MTA to start 86 St. Subway elevator in June

Construction at the R-train stop caused concern

April 27, 2018 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The elevator will be constructed next to the northeast entrance of the station. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

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MTA is finally starting a long-awaited elevator at the 86th Street R train station — but Bay Ridge officials remain unhappy with the location.

Construction is set to start in June on the handicap-accessible elevator on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue, next to a station entrance. But that corner is always jammed with long lines of pedestrians waiting for the S79 Select Bus, said Community Board 10 District Manager District Manager Josephine Beckmann.

“The board had many concerns about the location. We want the elevator. We’re not saying we don’t want the elevator. But we were hoping it would be built across the street,” Beckmann told the Brooklyn Eagle.

MTA said it could not accommodate local concerns because of an existing water main that could not be moved easily.

Bay Ridge has waited a long time for MTA to build this elevator. Beckmann said disabled advocates started pushing MTA more than 10 years ago.

The multimillion-dollar lift is actually two elevators. One will take passengers from the street to the mezzanine and the other will take them to the train platform after they pay the fare.

Beckmann said the board is also concerned about the impact the construction will have on S79 and B1 buses making right turns from Fourth Avenue onto 86th Street. “We’re wondering about the drivers’ visibility,” she said.

The board will meet next month with the city Department of Transportation representatives to discuss moving the S79 bus stop and installing additional traffic-calming features at the corner.

The 86th Street elevator is slated for completion in 2020.

MTA is also moving ahead with another elevator at the R train terminus at 95th Street. In addition, the agency is installing wheelchair ramps at the Eighth Avenue station on the N line.

The construction is meant to bring more subway stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will cost taxpayers $5 billion overall.

State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge), the state senate representative to the MTA Capital Review Board, said he did not know why there was a delay, but said he is pushing for an elevator at 77th Street station as well.

At press time, MTA did not return calls from the Eagle.