Upgrades Include New Elevators for Accessibility, Safety Improvements and Work to Bring Infrastructure Into a State of Good Repair
Replacement Elevator at LIRR Auburndale Station Also Opens Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule
Upgrades Come Amid Surging Ridership and Enhanced Affordability
View Video of St. Albans Station Upgrades
View Photos and Video of News Conference
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the completion of station and accessibility upgrades at St. Albans Long Island Rail Road station in Queens. Upgrades include a new street to platform elevator, new communication and security systems and parking lot accessibility improvements.
Crews also reconstructed the tunnel to provide required height clearances, installed a new elevator machine room, installed concrete sidewalks, new guardrails and treads at staircases, two new weatherproof Help Point emergency and information kiosks, new station signage and LED lighting and CCTV security cameras. The St. Albans station serves more than 1,000 daily riders.
These improvements come as LIRR riders are taking advantage of CityTicket to travel within New York City on the Long Island Rail Road. Customers have saved more than $100 million on Metro-North and LIRR since March 2022.
At a time of surging railroad ridership across the MTA network, CityTicket expansion has encouraged ridership growth at city stations faster than systemwide baselines. From 2021 to 2025, monthly average ridership across the LIRR has grown 179%.
Monthly ridership at St. Albans has nearly doubled to 37,000 in 2025 compared with 18,900 in 2022. Nearby, ridership grew by 183% at Rosedale, 215% at Queens Village, and 224% at Jamaica. More than 766,000 riders now travel to and from Jamaica Station on the LIRR per month, which includes connection to the JFK AirTrain and the 168 St Bus Terminal, with connections to 10 New York City Transit and five NICE bus routes.
For this year so far, 96.4% of LIRR trains reached their destination on time, the best rate in its history, even surpassing pandemic years. Customer satisfaction with the LIRR reached 81% in the spring of 2025, up five percentage points from the fall of 2024, when it reached 76%, which was itself a six-point increase from spring 2024’s rate of 70%.
“Modernized elevators and station enhancements improve the customer experience and ensures everyone can use our system,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “The LIRR is more than 90% accessible, meaning parents with strollers and people with mobility issues can get to work, school and local entertainment.”
“Thanks to innovative contracting methods like project bundling and design-build, we're delivering these upgrades better, cheaper and faster than ever before,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “In fact, not only did we deliver this newly accessible station within the budget, but also two months ahead of schedule, which is a testament to the success of the new MTA that's two months earlier that folks in this neighborhood are able to use a fully accessible station.”
“This is a great day to celebrate accessibility, which, as you heard before, is truly universal,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “We're not just talking about the one million New Yorkers with disabilities. We're talking about the tourists who go up and down. Used to go up and down these stairs with luggage. The parents with strollers. And yes, our elderly community members, our aging community members for whom we want to say, Forget about Florida and the Carolinas. Stay in New York with your community that you help build. Age with grace.”
The project, which is part of LIRR ADA Package 1, was made possible by support from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The project is a joint venture between Citnalta/Scalamandre and Parsons Transportation Group.
LIRR ADA Package 1 provides improvements for nine stations throughout Queens, Nassau and Suffolk: Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst, Massapequa Park, St. Albans, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Valley Stream and Auburndale. The project aligns with the MTA’s overall goal to make all LIRR stations ADA accessible. In addition to accessibility improvements, these projects will provide state of good repair work and aesthetic improvements using the innovative design build method.
The MTA also announced the opening of a modernized elevator serving the Auburndale LIRR station as part of larger accessibility and safety upgrades. The replacement, completed under budget and ahead of schedule, is crucial to keep the system running effectively and efficiently resulting in less repair and fewer disruptions needed later.
In addition to replacing the existing elevator and refurbishing the elevator machine room, crews upgraded the electrical service, made plaza enhancements including additional elevator signage, and installed new handrails at both staircases and guardrails and end-of-platform railings and new CCTV cameras.
By using the Design Build approach, crews were able to utilize the existing elevator shaft and only needed to replace the elevator equipment and components. The project is a joint venture between Citnalta/Scalamandre and Parsons Transportation Group.
Work involved in the elevator replacement and ADA improvements included:
- Replacement of elevator cab and associated equipment, along with a renovated elevator enclosure structure.
- Equipment updates to ensure the elevator ride is smoother and the elevator is more reliable in the future.
- Replacement and modernization of the elevator machine room, electrical and mechanical equipment for better and more reliable service.
- Upgrades to the remote monitoring equipment, intercom system and cameras to enhance security and allow crews to respond more quickly and precisely if an elevator goes out of service.
State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “I’m pleased to see the completion of accessibility improvements at St. Albans Station, an investment that delivers real progress for Southeast Queens riders. For far too long, residents have called for real improvements to local transit and this project is a meaningful step toward equity and inclusion in transportation. These upgrades will make a daily difference for seniors, parents and commuters. I thank MTA leadership, Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer as well as LIRR President Rob Free for their partnership in continuing to invest in our community.”
Assembly Member Clyde Vanel said, “The completion of the St. Albans Station Accessibility Improvement Project marks a major step forward for our St. Albans community. These upgrades ensure that all residents can travel safely and independently. I’m proud to see the continued investment in making our transportation system more inclusive and accessible for every New Yorker.”
Assembly Member Alicia L. Hyndman said, “I’m excited to see the St. Albans Station Accessibility Improvement Project completed. The new elevator, pedestrian tunnel, sidewalks, and safety upgrades will make it easier for everyone in the community to get around. Making sure all New Yorkers can travel safely and independently is so important, and projects like this show the real difference that smart, thoughtful investments in our transit system can make.”
Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams said, “The St. Albans Station Accessibility Improvement Project is a real win for our community. For years, residents have asked for safer, more accessible transit options that meet the needs of everyone, including seniors, parents, and people with disabilities. These improvements reflect a meaningful investment in Southeast Queens and show what’s possible when we prioritize equity and access in every neighborhood. I’m proud to see this progress right here in District 27.”