UWS Politician Urges MTA To Postpone Station Closures

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal wrote a letter to MTA Chair Joe Lhota asking the transit authority to suspend any plans to close subway stations on the Upper West Side until the MTA conducts proper community outreach.

Rosenthal said she is "pleased" that the MTA is considering making improvements to the West 72nd, 86th and 110th subway stations on the B and C lines, but that the Upper West Side community was never properly engaged by the transit authority. The MTA unveiled its plan at a Community Board 7 transportation committee meeting earlier this month.

"Tens of thousands of New Yorkers flow through these stations each day, yet the MTA neglected to include the community in the planning process," Rosenthal wrote in her letter. "Had my constituents and other riders been invited to be involved in the process, as has been the case in other communities facing station closures or prolonged service changes, they would have provided valuable input as to their preferred approach to scheduling work on this project."

Rosenthal also raised frustrations with the MTA's plans not to increase service on alternative bus and train lines while the Upper West Side stations are closed for renovation work and that the plans do not allocate any money to make the three stations more accessible elderly, disable or mobility-impaired passengers.

The stations will close as part of the MTA's Enhanced Station Initiative to rehabilitate stations with aesthetic improvements and install new technology such as countdown clocks and LED illuminated handrails. Each station is expected to close for at least 6 months while work is being done. Work on the stations is expected to begin on May 7th (West 72nd Street), June 4th (West 86th Street) and April 9th (West 110th Street).

One station in Washington Heights will also be closed for the Enhanced Station Initiative work.

Read Rosenthal's full letter below:

Photo by Google Maps street view