After significant construction work, the Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street subway station complex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has officially become fully accessible, thanks to the installation of six new elevators. This crucial upgrade for the station, serving both the G and L lines, ensures compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as announced by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Previously, navigating the Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street station presented considerable challenges for riders with mobility limitations. Access to the platforms was solely via staircases, compelling many individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility aids to seek out more distant accessible stations. The newly installed elevators at Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street address this long-standing issue, marking a significant improvement for inclusive public transportation in New York City.
street-level elevator at Metropolitan Avenue
Each station within the Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street complex now benefits from three new elevators. These include an elevator providing access from street level to the mezzanine, and two additional elevators connecting the mezzanine level to the respective subway platforms. This comprehensive elevator installation at Lorimer Street Metropolitan Avenue station ensures seamless transitions for all passengers, regardless of their mobility needs.
“Transforming our transit system into one that’s accessible for all remains a top priority for all of us in MTA leadership,” stated MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “Opening these two accessible stations is a huge step forward for subway access for Brooklynites and all New Yorkers, and marking this milestone of more than 150 accessible stations bring us one step closer to achieving an accessible system.” The addition of Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street to the list of accessible stations underscores the MTA’s commitment to creating a more equitable transit network.
MTA Chief Accessibility Officer testing new elevator at Lorimer Street Metropolitan Avenue station
Beyond the elevators themselves, the Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street station has received several other ADA-compliant enhancements. New accessible boarding areas and tactile warning strips have been implemented on the platforms to improve safety and navigation for visually impaired riders. Furthermore, ADA-compliant fare gates have been installed at the station entrances, streamlining entry for wheelchair users and others with mobility devices. To further improve passenger flow within this busy transfer point, the MTA has also added eight new staircases and renovated existing street-level stairs at Lorimer Street to meet ADA standards.
“Making Metropolitan Av-Lorimer St accessible is a major win for Brooklyn customers, bringing not just the benefits of new elevators but also new stairwells to improve customer flow in a critical transfer station,” commented New York City Transit President Richard Davey. The improvements at Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street are expected to significantly enhance the commuting experience for a large number of riders.
The Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street station upgrade also incorporates aesthetic improvements. Cracked tiles have been repaired, and new signage has been installed throughout the station. Adding an artistic touch, local artists Jackie Chang and Chloë Bass have contributed new tile mosaics, enriching the visual appeal of the Metropolitan Avenue mezzanine and the Lorimer Street entryway, respectively.
This project at Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street represents the final phase of accessibility upgrades at eight stations funded by a Federal Transit Administration grant. Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development, highlighted the project as “the completion of Construction & Development’s first Design-Build ADA package,” emphasizing the MTA’s adoption of innovative contracting methods. The Design-Build approach, which consolidates design and construction under a single contract, aims to expedite project delivery and reduce costs.
new accessible fare gate at Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street station
While the Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street project experienced minor delays and some community concerns regarding construction impacts, its completion marks a significant step forward in the MTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility across the subway system. With the addition of Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer Street, the number of ADA-accessible subway stations in the five boroughs now totals 151, a substantial increase from 131 in 2021. This progress, including recent elevator openings at other stations like 7th Avenue in Park Slope, demonstrates a continued commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible public transportation network for all New Yorkers.
