FTA awards millions in grants to make older rail stations fully accessible

The Federal Transit Administration yesterday announced it will issue 15 grants for rail station projects in nine states to help make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility needs to access some of the nation's oldest and busiest transit-rail systems.

The $686 million in grants represents the first round of funding from the new federal All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), which is designed to improve the accessibility of transit rail. The combined funding will help transit systems make upgrades to rail stations by adding such features as elevators. The funding comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

"Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, great strides have been made in improving accessibility, but there is still a lot of work to do," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "This includes modernizing rail systems in some of our most transit-oriented cities, and the ASAP program provides much-needed funding to address these overdue improvements."

Some of the selected ASAP projects include:
• The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $254 million for accessibility work at the Myrtle Avenue, Norwood Avenue and Avenue I subway stations in Brooklyn, and the Burnside Avenue subway station in the Bronx. The work will include installing elevators; updating platforms to reduce gaps; adding tactile platform edge warning strips; modifying fare gates and stairs; and improving handrails.
• The Chicago Transit Authority will receive more than $118 million to modernize the Irving Park, Belmont and Pulaski stations. Built more than 50 years ago, the stations will be upgraded with elevators, ramp upgrades, improved station signage and general station enhancements.
• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive $56 million to modernize the 11th Street subway station on the Market-Frankford Subway Line, and the Chinatown, Erie, Fairmount Upper Level, Fairmount Lower Level and Snyder stations on the Broad Street Subway Line. Work at the stations, which were built in the early 20th century, will include installing elevators, general station upgrades and new ramps.