City Planning and MTA Propose Zoning Change to Promote Accessibility in Transit Stations

Currently, just over a quarter of subway stations in New York City are accessible to people with ambulatory disabilities, but a new proposed zoning change seeks to ensure that future developments set aside space to make these stations accessible. A collaboration between the Department of City Planning (DCP) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) called Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility, the city-wide zoning text amendment would help to bring more stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and would make life easier for those with disabilities, older adults, parents with children in strollers, and those with temporary injuries.

The proposal includes two strategies to improve the accessibility of stations. First, developers building projects adjacent to subway or rail stations would be required to provide the MTA with an easement to build elevators and other station improvements. Second, the proposal would provide a suite of zoning incentives for developers in high-density areas in exchange for transit and accessibility improvements in stations.

The City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal this Wednesday, June 23 at 10:00am. For more information on the CPC and to testify or watch the public hearing, visit the CPC’s website here. To learn more about Zoning for Accessibility, visit DCP’s project page here.

Photo credit: NYC Department of City Planning