Hakeem Jeffries Kick Off Brooklyn Subway Station Accessibility

On Monday, August 5, 2024, House Minority Leader and Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries joined MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber at the groundbreaking ceremony for a significant accessibility improvement project at the Classon Avenue station on the G line in Clinton Hill. The project is part of a larger initiative to make New York City’s subway system more accessible through an $850 million program, nearly $500 million of which comes from federal funding, including $360 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

The upgrades at Classon Avenue will feature enhanced passenger circulation, two new mezzanine-to-platform stairwells, and the creation of 3,500 square feet of new public mezzanine space. Jeffries highlighted the importance of the G train for the communities of Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, and Bedford-Stuyvesant, emphasizing the positive impact of making public transit more accessible for people with physical challenges and seniors.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber remarked, “In recent years, the MTA has been making dramatic gains toward full system accessibility. Investments in transit accessibility benefit all New Yorkers – seniors, shoppers, stroller-pushing parents, and people with disabilities – and we are deeply grateful to federal leaders like Senator Schumer and House Democratic Leader Jeffries for assuring the MTA captures its share of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to continue that unprecedented progress.”

Currently, only 30% of New York’s 472 subway stations are accessible, falling short compared to other U.S. and global cities. The MTA is mandated by a federal court to make 95% of stations accessible by 2055. However, further accessibility improvements are uncertain after Governor Kathy Hochul paused the congestion pricing plan in June, which was expected to generate revenue for additional upgrades.

The MTA is now revising its capital plan to focus on essential projects for maintaining subway, bus, and commuter train operations. Although Governor Hochul has promised to find alternative funding sources, no new progress has been announced.

At Classon Avenue, MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said that the accessibility improvements would complement ongoing signal modernization efforts on the G line, aiming to provide a more reliable experience for riders. “The G line has historically had fewer accessible stations than other lines, but progress is surely underway,” Crichlow noted.