Project Completion Marks First of Twelve New ADA Stations Slated for This Year
See Photos of Elevator
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced a newly installed elevator at the Court Square g station in Queens, a terminal station which serves approximately 59,000 riders on an average weekday, was placed in service this past weekend. The elevator connects customers from the already-accessible mezzanine to the island platform serving both Brooklyn-bound and arriving trains, making the station at Court Sq accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Court Square subway station complex is comprised of two other stations in addition to the Court Sq Station: one serving the line, which is fully accessible, and one serving the lines, which is accessible in the Manhattan-bound direction. In 2011, the station complex was expanded with a transfer linking all the lines. Later this year, the MTA will award a contract to make the remaining Forest Hills and Jamaica-bound direction accessible as well, as announced in February. Following the completion of that installation, the entire complex will be fully ADA-accessible.
“As the only subway line that doesn’t go through Manhattan, the line is a critical connection for residents and businesses in Queens and Brooklyn,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “The completion of this project is a gamechanger for customers who require the use of an elevator by providing a direct, accessible option for travel between these two boroughs.”
“Constructing a new elevator in a station as large and complex as Court Square required vigilant construction management and attention to detail in design,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “The opening of this station brings us one step closer to a fully accessible Court Square complex and serves as another example of the MTA’s dedication to meeting our commitment to accessibility improvements throughout the system.”
“This is great news for all our customers traveling with mobility devices, strollers, bicycles, and luggage who want to go directly between Brooklyn and 'the World's Borough,’” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer and Senior Advisor Quemuel Arroyo. “I am especially excited to open this station during Disability Pride Month, which the MTA has been celebrating with public events and other initiatives.”
The new elevator installed features an emergency two-way communication system which gives riders the ability to communicate with dispatchers in the event of an emergency via standard voice communications or visually by answering on-screen questions. This provides customers with impaired hearing an improved method of communicating. Additionally, the project included installation of two new ADA boarding areas, new signage, and security enhancements with a new fire alarm system and upgraded security system, which included installation of more cameras.
"This fully-ADA accessible g train station at Court Square is welcomed by all transit advocates in the district who have been fighting for more accessibility to our public transportation system," said State Assemblymember Juan Ardila. "I look forward to seeing more stations in our district become retrofitted to fulfill this same level of ADA compliance, so that we can achieve true transit equity for all members of the public."
“The opening of the train elevator at Court Square station is a major step forward for so many Queens residents who have long been looking for more subway stations to become ADA accessible,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “All New Yorkers, including those with disabilities, should be able to use our subway system. I look forward to continuing to work with the MTA to improve accessibility throughout our vitally important subways.”
Real-time elevator status information is available on the MTA website, the MYmta app and the Authority’s many social media channels. Customers can also sign up for text and email alerts at www.MYmtaalerts.com.