RULING: ELEVATORS MUST BE PART OF NYC MTA STATION UPGRADES

A U.S. district judge ruled on March 5 that elevators must be part of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway station renovations in New York City (NYC) to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, various news outlets, including Reuters, report. The ruling was the result of a lawsuit disability-rights groups filed against the MTA over not including an elevator in the US$27-million renovation of the Middletown Road Station in the Bronx. The federal government later joined that lawsuit. A Bronx disability advocacy group said the ruling was a major victory for all New Yorkers who need elevators to access the subway, and a U.S. attorney said the ruling will apply to all future station renovations. Fewer than 25% of NYC subway stations have elevators, according to the nonprofit Disability Rights Advocates. MTA President Andy Byford has said accessibility is a top priority.