Accessibility Project at Major Southern Brooklyn Subway Transfer Point Eases Mobility, Provides More Travel Options to Customers

Photos of the Elevators are Available Here

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the installation of four new elevators at the New Utrecht Av/62 St  station complex, as well as other accessibility features, to ease mobility and provide more transit options for thousands of customers in southern Brooklyn.

“The new elevators at New Utrecht Av move us in the right direction as we work to make the subway system increasingly accessible,” said MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford. “We are committed to improving accessibility at a faster rate than ever before, and just over the past year in Brooklyn alone we have several accessibility projects that are recently completed or currently underway. We have more to do but we are determined to continue our efforts at making this system one that can be used by all New Yorkers.”

“These new elevators are a huge win for customers in south Brooklyn where projects are underway to make several other subway stations accessible,” said Alex Elegudin, NYC Transit’s senior accessibility adviser for systemwide accessibility. “Making this important station complex accessible helps maximize our investment because it serves two subway lines as an express stop and benefits thousands of customers every day.”

The Sea Beach line portion of the complex underwent a major renovation and elevator installation project that also included improved platforms, overpasses, new stairways and handrails, canopy and column repairs, brighter lighting, new paint, rehabilitation of historic station entrances and turnstile areas, platform canopy waterproofing, and upgraded communications and safety features such as fire alarms. Accessibility enhancements include braille signage, signage for ADA paths and boarding area, and tactile platform edge strips. The entire complex, which first opened for service in 1915, is a critical transfer point between the  and  lines in southern Brooklyn, and elevators at the station complex will provide an access point for riders with limited mobility or those with luggage or strollers who transfer between NYC Transit’s accessible buses and two subway lines along this corridor.

With the installation of the four new elevators, the station complex is fully ADA accessible from street level for both the 62 St  and New Utrecht Av  portions of the complex. Other accessibility features include compliant platform edges, wheelchair-height station booth access and powered gates.

All stations along the Sea Beach line reopened for service in both directions earlier this summer. Other recent accessibility projects completed or in progress in Brooklyn include a major intermodal station improvement project at Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy , 8 Av , Greenpoint Av , 86 St , Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum , Bedford Av , 59 St  and 95 St .

In May 2018, President Byford unveiled the Fast Forward Plan to establish a roadmap for the modernization of the subway, bus and paratransit networks. It proposes to add, in the span of five years, enough new elevators to ensure that all subway riders will not be more than two stops away from an accessible station.

The MTA has invested nearly $5 billion to make subway stations accessible, including $1.4 billion in the 2015-19 capital program. That capital program includes an additional $479 million to replace 42 existing elevators and 27 escalators.

Congressmember Jerrold Nadler said: “The subway is a lifeline for New Yorkers to get to work, school or doctor appointments. Throughout my years of public service, I have been a vocal advocate for accessible subway stations.  Inaccessible subway stations have unfortunately been a particular problem in southern Brooklyn.  That is why today’s announcement by the MTA of the installation new elevators at the New Utrecht Av/62 St  station complex is such welcome news.  The New Utrecht Av/62 St  station complex is extremely busy and a major transfer hub in southern Brooklyn, these new elevators will provide the accessibility that is so needed for our seniors and customers with disabilities.”

Senator Simcha Felder said: "People with disabilities, families with young children and seniors rely on elevators to use our subway system. Limited access has marginalized these New Yorkers. I am pleased that after years of advocacy, working together with the MTA, this day has finally come."

Senator Andrew Gounardes said: "I am glad to hear that four elevators will open on Thursday at 62nd and New Utrecht, ensuring that this station is accessible to all New Yorkers. No person should ever be denied access to our mass transit system, which is why I introduced legislation to codify Fast Forward goals to ensure that we work toward making our transit system fully accessible. We must keep working until this goal is met."

Assemblymember Peter Abbate Jr. said: “I am pleased that the MTA heard the voices of our community and has installed four much-needed elevators at the New Utrecht Av/62 St stop on the  and  subway lines. These new elevators will assist passengers who have found it difficult to navigate the staircases at this highly utilized stop.”

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said: “Public transit must serve all New Yorkers, including people with disabilities, who live in poverty at more than twice the rate than people without disabilities. I am glad to see that the MTA is adding accessibility features to the New Utrecht Av station, including four new elevators. I hope that we can rapidly expand accessibility to other stations throughout the borough in the coming years, and I believe we should also offer affordable alternatives to New Yorkers with disabilities, such as expanding the Fair Fares program to Access-A-Ride.”

City Council Member Carlos Menchaca said: “These upgrades will go a long way to making our subways accessible to everyone, and I commend the MTA on completing these upgrades before the end of the summer. Borough Park residents, and New Yorkers generally, will benefit greatly from these upgrades and I look forward to expanded access to all stations one day.”