Advocates demand accessible transit as MTA delays elevator projects

Advocates for congestion pricing and accessibility have united in demanding immediate action to improve access at subway stations across New York City. With projects to enhance accessibility stalled at 23 stations, disabled commuters are growing increasingly frustrated.

“There’s so little accessible elevators out there, and it’s just hard for us,” said Elizabeth Valdez, a subway rider who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Valdez’s words highlight a broader issue faced by many: navigating the city’s subway system is often an uphill battle for those with disabilities.

The rally, organized by groups like the Riders Alliance and disability advocates, comes after Governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely paused the congestion pricing program — a potential lifeline for funding these essential upgrades. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) cited the funding freeze as the primary reason for delaying necessary improvements, leaving disabled commuters in a lurch.

“Disabled people, we live everywhere, and we go everywhere, and we need public transit as much as if not more than other folks,” said Sasha Blair-Goldensohn, another wheelchair user and outspoken advocate.

For many, the reality of navigating an already congested and often unreliable transit system is exacerbated by the lack of basic accommodations. Valdez shared her own challenges, explaining that she has to meticulously plan her routes, only to be faced with unexpected obstacles when elevators are out of service. “We have to actually plan our routes for connection from one train to another, and then we’ll get to a station, that train might not be working, so we might have to get back on the train, get off on the next accessible stop,” she explained.

It’s not just disabled riders voicing concerns. Senior citizens and parents with strollers also see the benefits of improving subway accessibility. “I’m 74 years old now, and so I mean there could come a time where I’ll need that, and I see people who certainly could use it, and I think it’s a shame that they can’t,” said Tom Baiz, a concerned commuter.

Jess Edwards, a mother navigating the subway with her young son, echoed those sentiments. “It’s really difficult to get around, especially when we have our stroller. We don’t today, and so I am carrying all my bags and stuff, because it’s just too difficult to lug up and down the stairs,” Edwards said.

Blair-Goldensohn emphasized that these projects benefit all New Yorkers, not just those with disabilities: “We all get older, we’re all going to have a disability at some point.”

The pressure on Governor Hochul to restart congestion pricing has been mounting. A lawsuit filed by the Riders Alliance challenging the pause is set to be heard in State Supreme Court on September 27. Hochul has hinted that she may reconsider if the $15 toll for drivers, which is central to the plan, is reduced.

For now, the clock is ticking, and New York’s disabled community continues to wait for a transit system that works for everyone.