10
BROOKLYN WEEKLY, OCTOBER 27, 2019
MTA pilots ‘accessablity lab’
at Jay Street station
BY BEN VERDE
Bigwigs at the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority unveiled
their latest strategies to
enhance subway accessibility
at a Downtown Brooklyn subway
station on Tuesday.
MTA officials tricked out the
Jay Street–MetroTech station
in America’s Downtown with
features designed to aide blind
straphangers find their train,
including maps with braille
guidelines and textured strips
that lead disabled commuters
from elevators to platforms,
along with apps providing audio
directions for the deaf.
The Transit Authority
will study whether the lowcost
amenities provide actual
benefi ts to the blind,
before deciding whether to
expand the program to additional
stations, according to
one transit guru.
“The beauty of this pilot is
the ability to collect real–
world feedback from riders
Advocates said they welcome the additions, but they want more
money put into elevator maintenance. Photo by Ben Verde
on whether changes work or
not — and to adjust accordingly,”
said Colin Wright, a
Senior Advocacy Associate
at non-profi t Transit Center.
The new features are
proving helpful to more than
just the blind, according
to one commuter, who said
that, while he sees just fi ne,
he found it easier to fi nd his
train nonetheless.
“Its defi nitely made it a lot easier,”
said George West, who
uses a walker to get around.
Aboubaca Kaba, who uses a
motorized wheelchair to get
around, agreed.
“It makes it easier,” he
said, while riding the elevator
at Jay Street on
Thursday. “I don’t have to
ask anyone where the elevator
is.”
WHERE CULTURE
TICKETS FROM
KINGSTHEATRE.COM
1027 FLATBUSH AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NY 11226
IS KING
NOVEMBER 8
NOVEMBER 16
NOVEMBER 17
NOVEMBER 23
COME WATCH THE WORLD SERIES AND ALL NFL FOOTBALL GAMES
/KINGSTHEATRE.COM