MTA Announces Two Modern Elevators Open at Parkchester Subway Station

Project Part of ADA Bundle Four which Includes Upgrades at Stations in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx

See Video of the News Conference

See Photos and Video of Station Renovations

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced station upgrades and the opening of two modernized elevators at the Parkchester subway station in the Bronx. In addition to the elevators and two new staircases, crews made accessibility improvements and system upgrades.

"Parkchester is the first elevator we've opened in 2026, and it won't be the last," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "The MTA is passionate about the fact that everybody needs to be able to take advantage of our subway system. It's the best way to get around and it's one of the few things that actually makes New York affordable."

"This station is a hub for bus activity all across the Bronx and connections to Queens and Westchester, so it's really important that it's accessible for thousands of daily riders," said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. "We have dozens of projects like this one in construction across the system, and we're committed to completing them faster, better and cheaper."

"Delivering safe and reliable trips to riders is at the heart of everything New York City Transit does and ensuring riders have access to those trips in their neighborhoods is key to delivering on that promise," said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. "I'm thrilled that everyone in this Parkchester community, whether they be a rider with a disability, a caregiver with a stroller, a traveler with a suitcase, or anyone else who needs a lift on any given day, now has one."

"These elevators and accessibility upgrades are about belonging. It's about who gets to have access to education, jobs and all that the city and this community have to offer," said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. "With every accessibility project we complete, the MTA is providing dignity for every subway rider who wants to get on these trains."

Two additional ADA-compliant staircases, an accessible fare array and a replacement escalator are expected to open at the station next month. The Parkchester 6 station serves more than 7,000 daily riders.

Approximately 95% of the $92 million project was federally funded with support from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The design-build team for the Parkchester station upgrades is a joint venture between J-Track & TC Electric. The designer is AECOM and the elevator manufacturer, installer and maintainer is Modern Elevators.

Parkchester is the third station to receive upgrades in ADA Package 4. This package encompasses station and accessibility upgrades at four subway stations throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx, following Bay Ridge-95 St and Northern Blvd . 137 St-City College is expected to be completed later this year.

"I am grateful for this investment in making our public transportation system more accessible for all riders," said State Senator Nathalia Fernandez. "We have been pushing for increased accessibility across our transit system for the better part of a decade, and I am proud to see that advocacy translates into tangible improvements like the new elevators at Parkchester. These changes mean independence, dignity, and mobility for thousands of Bronx riders every single day."

"These elevators are an example of what a community can do if we work together," said State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. "The Parkchester community is evolving and developing, and I want to thank my colleagues in government for their hard work in getting the improvements for this station."

"This is a joyous day and a long time coming for Parkchester residents and the Southeast Bronx," said Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N. "Our community has been fighting for ADA accessibility and elevator service at this station for 20 plus years. This neighborhood, which is home to a naturally occurring retirement community and many working families, was unable to access this transit lifeline for our area, which happens to be the third most transited train station in the Bronx. In 2019, when conversations about congestion pricing started to take shape, I worked with leadership to urge the prioritization of this project in the following MTA Capital Plan. I was honored to organize my constituents via petition, a rally, and an email writing campaign, so that the MTA leadership would finally help to make this dream a reality for so many in our region. I am so thankful for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the leadership of the MTA for planning and construction on this project, and most importantly, my constituents, for making their voices heard on this issue and others. This monumental occasion is a testament to the notion, 'when we organize, we win!'"

"While the MetroCard may have been left in 2025, our responsibility to riders has not. The ADA upgrades at the Parkchester station deliver long-overdue accessibility for a community that has waited years for this to come," said Council Member Amanda Farías. "With new elevators and comprehensive station improvements, seniors, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and commuters in the nearby Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) community can now navigate this station with dignity, independence, and confidence. This is what meaningful public investment looks like-when infrastructure is built to serve people equitably. As we begin a new year, this fully accessible, renovated station stands as a clear commitment to transit equity and to delivering accessibility for riders across the Bronx and New York City."

"The opening of these modernized elevators at the Parkchester subway station is a meaningful step toward making our transit system more accessible and inclusive for commuters in our borough," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "These upgrades will make daily travel easier and more comfortable for older adults, residents with disabilities, families with strollers, and anyone living in our borough with mobility challenges. Thank you to the MTA for their continuous efforts to modernize our subway stations and enhance accessibility throughout the Bronx."