181st Street Station In Wash Hts Gets Three New Elevators: Photos

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Three new elevators are up and running at the 181st "A" train station in Washington Heights.

The "high-capacity" elevators replaced those that had been in service for nearly 100 years, since the early 1930s.

The three new elevators have wider doors to make it easier for passengers to enter and exit quickly.

The construction of the now-operating elevators began on Aug. 3, 2019, and was completed on time, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The MTA has upped our management of construction, and projects like the elevators on 181st Street are coming in on time and on budget — even with all the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development, in a news release.

"But to maintain progress, we need the federal government to step up and provide funding to keep our transit system operating," Lieber added in the news release.

Washington Heights Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez visited the train station on Monday to check out the new elevators.

Happy to see these up and operating in Northern Manhattan. Now let’s make sure we make all subway stations fully accessible to all NYers! pic.twitter.com/Wyv6wDaXli
— Ydanis Rodriguez (@ydanis) August 3, 2020