New York City Transit opens rehabbed 53rd Street station

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) late last week opened its renovated 53rd Street R Line subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The station now features enhanced LED lighting, Wi-Fi connectivity, new digital displays, USB ports and countdown clocks to give real-time arrival information. Other upgrades include wayfinding floor tiles for the visually impaired, new handrails, stair treads, wall tiles and granite flooring.

Crews built new canopies at one pair of the station's entrances. The work was completed in less than six months, which was ahead of schedule, NYCT officials said in a press release.

The station was closed in late March to complete the work.

The renovation was completed under a design-build contract awarded to a Citnalta-Forte joint venture in November. The MTA is using the design-build method to renovate 32 other subway stations.