MTA Guide to Accessible Transit
This publication is designed to assist you in using the MTA transit network – New York City Transit subways and buses, the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and the Staten Island Railway. It contains valuable information on accessible stations, the Reduced-Fare Program, the commuter rail and MetroCard Mail&Ride programs, and paratransit services, as well as useful travel tips. We hope it will help you increase your public transit mobility and ease your travel throughout the MTA network.
MTA buses in the city of New York are accessible to the disabled and users of wheelchairs. All buses are equipped with a wheelchair ramp and lowered floor or a mechanical lift. For MTA bus schedules and maps, CLICK HERE.
New York City has an extensive underground subway network, one of the largest in the world. There are a total of 468 MTA Subway stations across all boroughs of the city. Because the majority of stations were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act took effect in 1990, most stations are not wheelchair accessible. The MTA has a number of tools you can use to plan an accessible trip throughout their system, such as elevator status, and accessible travel guides. To see complete list of accessible stations in the MTA network click HERE.
The NYC Accessible Dispatch Program gives residents and visitors with disabilities greater access to green and yellow wheelchair accessible taxis. The program offers a service area that accommodates pick-ups and drop-offs in all five boroughs. To use the service, call 311 from within the five boroughs; call the dispatch center at 646-599-9999; text a request to the dispatch center at 646-400-0789; use Accessible Dispatch’s mobile app, WOW Taxi (available in iTunes and the Google Play store); or book online at ridecharge.com.
NYC Metropolitan transportation for people with disabilities. AAR operates 24/7, 365 days a year, throughout the five boroughs of NYC. A vehicle, specific to your needs, will pick you up and take you to your destination.
NYC Ferry provides New Yorkers a dependable and accessible way to commute and connect in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx along the East River. The state-of-the-art vessels offer comfortable conveniences including charging stations, Wi-Fi and concessions – and they’re the same price as a subway ride. All ferries are wheelchair accessible and service dogs are permitted.
New York Waterway Operates ferry routes to locations including Manhattan, New Jersey, Queens, and Yankee Stadium. Phone: 1-800-533-3779.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway provides the most modern aerial tramway in the world, running every 7-15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island. There is a wheelchair accessible elevator to reach the tram. For more information call 212-832-4555.
The Ferry operates between the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The trip is about 25 minutes long. The Ferry is free. Both terminals are equipped with escalators and elevators and operate within ADA guidelines. For further information, please call 212-839-3061, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, all other times please dial 311. You may also email your request and documentation to ferryaccessrequest@dot.nyc.gov. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.
Sea Streak and New York Fast Ferry
Operates ferry routes from Central New Jersey to Manhattan, from Atlantic Highlands and Conners, Highlands in Monmouth County, NJ to Pier 11 (Wall Street) in Downtown Manhattan and E. 35th St. in Midtown Manhattan and service from New Bedford, MA to Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven in Martha’s Vineyard. SeaStreak also provides shuttle service to the World Financial Center from Pier 11. Each ferry has an accessible entrance and restroom. Phone: 800-262-8743
The Metro-North Rail Road is the MTA’s second commuter rail network serving areas within New York and southwestern Connecticut. Metro-North service goes as far as New Haven, Connecticut. The network has 122 stations spread across five lines, the majority of which are wheelchair accessible. Three of the system’s lines originate from New York’s Grand Central Station, including the lines which terminate in Connecticut. For more information on the accessibility of Metro-North stations, CLICK HERE to access the MTA’s Metro-North accessibility website.
The Long Island Rail Road is a commuter rail network serving areas between Manhattan and the Eastern tip of Long Island. The LIRR operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all major holidays. The network has 124 stations, the majority of which are wheelchair accessible. Jamaica Station (connecting point to/from AirTrain JFK) and Manhattan’s Penn Station are both fully wheelchair accessible. For more information on the accessibility of LIRR stations, CLICK HERE to access the MTA’s LIRR accessibility website.
Able-Ride / Paratransit Program
The Able-Ride / Paratransit Program provides public curb-to-curb transportation through the MTA-Long Island Bus service. The service is available only within Nassau County. AbleRide will pick up the person with a physical disability outside the home and take the individual to visit the doctor, go shopping, and commute to work, or even attend social events.
Bee-Line ParaTransit is a Westchester County shared ride service for which reservations must be made from one to seven days in advance. Westchester County Department of Transportation is required to provide origin-to-destination, curb-to-curb, demand-responsive ParaTransit service that “mirrors” their fixed-route service in terms of service times and areas. The service is a “safety net.” It is only for those persons who do not have the functional capability to ride fixed-route Bee-Line buses.
Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) Services
Operating since 1994, Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) provides curb-to-curb service to individuals with disabilities in Suffolk County.
The AirTrain has three lines which are fully wheelchair accessible/ADA compliant. All AirTrain routes include stops at John F. Kennedy International Airport terminals 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. The Jamaica line makes additional stops at Federal Circle and Jamaica Stations, while the Howard Beach route makes stops at Federal Circle, Lefferts Boulevard and Howard Beach stations. All AirTrain trains and stations are ADA-compliant and are equipped with elevators and escalators. There are two designated wheelchair locations on each vehicle.
This carrier provides wheelchair-accessible buses and vans between all hotels and private residences in Manhattan and JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. Schedule: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers who require a lift-equipped vehicle should call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule this service.
If you would like your resource link featured on our website please fill out this FORM
Disclaimer:
Linking to publications, materials or websites of other organizations or entities does not constitute endorsement by Mount Sinai of such publications, materials or websites. Mount Sinai provides these references and links because they may be of value to persons interested in SCI.