Elevator Opens on Budget and Ahead of Schedule
Accessibility Upgrades Provide Safer and More Reliable Elevator Service
See Photos of the Elevators
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the opening of a modernized elevator serving the W 4 St-Wash Sq station as part of larger accessibility and safety upgrades. This is the last of three modernized elevator reopenings at the station since 2025, completing a coordinated effort to upgrade elevator service to improve reliability and accessibility for riders. The elevator opened on budget and ahead of schedule. Regular replacements are crucial to keep the system running effectively and efficiently resulting in less repairs and fewer disruptions needed later. The MTA completed a record 39 elevator replacements in 2025.
The elevator at W 4 St provides access from the uptown and platforms to the mezzanine, following the replacement of two other elevators at the station last year. The station serves approximately 27,000 riders every weekday. The elevator installer and maintainer is Mid- American.
“The W 4 St-Wash Sq Street elevator replacement was delivered more than two weeks ahead of schedule, proving that major accessibility upgrades can move at the pace riders deserve,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “It’s a clear example of the high standard we’ve set across the system—delivering essential upgrades better, faster, and cheaper so riders see real improvements sooner.”
“Installing new, modernized elevators is key to ensuring an accessible transit system for everyone who uses the subway to get around,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. "I am excited to finish upgrading every elevator at West 4 St and ensure all customers can enjoy all that the Village has to offer."
Work involved in the elevator replacement included:
- Full replacement of elevator cab and associated equipment within the cab, shaft, and pit, along with new replaced elevator head house glass and canopy at street level.
- Modifications to the shaft and pit needed to accommodate new equipment. Equipment updates ensure the elevator ride is smoother and the elevator is more reliable in the future.
- Replacement and modernization of all elevator machine room, electrical and mechanical equipment for better and more reliable service.
- Upgrades to the remote monitoring equipment, fire alarm system, intercom system and cameras to enhance security and allow crews to respond more quickly and precisely if an elevator goes out of service.
These upgrades reflect the MTA’s broader elevator and escalator modernization program, which is improving reliability across the system faster than ever. In 2025, the MTA completed a record 39 elevator replacements–more than double the previous record of 16 set in 2021. The MTA has continued building on this progress, announcing a series of newly modernized elevator replacements across 11 subway stations last month.
The MTA currently has elevator replacement projects in progress in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Details can be found here.