City officials presented plans at last week’s Community Board 10 meeting to update subway stations along the A line in South Queens, relieving area residents who said the stops have needed repairs for years.
Joseph Raskin and Linda Tonn, both of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, presented the city’s plans to revamp a number of subway stations along the A line at last Thursday’s meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in South Ozone Park.
“We are the bearers of very good news for you,” Raskin told board members.
Raskin and Tonn said the city will install an elevator that complies with federal disability regulations at the Lefferts Boulevard Station.
“We’re providing a three-stop elevator at this station,” Tonn said. “Someone in a wheelchair will now be able to go from the street level to the mezzanine and up to the platform to take their train.”
Braille signage will also be available in the elevator.
George Russo, a board member, said he was concerned about “undesirables” going into the elevator.
“The elevator will be all glass enclosed,” Tonn said. “You won’t have to get on if you see an undesirable. I don’t think there will be an issue with undesirables and safety.”
Board member Dave Quintana also noted that there can be a “god-awful” smell in some train station elevators.
“We do our own maintenance so hopefully there wouldn’t be a smell,” Tonn responded.
Additional repairs will be made at the Lefferts Boulevard station, including to the mezzanine’s walls, and additional lighting will be installed.
The city plans to make repairs to a number of stops along the Liberty Avenue line, including to the 111th, 104th, 88th and 80th Street stops. Work will also be conducted at the Rockaway Boulevard stop.
Bids for all of the work are expected to be awarded at the end of 2012.
“We need more, but any work will be welcome here,” CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton said at the meeting.
The city officials will conduct a wide range of repairs at the stations, including replacing guard rails, working on the deteriorating concrete platform surfaces, painting the stairwell canopies, replacing stairs, and putting in new drainage and mezzanine floors.
The MTA officials emphasized that they are looking for community input as to what kind of public art should go into the stations. The city’s Arts for Transit program will provide the different pieces, and “the public is welcome to help pick the art,” Tonn said.
Quintana agreed with Braton that while the upcoming repairs are more than welcome, additional efforts are needed in South Queens.
“It’s great that Lefferts is getting an elevator; it really needs one,” Quintana said. “I’d also like to see an elevator at the Rockaway Boulevard station.”
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