SEE: Brownsville Gets Its 1st Accessible Subway Station At Livonia Ave

BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN — Straphangers in Brownsville finally have an accessible subway station in the neighborhood.

New elevators open this week at the Livonia Avenue L station are the first in the Ocean Hill and Brownsville area, according to the MTA.

The elevators — part of a $5 billion capital plan to make stations across the five boroughs more accessible — mean many neighbors will get to use the elevated station on the Brownsville and East New York border for the first time, according to local officials..

“Prior to the elevators, many of our mobility impaired residents, seniors and parents with strollers were unable to access this elevated station," Community Board 16 Manager Viola Greene-Walker said. “Community Board 16 is elated that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has completed the much needed Livonia Avenue station ADA project."

The Livonia Avenue upgrades included the elevators, new accessible boarding areas, a passageway, enhanced lighting, new stairs to the mezzanine and an update to the ADA farecard system, officials said.

Before Livonia Avenue, the closest accessible station on the L line for Brownsville neighbors was the Wilson Avenue station in Bushwick. The Euclid Avenue A/C station is the only other accessible station within all of Brownsville and East New York.

Brownsville's Junius Street station on the 3 line will be next to get accessible upgrades under the MTA's capital plan, which is slated to end in 2024.

Those upgrades will include adding an accessible free transfer between Livonia Avenue and Junius Street, officials said. Officials expect a contractor to be chosen for the work later this year.

Check out some photos of the Livonia Avenue elevators here, courtesy of Marc A. Hermann and the MTA: