A decade-long saga has finally come to an end as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced plans to install elevators at the Middletown Road subway station in the North Bronx, a project that was initially promised but never completed. The move comes after federal prosecutors and riders with disabilities accused the MTA of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The MTA is currently working on upgrading accessibility at more than 30 stations, with a goal of reaching 95% ADA compliance by 2055. However, only about 145 of the nearly 500 subway and Staten Island Railway stations are currently accessible.
The Middletown Road station, which opened in 1920, has been a focal point of the dispute, with riders facing significant barriers to accessing the platform due to the lack of elevators. In 2016, two New Yorkers with disabilities sued the MTA, alleging that the agency failed to follow federal law requiring transportation authorities to make stations accessible during renovations.
A federal judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in 2019 and a settlement was reached in April, clearing the way for the MTA to add accessibility work at Middletown Road to its current capital plan. Work on installing elevators is expected to begin in February 2025 and will be completed by 2029.
The move has been hailed as a significant step forward for accessibility in the subway system, with the MTA’s chairperson, Janno Lieber, saying that the project is part of a broader effort to make all stations accessible. The development comes after a landmark court settlement approved by a federal judge last year that mandated the MTA to reach 95% ADA compliance within three decades.
“This is a major victory for riders with disabilities,” said Rachel Weisberg, supervising attorney for Disability Rights Advocates. “It shows that when we demand change and fight for our rights, we can get results.”
Source: https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/12/20/bronx-subway-station-accessibility-middletown