Stations in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and The Bronx to Undergo Repairs and Cleaning to Improve Station Environments
‘Re-NEW-Vation’ Work Completed at 121 St Subway Station Over Weekend
View Before and After Photos of Re-NEW-Vated 121 St Station
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced 14 additional subway stations will receive aesthetic and functional upgrades as part of New York City Transit (NYCT)’s Station Re-NEW-Vation Program. The program utilizes planned weekend service outages to perform upgrades, repairs, and enhanced cleaning in stations within a 55-hour window, providing customers with overhauled stations when service interruptions end on Mondays. The Station Re-NEW-Vation Program is one of the major initiatives in New York City Transit’s Faster, Cleaner and Safer plan to improve the subway customer experience. NYCT has already enhanced 37 stations to date, including E 143 St - St Mary’s St , Castle Hill Av and Buhre Av in the Bronx, and plans to complete 50 “re-NEW-vations” by the end of 2023.
"Providing faster, cleaner, and safer service to improve customer satisfaction is our North Star at New York City Transit, and the expansion of the Station Re-NEW-Vation Program delivers on that mission," said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. "Customers told us that they want cleaner, more inviting station environments, and we listened. These 14 additional stations will fulfill our pledge to re-NEW-vate 50 stations by the end of 2023, as we leverage planned outages at stations to bring visible, tangible improvements to the customer experience."
Upcoming stations to receive upgrades include:
- Lexington Av/59 St
- 18 Av
- 145 St
- Marcy Av
- 157 St
- Avenue I
- Sutter Av
- Spring St
- Canarsie – Rockaway Parkway
- Nereid Av
- Atlantic Av
- 7 Av
- Junction Blvd
- Hoyt-Schermerhorn
This weekend crews completed the 37th “Re-NEW-vation" with restorative work undertaken at the 121 St subway station in Richmond Hill, Queens. Transit employees installed new LED fixtures to brighten darkened areas, repaired concrete tripping hazards, cleaned service and emergency lighting, remediated water damage, and scrubbed and repainted station surfaces. The station uplift also included refurbishment of transit employee facilities within the station as customers will now be able to enjoy a cleaner, brighter and revitalized 121 St station.
"I am pleased to see the MTA’s investment in the New York City Transit system and in our communities with the revitalization of numerous subway stations, including the 121st Subway Station," said Representative Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05). "The people of Southeast Queens rely on public transit for their daily commute and should be able to use facilities that are clean, bright, and reliable at all times. These projects are essential to ensuring that our transportation systems continue to service our community effectively and safely. I look forward to seeing the restorative work at 121st Street and in stations across our city."
“I support the MTA’s efforts to make public transportation cleaner, comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing for the many New Yorkers who rely on our trains to travel everywhere from work and school to weekend trips to the beach and sporting events,” said Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. “Everyone wants to feel at ease while getting to their destination. The new cleaner stations with their improved lighting and other amenities will be a welcome different environment for commuters. I am especially looking forward to seeing these changes right in my own district at the 121st Street Station on the Line.”
"Brooklynites deserve efficient, safe, and comfortable commutes to their destinations on our subways,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m grateful that MTA will be taking care of three of our borough's stations that Brooklynites use every day to create a cleaner and more pleasant ride for our residents. Thank you to MTA for all your hard work in bringing Re-NEW-vation to our borough."
“In their continued commitment to Bronx commuters accessing mass transit, we are pleased and delighted over New York City Transit’s announcement to expand re-NEW-vation to the Nereid Av station stop,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “With the successful completion of both the Pelham Bay Park and Zerega Avenue station stops earlier this year, this summer, thousands more across our borough will get to enjoy enhanced lighting, signage, repainting, grouting and more. I want to thank MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and his entire team for their commitment to beautifying our stations in the Bronx for our riders while ensuring they get to and from their destinations safely and efficiently.”
“New Yorkers are entitled to a safe, clean and welcoming trip whenever they use the subway — not just while on the train, but while navigating the stations too. Thank you to the MTA for giving the 121st Street train station a facelift this past weekend and for committing to do the same at the Junction Boulevard train station,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "I look forward to additional stations across the borough receiving these much-needed maintenance upgrades in the months to come, as we create inviting spaces for our neighbors while they go about their travels.”
The “re-New-Vation” program was initiated with a soft launch over the summer of 2022 on the line in the Bronx, including deep cleaning and renovating components of nine stations along that line, while stations were closed for state of good repair work underway in tunnels. Cleanliness is one of the top five attributes customers cite in surveys that would improve satisfaction and encourage increased ridership. In response, NYC Transit developed this program integrating renovations into planned station outages.