Avenue H subway station in Midwood is known for many things, including the notorious rocking chairs below the Victorian-style overhanging roof — but now, the station adds another notch to its belt, as disabled straphangers will finally have access to the platform via newly installed ramps.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials announced on July 15 that construction is complete on an access ramp at the northbound side of the Avenue H stop along the Q line following a $12.2 million project.
“The Avenue H Station is a perfect example of how ramps and thoughtful infrastructure can make for an accessible environment for all,” said Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA’s chief accessibility officer. “Our Brooklyn customers have the inclusive station they deserve as we continue to build a more equitable transit system.”
Instead of an elevator, the station was made accessible by a ramp from the street level, which brings customers to the station’s turnstiles. The project also created an underpass that allows for better accessibility to an existing ramp on the southbound side of the platform.
“Ramps don’t break,” said Victor Calise, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “Ramps are bridges — bridges to accessibility — and we need more and more of them.”
The New York City subway system is notoriously inaccessible for wheelchair users or otherwise mobility-challenged users, with only about 28 percent of the subway system in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The MTA has worked slowly to chip away at its lack of accessible stations, with a large budget of its capital plan dedicated towards accessibility upgrades. During the pandemic, the agency upgraded 13 stations to ADA compliance. The Avenue H ramp is the first accessibility upgrade completed during the MTA’S 2020-2024 capital plan.
