dave, but ya gotta face reality. New Yorkers are voting with their feet

 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The Chicago Transit Authority is in pretty good shape regarding handicapped access.  Most if not all stations on the "L" have elevators between ground and station level.

[daveklepper]

In NYCIty, it is one integrated system, and both modes are essential.

And, as I pointed out, it's temporarily part of the answer.

I'd be interested cin knowing if Chicago and/or Philadelphia are doing any better regarding handicapped access to older rapid-transit lines.   Comment?  

[BEAUSABRE]

If "take the bus" is the answer, then let's scrap the subway and replace it with busses

[BEAUSABRE]

OK, but I think you are missing the point. This ain't BUSSES Magazine

[daveklepper]

All NYCity transit buses are ADA-compliasnt, and with universal trasnsfer privileges, connectingv to a station that is accesable shouild not be a problem.  Buses can also take you anywhere in the city.

[BaltACD]

daveklepper

More than half of the subway stations should be handicapped-accessable by 2030, with the hard and expensive work at the most difficult and least-used stations taking longer.  My own opinion is that they are doing a good job, considering the age of most of the system and other demands on finances and logistics.

How many handicapped individuals will die before their station becomes accessable to them?  2055 is still a long ways off for handicapped that have yet to be born.  

Feature that MTA's real thinking is that there won't be any handicapped to use the stations by 2055, so no one then will care.  

[daveklepper]

More than half of the subway stations should be handicapped-accessable by 2030, with the hard and expensive work at the most difficult and least-used stations taking longer.  My own opinion is that they are doing a good job, considering the age of most of the system and other demands on finances and logistics.

[BaltACD]

CSSHEGEWISCH

When you consider the number of stations involved and the fact that a fair number of stations are substantially above ground level, 32 years may be long but not that much of a stretch.

But it is a near guarantee that a person in need of the handicapped accessability today will likely be in the ground before 2055.  2025 or event 2035 would be something different.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

When you consider the number of stations involved and the fact that a fair number of stations are substantially above ground level, 32 years may be long but not that much of a stretch.

[BaltACD]

daveklepper

All the details were in the computer before Friday night and now are missing.  And now I'm having problems in using the NYMTA website.  But you should have no problem, and perhaps you can post the details.   Thanks.

The settlement was an historic and important event.

A 'settlement date' that is still 32 years in the future?  Nothing to brag about.

[daveklepper]

More accessabiliy:

 

February 23, 2023

MTA Announces 29 New Elevators Will Be Installed at Subway Stations Across All Five Boroughs

Accessibility Upgrades at 17 Subway Stations   ·         Van Cortlandt Park-242 St  ·         Harlem-148 St  ·         96 St  ·         81 St  ·         86 St  ·         46 St-Bliss St  ·         33 St-Rawson  ·         Broadway  ·         Court Sq-23 St  ·         New Lots Av  ·         Classon Av  ·         36 St  ·         Huguenot SIR ·         168 St  ·         Broadway Junction (3 stations) o    Broadway Junction  o    Broadway Junction  Broadway Junction   As construction continues at previously awarded stations, the MTA also projects that accessibility upgrades will open at 12 new stations in 2023. These stations are: ·  Dyckman St  (NB) ·  Tremont Av  ·  181 St  ·  E 149 St  ·  Court Square  ·  Lorimer St  ·  Grand St  ·  Metropolitan Av  ·  7 Av  ·  New Dorp SIR ·  8 Av  (SB)

 

[daveklepper]

Check  the websikte for stations elready :"accessable."

[BEAUSABRE]

Gee, I'm so relieved! Only 33 years, a third of a century, an entire generation, before it's complete!! 

[Overmod]

I don't think MTA had worked out a full face-saving version of their position when I was finding references yesterday.  It will be interesting to see what they produce.

[daveklepper]

THANKS!!!

Very good work

[Overmod]

DRA's copy of the settlement:

https://dralegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Final-Agreement-with-All-Signatures-ACC.pdf

This was the filing of one of the suits

https://dralegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/154_Notice_of_Entry_of_D_and_O_Motion_003_Accessible.pdf

and this is the other, which invoked the ADA:

https://dralegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/115_Third_Amended_Complaint.pdf

[daveklepper]

All the details were in the computer before Friday night and now are missing.  And now I'm having problems in using the NYMTA website.  But you should have no problem, and perhaps you can post the details.   Thanks.

The settlement was an historic and important event.