New York Construction Report staff writer
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have completed a major modernization and expansion project at the 68th St.-Hunter College Subway Station on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The project, which brings the century-old station into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Forte Construction, in a joint venture with Citnalta Construction Corp., led the multiyear overhaul and completed work on time and under budget despite the complex nature of the renovations. The teams worked alongside several other contractors, including Gannet Flemming, MFM Contracting Corp., and Mid-American Elevator, to install three ADA-compliant elevators, improve station accessibility, and upgrade critical infrastructure.
The $3.3 billion investment by the FTA in ADA improvements across the MTA network has been instrumental in completing this project, which was finished $21 million under budget.
“The completion of this project is a testament to the hard work of our contractors, engineers, and MTA staff,” said MTA Chairman Janno Lieber. “It ensures that the 68th St.-Hunter College Station, one of the busiest in our system, is now fully accessible to New Yorkers of all abilities.”
Located beneath Hunter College — the largest school in the City University of New York system with nearly 23,000 students enrolled — the 68th St.-Hunter College station serves more than 20,000 daily riders. The station is a vital stop on the 6 local train line along Lexington Avenue.
The renovation included the installation of three ADA-compliant elevators, improved lighting, way-finding signage, help points, CCTV cameras, tactile edge strips, and ADA-raised boarding areas on each platform. The project also involved a major utilities relocation, including the replacement of a century-old water main and the rerouting of a complex network of pipes and cables below the station.
Michael Culotta, Regional Administrator for FTA Region 2, joined the celebration on behalf of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This project is a game-changer for the community. These upgrades transform lives and change the way people access transit, making it more equitable and inclusive,” said Culotta, who has personal ties to the area as a former resident. “It’s an honor to be here today to witness this historic moment for the ADA.”
In addition to the elevators, the project doubled the number of entrances and exits at the station, rehabilitated six stairwells, and added two new street-to-platform staircases. These upgrades increase the station’s capacity and improve its overall flow of passengers.
