The MTA will finally begin installing elevators at the Middletown Road station in the Bronx in February 2025, after facing accusations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. This comes after a legal battle that started in 2016 when the station was renovated without adding elevators, leading to a lawsuit filed by individuals with disabilities and advocacy organizations. The MTA is under a court mandate to make 95% of its stations accessible by 2055, with the Middletown Road station’s elevator project expected to be completed by 2029. The ongoing efforts to improve accessibility in the subway system are seen as a significant legal victory and a step towards creating a more inclusive transit system for all riders.
The Middletown Road subway station in the North Bronx is finally set to receive elevators as part of a $22 million makeover after a decade-long delay. This decision comes after federal prosecutors and riders with disabilities accused the MTA of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The MTA recently announced that work to install elevators at the No. 6’s Middletown Road station will commence in February 2025, as part of ADA upgrades being implemented at over 30 stations. Currently, only about 30% of the nearly 500 subway and Staten Island Railway stations are accessible, with the MTA mandated to make 95% of stations ADA-compliant by 2055.
The legal battle over Middletown Road station began in 2016 when two New Yorkers with disabilities, along with advocacy organizations, sued the MTA for failing to add elevators during a renovation period from 2013 to 2014. The case escalated with the Justice Department joining in 2018, resulting in a federal judge ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in 2019.
Following a settlement agreement in April, the MTA is now including accessibility work at Middletown Road in its current five-year $55 billion capital plan for systemwide improvements. The funding for these upgrades will partially come from congestion pricing, which is a vehicle-tolling initiative set to launch in January.
The commitment to make subway stations more accessible is part of a larger effort by the MTA to comply with ADA requirements and improve overall system accessibility. The agency has expedited its pace of completing ADA projects, with more than a dozen subway stations already made compliant in 2024.
As the MTA works towards making 95% of its stations fully accessible, riders like Brena Salazar and Paula Mate are looking forward to the installation of elevators at Middletown Road station to ease their commute. The addition of elevators will not only benefit people with disabilities but also parents with strollers and others who struggle with stairs.
The long legal battle over Middletown Road station has been instrumental in setting a precedent for transit agencies nationwide to prioritize accessibility during renovations. This landmark case has highlighted the importance of considering disability and accessibility from the outset of transportation projects.
Moving forward, the MTA aims to ensure that riders are never more than two stops away from an accessible station, with a focus on making the transit system more inclusive and accommodating for all passengers. The installation of elevators at Middletown Road station marks a significant step towards achieving this goal and creating a more accessible city for everyone.
Source: TheCity.NYC
