Queensboro Plaza Subway Adds Third Elevator Funded by Developer for 97,000 Riders at No Cost to Taxpayers

The MTA unveiled a new elevator on the north side of Queensboro Plaza subway station on April 10, completing a trio of elevators that now serve the busy Queens transit hub.

This latest addition, which opened on Thursday, joins two elevators installed on the station’s south side in December 2024. Together, these three elevators now provide better access for the 97,000 riders who use the station daily to catch the 7, N, and W trains.

What stands out about this project is its funding model. While the south side elevators cost the MTA $74 million, taxpayers didn’t pay a cent for this new north side elevator. Instead, Grubb Properties, the developer of the adjacent 25-01 Queens Plaza North building, funded and built it as part of the city’s Zoning for Accessibility program.

“This new ADA-accessible entrance marks an exciting milestone as the MTA’s first completed ZFA project,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, who heads the MTA’s construction and development.

Under this program, developers can build taller buildings if they improve transit accessibility nearby. The arrangement also requires Grubb Properties to maintain both the elevator and the new 10-foot-wide staircase at the north entrance.

The elevator features a larger cab specifically designed for riders using mobility devices, parents with strollers, and travelers with luggage. If problems arise, Grubb must respond within two hours and notify the MTA of any issues.

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MTA Chair Janno Lieber praised the project, saying: “Zoning for Accessibility has delivered real results for the 97,000 riders who pass through Queensboro Plaza every day—and best of all, at no cost to taxpayers.”

Local officials highlighted how these improvements help everyday New Yorkers.

“This newest elevator will ensure that our seniors, people with disabilities, and parents with young children have access to public transportation,” said Council Member Julie Won, who added, “As a mother with young children, I know how difficult it is to catch a train while carrying a stroller.”

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez expressed excitement about the reopened north entrance with its improved accessibility, while Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. noted these upgrades have been “badly needed to support such high ridership.”

The project is part of the MTA’s broader push for system-wide accessibility. The agency is investing nearly $6 billion in its 2020-2024 Capital Program to make 67 more stations ADA-accessible and upgrade elevators at 78 others.

For Long Island City, which continues to grow rapidly with new residents and businesses, these improvements couldn’t be more timely.

“With so much new development around Queens Plaza North and in Dutch Kills, it’s more important than ever to have reliable, accessible infrastructure,” said Laura Rothrock, Long Island City Partnership President.

Representative Nydia Velasquez summed up the impact: “Adding this new elevator and entrance makes a real difference—especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and parents with strollers. It’s a meaningful step toward a more accessible transit system.”

The success of this first completed ZFA project suggests more public-private partnerships could help speed up accessibility improvements across New York City’s subway system in the coming years.