NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Disability groups, advocates and elected officials gathered on Sunday to celebrate the opening of an elevator at the 14th Street–Sixth Avenue subway station in Chelsea, and announce a forthcoming lawsuit that would push the city to resume work on 23 other accessibility projects.
It took six years—including legal action by the 504 Democratic Club, a group of disabled New Yorkers and the Center for Independence of the Disabled—but the elevator on the northeast corner of 14th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan is now open and providing access to the transit system to more New Yorkers.
“I can't even describe the amount of independence someone that may use a wheelchair, or may have crutches, or may use a cane, like myself who is blind, to travel and not have to worry about going down stairs,” executive director of CIDNY Dr. Sharon McLennon Wier told 1010 WINS.
Ibrahim Alavante, with the 504 Democratic Club, uses crutches to get around, and says access to this elevator gives people more freedom.
“Even with the Access-A-Ride, you got to do everything one day in advance,” Alavante told 1010 WINS. “Who knows what we're going to do from one day to the next. So this just brings more access to the city that we live and work and play in.”
McLennon Wier also pointed out that the elevator is a resource for more than the disabled community, including “people that have suitcases or moms or dads that have strollers,” and more.
But in addition to celebrating, the groups used Sunday as an opportunity to announce a forthcoming lawsuit against the the MTA and its “refusal to fund and make accessible the subway system,” citing directly the stoppage of 23 elevator projects as a result of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing.
“The governor's illegal decision to flout state law and pause congestion pricing jeopardizes the MTA’s ability to install elevators and make 23 other stations accessible citywide,” NYC Comptroller Brad Lander said. “I stand with CIDNY and the disability justice community in their demand to make the subway accessible by any means necessary, including legal action.”
With the majority of the subway system still inaccessible to all, McLennon Wier challenged people to consider that they may eventually need assisted access as well.
“People with disabilities, it’s a minority group that anybody can join at any time,” she said. “So I would say to anyone: ‘Just wait your turn. It may happen to you. And you would want all the supports and all the access just like everyone else wants.’”
The MTA did not immediately respond to 1010 WINS’ request for comment regarding the lawsuit.