The New York subway might lead the nation in terms of reach and ridership, but it still lags behind other rail systems in the country on one critical point: access to people with special needs.
An op-ed calls on the New York MTA to use the time spent repairing the L Train in New York City to bring subway stations around Union Station—some of the most heavily used in the system—into compliance with the Americans With Disability Act (ADA).
"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority must not ignore this chance to improve accessibility," write Jennifer E. Falk, Chris Pangilinan, and Kate Slevin. The three authors of the op-ed are speaking for the Union Square Partnership, TransitCenter, and the Regional Plan Association, respectively.
The current plan for repairs to the L Train uring the shutdown falls well short of the op-ed's desired outcomes for improving ADA compliance:
The MTA’s shutdown proposal outlines enhancements to be made at the four stations located in the Union Square Partnership’s district, which covers Union Square and 14th Street between First and Sixth avenues. The First Avenue and Third Avenue stations will be closed for the duration of the work, while portions of the Union Square and Sixth Avenue stations will also be under construction to implement planned improvements. However, only one station—First Avenue—is slated to meet ADA mandates.
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