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November 15th,  2005
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Michael A. Harris
Campaign Coordinator
Disabled Riders Coalition
Telephone: (914) 490-0518
E-mail: mharris@disabledriders.org 
Web: www.disabledriders.org   

*Additional Photographs Provided Upon Request*

Disabled Riders to TA: New Stillwell Avenue Subway Station a Nightmare
Coalition tells MTA that improvements at key Brooklyn subway station have made the lives of disabled riders all the more difficult

(NEW YORK CITY) November 15^th, 2005 – In testimony offered before the MTA’s Capital Construction Committee this morning, the Disabled Riders Coalition called recent “improvements” to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station obstructive and a waste of money… 

A joint press conference held last Wednesday by the Disabled Riders Coalition and Assemblywoman Adele Cohen was supposed to highlight delays in making the Stillwell Avenue - West End Line (D) Platform accessible to persons with disabilities, but instead revealed much more serious problems with the station.

The New York City Transit Authority in May completed a $296 million rehabilitation project aimed at improving access has actually made things worse, Michael Harris, campaign coordinator for the Coalition told the Committee.  "The TA took what was one elevator to the West End Line on a flat surface and made it into a long ramp that leads to an elevator (#701) to an overpass, which then leads to another elevator (#702) down to the platform.  It is a major inconvenience that poses the additional risk of an elevator breakdown, not to mention being a waste of capital funds", he said, noting that the elevators were in and out of service several times during the two hours he was there last week.  "The fact that I got stuck four times in two hours only serves to highlight the dangers of multiple elevators." At one point he went down to the West End Line Platform (D) to look around for just a minute, only to find that when he attempted to return, Elevator #702, the newest elevator in the entire system was out of service.  A TA employee told him that he would have to go back to Pacific Street and switch to a different line, then come back.  The employee also told him that the elevators had just become operational and broke down frequently.  Harris resisted and magically the elevator came back into service within fifteen minutes, however as New York 1 later documented the same elevator later went out of service for a longer period of time. 

Advisories posted in subway stations and on the TA's website back in August indicated that the platform would be accessible on September 6th, 2005.  When it wasn't the TA promised us September 22nd, that date too was not met, said Harris.  Later it was the end of September, but that too didn't happen.  "The TA kept coming up with excuse after excuse for the delays", said Harris.  The TA said in a statement that the platform was certified as accessible on October 16th, 2005.  However, disabled riders were led to believe that the station remained non-accessible.  As of 6AM on November 9^th, New York City Transit's Elevator Hotline indicated that Elevator # 313 - Stillwell Avenue, West End Line was "temporarily out of service".  There is just one problem; the New York City Transit Authority said in a statement that the elevator was decommissioned almost two years ago.  "It is bad enough that accessibility is six months behind schedule (the platform was supposed to be accessible in May), but for the TA to be providing disabled riders with false information is simply inexcusable," said Harris, pointing out that there is a concrete wall where Elevator #313 once stood.  "Disabled riders are being told that a station, which, when the elevators actually are working is accessible is not", said Harris, asking “does the MTA not know the difference between an elevator and a concrete wall?”  It took an inquiry from News 12 Brooklyn to get the hotline problem fixed.  “We shouldn’t have to hold a news conference to get the MTA to do the right thing”, said Harris.   

Upon touring the station last week, Harris and Cohen were appalled to find such major ignorance on the part of the TA of riders.  "I am deeply disturbed to discover that the MTA spent $296 million dollars to make a station less user friendly", said Cohen, "it is demonstrative of a blatant disregard for their customers."

 The MTA says that the circuitous route was the only way to maintain accessibility, but Harris and Cohen disagree.  "This station was accessible with a simple elevator, why couldn't they have maintained the existing layout?” asked Harris.   

Cohen also raised concerns over senior citizens in her district.  "This makes what was a simple train to board, into a trek", she said, "I worry that many in my community may give up on the station altogether."

 Harris agreed, saying, "Disabled riders want to ride the subways, but face numerous obstacles including subway gaps, broken elevators and a lack of accessible stations.  We should be progressing towards greater subway accessibility, but instead we are seeing regression."  Harris says that the TA has shown a consistent disregard for the needs of riders with disabilities.  "This incredibly confusing and circuitous route to get to the platform is just another example of the TA railroading riders with disabilities", he said.

 Harris demanded that the TA review the matter and explain why this was necessary. 

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MEDIA AVAILABILITY: IMMEDIATE 

DESCRIPTION OF SITUATION ON THE TA’S WEBSITE: Coney Island-Stillwell Av
Entrance on Stillwell Avenue between Surf and Mermaid Avenues.
Ramp to turnstile level mezzanine located at far right of street level concourse. At turnstile level, AutoGate is directly in front of ramp. The platforms are accessible by ramp from turnstile level. The platform is accessible via platform. For service, take ramp to elevator. Take elevator to overpass and take elevator to platform. Note: Ramp on platform is not accessible. (http://mta.info/mta/ada/stations.htm#brooklyn)