Metra, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) are a few examples of transit agencies doing their part to make rail stations more accessible.

The focus to improve rail accessibility dates back to 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities.

More than 30 years later, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established a new All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) to provide federal competitive grants to assist eligible entities in financing capital projects to upgrade the accessibility of rail fixed guideway public transportation systems for people with disabilities.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) then announced 15 grants in nine states to help make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility needs to access rail transit systems through upgrades, such as elevators. 

Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the approximately $686M in grants represents the first round of funding from the ASAP.

This indicates there is more focus on improving accessibility at rail stations.

The Spotlight on Metra

Chicago’s Metra is one of the many agencies actively working to improve accessibility.

The agency announced in April that its board approved a contract of up to $20 million to purchase video monitors that will be installed at every station to provide up-to-the-minute travel information to customers from its new train tracking and communications system.

Metra currently has 185 fully accessible stations, 13 partially accessible stations, and 44 inaccessible stations.

“One of the priorities of our capital program each year is to set aside funding for making the remaining inaccessible stations accessible,” said Michael Gillis, director,  communications, at Metra. “We did prioritize making the busiest stations accessible, and at this point, 96% of all systemwide boardings occur at accessible stations. We also made all our trains accessible. “

Many of the remaining inaccessible stations are along the Metra Electric Line, the sole line in the Metra system that is elevated above roadways along its entire route. Other inaccessible stations are similarly elevated, according to Gillis.

“It’s expensive to make elevated stations accessible, as it requires elevators or ramps or both, and due to the tight spaces available within the existing infrastructure,” Gillis said. “Other work to make stations accessible are audio and visual related, tactile strips, ADA parking (if parking is provided), etc.”

In Metra’s current five-year capital program or previous programs, station renovations and/or design work will make 20 more stations fully accessible, including 10 on the Metra Electric Line. 

Gillis added that the agency is building two new stations that will be fully ADA-accessible, and they should be open within two years.

“To fund this work, we rely on a mix of local, state, and federal subsidies. That funding is mostly allocated by formulas,” Gillis said. “We get a predetermined percentage of whatever funding is available from the RTA, Springfield, and Washington each year, but we did apply for and receive two significant federal discretionary grants to help fund a major part of the work at two stations.”

The grants to help fund the work came from the FTA’s ASAP:

• $37.6M to renovate and make ADA accessible to 59th-60th St./University of Chicago Station on the Metra Electric Line.

• $29M  to renovate and make ADA accessible to 95th St./Chicago State University Station on the Metra Electric Line.

Rail Accessibility Projects Being Funded

The FTA’s ASAP Is funding the following recent projects:

• Connecticut Department of Transportation: The agency will receive funding to retrofit three stations on its Metro-North Railroad Waterbury Branch commuter rail line, which provides service to New York City, to make them fully accessible to passengers with disabilities. 

• Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation: Metra, will receive funding to improve its 95th Street-Chicago State University station to make it fully ADA accessible, allowing safe and convenient travel.

• It will also receive funding to improve its 59th/60th Street Station on the Metra Electric line to improve accessibility and accommodate new riders from the University of Chicago expansion. 

• Chicago Transit Authority: The CTA will receive funding to modernize its Irving Park, Belmont, and Pulaski stations to make them fully ADA accessible and provide safe and convenient travel to all users. 

• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: The MBTA will receive funding to retrofit an 80-year-old light rail station with elevators, improved pathways, lighting features, and raised platforms for accessible boarding. 

• Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration: The agency will receive funding to develop plans and complete environmental work for the future renovation of the Martin Airport station on its Penn commuter rail line to make it safer and fully accessible.

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority: The New York MTA will receive funding to make its Myrtle Avenue, Norwood Avenue, and Avenue I subway stations in Brooklyn and the Burnside Avenue subway station in the Bronx fully ADA accessible, allowing safe and convenient travel to and through the stations.

Along with the City of Seattle, agencies receiving funding include the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, and New Jersey Transit Corporation.

Furthering Rail Accessibility Across the U.S.

New York MTA has committed to making the NYC Subway 95% accessible, and in February, it announced the 17 stations scheduled for contract award in 2023. 

The 2020-2024 Capital Program is the most ambitious accessibility program in MTA history, according to the agency, with $5.2B to make 67 stations accessible.

In May, the agency detailed a phased rollout of subway service enhancements, which are expected to begin in the summer. 

With the passage of the FY 2024 New York State Budget, the MTA will receive an additional $35M for subway service enhancements. These planned enhancements will start with the first phase in July 2023, with the fourth phase expected to be implemented in July 2024.

New York MTA recently announced crews have completed the renovation of the 21 St-Queensbridge F subway station.

With 13 station “re-NEW-vations” announced for Q2 2023, NYC Transit is on track to complete 34 stations by the end of June, with a goal of 50 re-NEW-vated stations by the end of 2023. So far in 2023, NYC Transit has completed 17 re-NEW-vations.

As construction continues at previously awarded stations, the New York MTA also projected that accessibility upgrades will open at 12 new stations in 2023.

Meanwhile, rail accessibility is improving in Chicago.

The CTA announced in February it will soon begin a renovation of the Racine Blue Line station, which includes the addition of an elevator and other improvements to make the station fully accessible. This is one of the projects to advance as part of the CTA’s ASAP.

The Chicago Transit Board approved the awarding of a contract not to exceed $75.4M to FH Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC, following a competitive procurement process.

The future of rail station improvements is bright in Chicago, as the CTA also announced that 29 rail stations will receive repairs and improvements in 2023 as part of its ongoing station improvement program Refresh & Renew, an initiative of the “Meeting the Moment” Action Plan.

From Seattle to Chicago to New York, agencies are receiving funding to improve rail stations and their projects are progressing in part to the focus on accessibility by both transit agencies and their local, state, and federal funding partners.

Take a Look: NYC Transit Station Agents Begin Assisting Riders Outside of Booths