MTA Reaches Settlement to Improve Subway Elevator Reliability

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has entered into a settlement agreement with disability advocates, effectively concluding a legal battle that began in 2017 over the reliability of subway station elevators. The deal, signed during a ceremony following the agency's monthly board meeting, mandates that the MTA maintain elevator availability at a rate of at least 95%.

At the time the original lawsuit was filed, only 112 of the system’s 472 stations featured elevators or ramps. While that number has since increased to 161, advocates continued to press for improvements, citing frequent, unpredictable outages that hindered transit for riders with mobility or sensory disabilities. MTA Chair Janno Lieber stated that current elevator availability typically ranges between 95% and 98%, and the new agreement formalizes this performance standard.

Beyond uptime requirements, the settlement introduces a new protocol for communication. The MTA will be required to provide advance public notification regarding elevator outages at accessible stations. This change aims to assist riders in planning their journeys, similar to systems currently utilized by other transit agencies like Chicago’s CTA. Sharon McLennon Wier, executive director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled and a plaintiff in the case, emphasized that the settlement serves the broader public interest by ensuring more reliable access to the city's primary transit network.

This agreement follows a separate 2022 settlement in which the MTA committed to making 95% of its stations accessible by 2055. While the subway system continues to undergo upgrades, the MTA reported that over 90% of stations on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are already fully accessible. The current settlement regarding subway elevators is now pending approval from a Manhattan federal judge.