Federally Funded Project Includes Two New Elevators for ADA Accessibility, Two New Stairways, and State of Good Repair Work
Coordination with NYC Transit Saved Four Weekends of Shutdowns and $900,000
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the completion of two new elevators, making the Bay Ridge-95 St station accessible for the first time. In addition to the new elevators, the project includes upgraded staircases, platforms and new communications and electrical systems. Bay Ridge-95 St R station, which serves 3,000 daily riders, is the third subway station to be made accessible in 2025. Through coordination with New York City Transit, the project avoided four weekends of shutdowns at the station and saved an estimated $900,000.
The project includes two new elevators, including one from street level to mezzanine and another from mezzanine to platform, upgraded staircases to enhance passenger circulation, and new ADA boarding areas with platform edges and tactile warning strips. Crews made upgrades to communications and electrical systems and employee facilities, in addition to state of good repair work.
Bay Ridge-95 St is an island platform station and the elevator project required special coordination with operations planning and maintenance of way in order to place both elevators into service at the same time.
“The new MTA is all about innovation and completing projects faster, better and cheaper – which is how we saved nearly a million dollars on this project,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “The MTA will continue using every available tool, every possible strategy, to make the subway system accessible to all New Yorkers.”
“In addition to installing new elevators and refurbishing platforms and staircases, crews made important station and safety improvements like a brand-new fire alarm system,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “And this is just the start – we’re completing projects five times faster than ever before with another 35 subway station accessibility projects underway throughout the subway system.”
“Accessibility benefits everyone, and I'm excited to bring these benefits to the older adults, caregivers with strollers, and people with disabilities who use this station everyday,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “Bay Ridge now has the accessible subway options it deserves, and I look forward to easier trips to this wonderful corner of Brooklyn.”
“Elevators at the Bay Ridge-95 St station are a major win for customers who travel to and from this terminal station,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “Enhancements to staircases, platforms and employee facilities are part of our commitment to improving infrastructure throughout the transit system.”
The project was made possible by support from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Approximately 19.6% of the project budget was awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms. The project’s contractor is a Joint Venture of J-Track and TC Electric, and the elevator manufacturer and installer is Modern Elevator.
ADA Package 4 is part of the MTA's larger accessibility initiative. Package 4 provided improvements to four subway stations throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx: 137 St-City College , Northern Blvd , Bay Ridge-95 St and Parkchester .
“We can't build the system of the 21st century unless we're willing to invest in it and pay for it, and that's what made this project happen,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “As someone who rides the subways constantly and pushes a double stroller, I can't tell you how much I appreciate having an elevator. This is a game changer for so many, and I want to thank everyone, especially the MTA team, for making it happen.”
“As Chair of the Finance Committee, hearing something come in under budget is obviously music to my ears,” said Council Member Justin Brannan. “This is a great example of working with the MTA on bringing accessibility to the far reaches of the outer boroughs and reminding folks that the ADA is not just a suggestion, it's actually the law.”
“I join the Bay Ridge community in celebrating the completion of the new ADA-compliant elevators at the Bay Ridge–95th Street station,” said Representative Nicole Malliotakis. “These upgrades will ensure greater accessibility for our neighbors who need it most and that’s why I voted for the federal infrastructure law that brought more funds for similar transit, bridge and maritime projects to keep New York moving.”
“ADA projects like these affirm that our city is for everyone, and I am so happy that Bay Ridge-95 St can now welcome even more daily riders seeking to move easily and safely about our borough,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “All too often, riders who require accommodations are overlooked by our transit system and barred access from the different opportunities that can be found across our borough and city. It’s essential that we continue to pursue the mechanisms and measures that can support essential accessibility projects like this, whether it’s scaling up MTA’s in-house capacity to deliver these projects faster and more efficiently or celebrating programs like congestion pricing that will fund similar projects in the future. Thank you to the MTA for completing the Bay Ridge-95 St ADA project. I look forward to working together to build on this momentum.”