The drumbeat for better subway accessibility has gotten louder in the past few years as more and more people suffer from mobility difficulties due to a disability, increased age or other factors. Despite advocates vocalizing their frustrations surrounding the slow-paced progress for transit accessibility since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) first passed in 1990, the MTA has long maintained that difficulties with utilities add to the expense and complexity of installing elevators.
One proven way to mitigate costs for the MTA in some stations is to take advantage of new building construction adjacent to subway stations. Easements make it possible to make stations with very little sidewalk space more accessible, while utilities can create other challenges for construction.