Bronx, NY

MTA New York City Transit 170 Street Station Accessibility Improvements

Client: Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit
Our Role: Design-Build Designers

Elevator exit inside a transit station, showing an accessible route to street level with clear signage and adjacent public artwork.

As part of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) program to increase subway station accessibility throughout New York City, the 170 Street Station on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx received three new elevators and two new staircases.

The welcomed additions create an accessible route between 170 Street, Jerome Avenue, and the elevated platform. Increased accessibility improves the travel experience for:

Customers with mobility-related disabilities.
Those who travel with strollers or luggage.
The thousands of riders who pass through the station daily.

The GFT team provided the following services for this $38.8 million design-build project:

Architecture.
Power.
Vertical transportation.
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and civil design services.
Fire protection.
Communications design services.

A new traction elevator at the corner of 170 Street and Jerome Avenue replaces a stairway, making access to the mezzanine Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, easier, and safer. Two new hydraulic elevators between the mezzanine and the northbound and southbound platforms provide ADA accessibility to those levels. The renovation of two preexisting stairways and the addition of two new stairways on 170 Street allows customers entering from the north to reach the station without having to cross the busy street.

As part of the mezzanine refurbishment, work included:

ADA glass shafts, entrances, and cab elevators.
New insulated metal panel systems.
Floor drains.
Agent booth deal tray.
Elevator machine rooms.
New doors with actuators.
Artwork integration.

At the platforms, modifications included:

ADA boarding areas.
Canopy extensions.
New stair landings with metal panel wall systems.
Windscreen panels.
Metal roof extensions.
Addition of elevator machine rooms.

Project deliverables included an early design package for demolition, utility relocation, and the new northbound and southbound stairs work to advance construction while maintaining station access and egress.

During the pandemic, the construction team took advantage of low ridership numbers to install the new elevators and reconstruct the access stairs in the busy mezzanine area. Under a fast-paced project timeline that included aggressive construction schedule milestones, the team completed the project ahead of schedule.

Key Features

New security cameras, lighting, and tactile strips enhance safety.
Canopy modifications accommodate the new elevators and stairs.
Platform and mezzanine repairs result in ADA compliance.

Outcomes

Makes complex scientific concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
The project was completed on budget and ahead of schedule, allowing MTA to keep costs down and perform more program upgrades more quickly.
The station’s upgrades contribute to a more reliable transit system.
Elevator access makes the station accessible to people with disabilities.
Repairs and renovations bring the station to a state of good repair.
The project supports MTA’s commitment to creating a more inclusive subway system.