Building an Inclusive City: Enhancing Accessibility in NYC's Transit System

New York City has long been known as a beacon for opportunity, and the lifeblood of that hustle and bustle is our transit system.

Since the first New York City subway car left the station nearly 120 years ago, our mass transit system has grown into one of the largest and busiest in the world, carrying New Yorkers and visitors alike to destinations across the city 24 hours a day.

The New York City subway system was originally designed during a time when the needs of mobility challenged riders were not considered. In stations that have yet to be renovated, navigating the often narrow and cumbersome station paths of travel during rush hour with a mobility aid such as a walker or wheelchair can be a daunting and sometimes impossible task.

A robust public transit system offers efficient, affordable, and safe connections to jobs, schools, hospitals, recreation, and other essential access points that are critical to a good quality of life. Over a century later, it is imperative that our crucial mass transit system is able to grow and adjust to meet our current and future needs.

According to a 2022 study from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 18.6 million Americans reported having travel-limiting disabilities and 14.3 percent of those respondents within working age lived in zero-vehicle households - “a significantly larger share, by 9.4 percentage points, than those without disabilities in the same age group.” Without reliable, accessible public transportation, those with mobility-limiting disabilities are left with scarce options to travel outside the home. 

According to the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management, increasing transportation accessibility can provide a number of benefits especially for disabled riders, such as increased economic and educational opportunities, reduced poverty rates, and improved health outcomes. An accessible subway stop may seem like a small detail but for a person with a walker, cane or wheelchair, it is a welcome sign indicating that this is not only a neighborhood in which they can live, but where they can also shop, attend school, and comfortably visit nearby family and friends. 

July 26, 1990, was a landmark day in the fight for equal rights for the disabled community as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted. This major civil rights law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, with the overarching aim of ensuring that citizens who face disability challenges are provided equitable opportunities throughout all facets of life.

A major component of the ADA mission is the effort to increase accessibility, especially in public transit. Infrastructure rehabilitation is paramount to this goal. Station rehabilitation and infrastructure enhancements promote increased safety, navigability, and passenger comfort. In some cases, subway stations that were formerly inaccessible are now viable service hubs for disabled riders, further broadening their potential commuting options.

When we prioritize these critical ADA upgrades, century-old transit stations get outfitted with the improvements necessary to safely navigate and board essential modes of transportation. That includes not only ADA-compliant elevators and escalators but also handrails, ramps, and widened stairways. These features provide reliable support and allow for increased maneuverability, especially for travelers who require the use of mobility devices and/or service animals.

Seniors, expectant mothers, parents pushing strollers, and those suffering from temporary disabilities also rely on these station enhancements for added safety. Installing new station platforms, upgrading existing paths of travel, ADA compliant bathrooms, enhanced audio and visual technology, braille and tactile signage, and improved LED lighting are all ways to advance the mission of increasing accessibility to provide more equitable opportunities for people living with mobility challenges. 

This July, we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the passage of the ADA and honor the invaluable contributions of the disabled community. We must remain focused on continuing to create an accessible New York where everyone has equal opportunity to pursue their aspirations and participate in all that our great city has to offer.