The Feds sued the MTA and NYC Transit Authority on Tuesday for renovating a Bronx subway station without making it accessible to the disabled. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office joined a lawsuit from the Bronx Independent Living Services, backing its complaint that the Middletown Rd. station on the No. 6 line lacked elevators after it was closed for an expensive renovation.
“There is no justification for public entities to ignore the requirements of the (Americans With Disabilities Act) 28 years after its passage,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said. “The subway system is a vital part of New York City’s transportation system, and when a subway station undergoes a complete renovation, MTA and NYCTA must comply with its obligations to make such stations accessible to the maximum extent feasible.”
The station was closed between October 2013 and May 2014, but before the work started, the Federal Transit Administration — which had allocated $21 million for the work — told the MTA about its obligations under the landmark law. NYC Transit officials told federal transit officials that adding an elevator at the site was not feasible, and would cost more than 20% of the total repair costs.
The FTA disagreed.