AP PHOTO
Tens of thousands of people packed descended upon the Flushing Meadows section of Queens last night for the home opener of the New York Mets and more significantly to see the team's new home - Citi Field, but that wasn't the only new thing that many fans saw.
The Mets-Willets Point subway station on the 7 underwent a $15 million renovation at improving station appearance while also introducing accessible features. A new paint job, non-slip flooring on stairways, mew railings, tactile strips at thr edge of the platform and perhaps most significantly ramps that for the first time allow passengers in wheelchairs to take the train to the game are just some of the improvements straphangers saw.
"It was great to see such a beautiful subway station leading into such a wonderful new stadium," said Kate Johnson, who took the subway to the game from her midtown Manhattan office. "I'm glad to see that they re-did the subway station to match the new station."
But transit officials said that they merely "freshened up" the old station.
"While this is not a station rehabilitation, we have taken the opportunity to freshen the station, add some important ADA features and work cooperatively with the New York City Parks Department to improve access," said NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts, Jr. "With the changes, we've made taking the train to the game an even smarter, environmentally sustainable alternative to driving."
And while the parking lot appeared full, many opted for the train.
One passenger in a wheelchair said that he is a Mets fan, but hasn't gone in years, becaause he had no way to get there, while another said that after reading of the ramps in the newspaper, she took the train to the game, instead of relying on her friend to drive. "It was great," she said. "I was able to go independently."
But there were criticisms and even a protest organized by the MS Society of New York. They asserted that it was unfair that only one side was made accessible, so that going back they had to get back on an eastbound train, go one stop to the last station then wait for the train to turn around, adding about ten minutes to their trip. Those protesting called it "separate and unequal", but several disability advocates defended the transit authority.
"I have given up on going to Mets games, largely because of the difficulty in getting there," said Edith Prentiss, vice president of Disabled in Action of Metropolitan Neww York and a member of the New York City Transit Riders Council. Prentiss called the protest ridiculous. "It's not perfect, but it makes it possible for people in wheelchairs to get to [the] stadium. In a. way, they're better off in that they're already positioned and avoid the mob scene at the station when the game gets out."
The doors on the side of the platform where the ramp is will only open on game days and when there are special events, 90 minutes before and 90 minutes after the game or event. Upon hearing of this, Prentiss joked, "I guess people in wheelchairs won't be able to run the bases before the game.
Transit officials point out that despite the severe financial crunch the agency is facing, they spent $4 million on accessibility improvements that were not required by law. An Access-A-Ride bus stop has also been added to the stadium to ensure that those people who are unable to use the subway can get there and depart safely. The Willets Point Long Island Rialroad station across the street is not yet accessible, although MTA sources say that is coming soon.
Passengers with disabilities attending Thursday's home opener or any other game at the new Yankee Stadium will have multiple options, with B, D and 4 trains stopping at the fully accessible subway station and a new, fully accessible MetroNorth Railroad Station scheduled to open in May.
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