On May 1, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the completion of accessibility upgrades at the Harlem-148 Street 3 Station.

A new six-foot-wide ADA-compliant ramp with guardrails and handrails has been installed that runs from the street to the platform, which provides a lower-cost accessibility solution for customers, according to an agency release. Project crews also installed an eight-foot-wide staircase as an additional path from street to platform to “improve the flow of customers entering and exiting the station.”

“In recent years, the MTA has dramatically accelerated work to make our subway system ADA accessible,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Since 2020, we’ve upgraded 57 stations to fully accessible status, and right now another 40 stations are under construction, with 60 stations coming as part of the current MTA Capital Plan.”

MTA also found a way to deliver full accessibility that’s useful for riders and benefits the agency’s budget.

“It’s a perfect example of how the MTA is expanding accessibility better, faster, and cheaper,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “By installing a ramp where it makes sense over what elevators would have cost, we saved $30 million on this project, and that’s dollars that go into making other stations ADA accessible.”

Beyond Accessibility Enhancements at Harlem Station

Because every station in the MTA system is built differently, ramps aren’t always feasible, but where they fit, they are significantly cheaper to build and require less maintenance than elevators. The design is part of an ongoing effort by MTA C&D to expand accessibility while reducing costs, contributing to the more than $4 billion saved since the creation of MTA C&D in 2020.

“All Harlem residents and visitors, especially those with mobility devices, luggage, and strollers, will forever enjoy guaranteed access to this station thanks to this newly installed ramp,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo.

In addition to accessibility upgrades, the project includes significant station upgrades designed to enhance customer experience, including brighter, energy-efficient LED lighting above and below the ramp, a new Automated Fare Control gate, a new public announcement system and a new customer information screen. Upgrades also include a new CCTV system along with an expanded fire alarm system.

Art is another element of the upgrades at the Harlem-148 Street 3 station. MTA Arts & Design announced the installation of Harlem Reflections, a new permanent artwork by artist Michael A. Cummings. Comprising 36 intricately designed stainless-steel panels installed within the railing of the new ramp, the work traces the layered histories, communities, and natural landscapes that have shaped Harlem and Manhattan.