On Monday, December 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 15 grants in nine states totaling approximately $686 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help make it easier for people with disabilities to get on board at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest rail transit systems. The funding will help agencies upgrade the accessibility of transit rail stations so everyone, including those who use wheelchairs – can reliably access the rail systems serving their communities.
FTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) is a competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that aims to improve America’s oldest transit systems nationwide so they are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Funding through ASAP ensures those relying on rail systems can use them with the same ease and reliability as any other user to get to work, school, community services, and visit with friends and family.
“ASAP, the first federal program to help communities make old rail stations and subway stops accessible to people with disabilities, reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority to promote equity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we will make great strides toward our goal of helping transit agencies retrofit rail stations so people who need access to an elevator, ramp, or other improvements can safely and reliably get where they need to go in their communities.”
Inaccessibility is a significant hurdle for riders using rail systems built before 1990, known as legacy systems. Over 900 transit legacy stations are not fully accessible today. ASAP provides support for transit agencies to repair, improve, modify, retrofit, or relocate station elements or facilities for passenger use.
“Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, great strides have been made in improving accessibility, but there is still a lot of work to do,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This includes modernizing rail systems in some of our most transit-oriented cities, and much of the work needed to make them accessible is very expensive. We want to ensure people with disabilities and others who need extra assistance are able to use transit systems with the same ease and reliability as any other user.”
Some of the selected ASAP projects include:
- The Chicago Transit Authority will receive $118.5 million to modernize the Irving Park, Belmont and Pulaski stations to make them fully ADA-accessible, allowing safe and convenient travel. Built more than 50 years ago, the stations will be modernized with elevators, ramp upgrades, improved station signage and general station enhancements.
- Metra commuter rail will receive $66.6 million in two grants:
$37.6 million to improve the 59th/60th Street Station on the Metra Electric line to improve accessibility and accommodate new riders from the University of Chicago expansion. Improvements will include a reconstruction of the existing street-level entrances and station platform enhancements.
$29 million to improve the 95th Street-Chicago State University station to make it fully accessible. Improvements to the station, built in the 1920s, will include installing elevators, reconstructing the platform, adding a pedestrian tunnel and pathways, and replacing audio and visual communication displays.
- The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $254.4 million to make three subway stations (Myrtle Avenue, Avenue I, and Norwood Avenue) in Brooklyn and one subway station (Burnside Avenue) in the Bronx fully ADA-accessible, allowing safe and convenient travel to and through the stations. The project will include installing elevators, modifying platforms to reduce gaps and install tactile edge warning strips, and update fare gates, stairs, and handrails.
Projects were selected for funding based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the program and provides $1.75 billion in funding through 2026. In response to the Notice of Funding of Opportunity, FTA received $905 million in funding requests. As a result of this demand, FTA is awarding both the FY 2022 and 2023 competitive grant funding.
