New Accessible Entrance Opens At Court Square Subway Station

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — A new, accessible entrance to the Court Square-23rd Street E/M subway station's Manhattan-bound platform has opened, the MTA announced Tuesday.

The entrance — built by the developer of the residential skyscraper above it — includes a widened staircase and new elevator, ramp, wheelchair access gate, turnstiles and platform enhancements.

"This is a great example of how the MTA is harnessing the private sector to assist in the rollout of full systemwide accessibility,” said Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA's chief accessibility officer. “I like this a lot. I want to see more projects like this.”

The upgraded entrance is the work of the development group behind Skyline Tower, a 67-story luxury condominium tower above the subway station on 44th Drive.

As of 2018, the cost of constructing the subway entrance was pegged at $16 million.

"The Court Square neighborhood will greatly benefit from the newly-accessible subway station, and future Skyline Tower residents will enjoy even easier access to and from Manhattan,” said Louis Yu, project general manager at Risland US Holdings LLC, one of the developers.

Another developer-built elevator will eventually link the Manhattan-bound platform to the rest of the Court Square station complex, where the 7 and G trains stop, according to the MTA.

Plans to make the Queens-bound platform accessible are in the MTA's 2020-2024 capital plan.