Like many of you, I was greatly distressed to learn that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would be making only cosmetic improvements to the 161st Street subway station. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act became Federal law nearly 30 years ago, the 161st Street station is among many which remain out of compliance with the law, and that is not acceptable.

I stand with the transportation and accessibility advocates who do not understand why, when after the 161st Street station has been closed for the next six months with dismal advance notice, it will reopen in the Fall while still one of the 77 percent of subway stations which are not fully accessible. It is well and good that the State of New York plans to spend $1 billion improving 33 subway stations across the city, but what good are WiFi and better lighting in this and other stations if everyone does not have equal access to the station?

We can do better, and we must do better. We must make publicly-funded mass transit accessible to all, not just those of us who are lucky enough to enjoy full mobility. MTA must live up to its’ responsibility to inform the public in advance of its’ plans to close this and other transit hubs. We must know in detail what MTA’s plans are to achieve full ADA compliance and how much those improvements will cost the public.