50 St Station Accessibility Upgrades Funded Through ZFA Program
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of m01229 via Wikimedia Commons
NEW YORK CITY - 50 St 1 Train Station upgrades will be funded through the Zoning for Accessibility program.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the station will receive accessibility upgrades with funding from the Zoning for Accessibility program, marking the fifth project awarded through the program since it was established. The program was adopted in 2021 by the City Council. Recently, RT&S reported that Nevins Station would receive upgrades due to funding made available by this program. The program allows developers to improve access to transit in exchange for an increase in their building’s density.
Extell Development Company agreed to fund and build the following upgrades as part of the agreement. Crews will build two new sidewalk-to-platform elevators at the northbound and southbound platforms. A sidewalk stair entrance and fare control area will also be built on Broadway south of 52nd Street. Additionally, crews will complete structural rehab work at the southern corners of Broadway and 50th Street. Work is expected to start in April 2027 and complete by October 2028.
“Zoning for Accessibility creates wins across the board: better access for riders, smarter use of public dollars, and a straightforward path for developers to increase housing. . . The 50 St project will close a major accessibility gap on the 1 line and improve circulation at a busy Midtown station—all at no cost to taxpayers,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.
“Zoning for Accessibility is transforming how we deliver accessibility upgrades, allowing us to make more stations accessible faster than ever before. . . It’s a smarter, more efficient approach to building the modern, inclusive transit system New Yorkers deserve,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo.
“Extell is pleased to partner with the MTA to deliver these much-needed accessibility improvements. This collaboration demonstrates the value of public-private partnerships to deliver meaningful infrastructure upgrades more quickly and cost-effectively,” said Eli Kopciel, Senior Vice President, Development & Commercial Leasing at Extell Development Company. “We thank the Department of City Planning for advancing this project in connection with the Zoning for Accessibility program, and look forward to working with the MTA to bring these improvements to fruition, while advancing our development at 871 Seventh Avenue.”
“One station at a time, Zoning for Accessibility is helping deliver transit accessibility upgrades New Yorkers need — including here at 50th Street in Manhattan,” said Sideya Sherman, Director of the Department of City Planning. “By leveraging private development to fund new elevators and a wider station entrance, this program is turning smart planning policy into lasting public benefits for riders and the city as a whole.”
