Elevator Accessibility Upgrades
Design contracts awarded: Summer 2020
Total value of design contracts: $34 million
Status: 30% design complete
Elevator Replacements and Renovations
To provide greater accessibility and convenience to riders, we plan to renovate or replace 27 elevators in nine stations. These improvements will provide the following rider benefits at each station:
- Full accessibility
- Greater safety
- More reliable elevator service
- Improved pedestrian circulation and wayfinding
- Enhanced customer experience
These nine projects are in various stages of design and funding approval.
Elevators under design
Elevator improvements are currently in the design stage for the following stations:
- Arlington: Three new elevators
- Broadway: Two new elevators and two replacements
- Chinatown: Two new elevators and two replacements
- Davis: Two new elevators and two replacements
- Jackson Square: One new elevator and one replacement
- Massachusetts Avenue: One new elevator and one replacement
- North Station: Two new elevators
- State: One new elevator and two replacements
- Sullivan Square: One new elevator and two replacements
Learn about the MBTA’s system-wide accessibility improvements
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
Accessibility on the MBTA
The MBTA is dedicated to the work we're doing to make each mode of transit accessible to everyone.
Arlington Station
Download the Arlington station 75% design presentation
Project status: 75% design
We’re upgrading Arlington station to make it a fully accessible facility with better bus and pedestrian connections. Improvements will include a reopened and fully accessible Berkeley Street entrance.
- Berkeley Street entrance reopening
- Two new elevators at the Berkeley Street end of the platform
- New elevator from the Berkeley Street entrance to the street
- ADA-compliant fare collection gates
- Pedestrian circulation improvements that improve wayfinding
- Safety feature upgrades, including LED fixtures and station-wide emergency egress lighting and fire alarm replacement
- Lower station maintenance costs and energy consumption
- Station accessibility and safety enhancements
- More reliable elevator service
- Easier station navigation
- Improved rider experience
Broadway Station
Download the Broadway station 30% design presentation
Project status: 30% design
We’re planning accessibility upgrades to Broadway station that include a new headhouse with two new elevators. The modernized station will be fully accessible and provide improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- Replacement of two existing elevators at the West Broadway headhouse
- Proposed new headhouse at the corner of West 4th Street that would include two new elevators
- Two fully accessible station entrances
- Upgraded station amenities
- New wayfinding and signage
- Full accessibility at both entrances
- Increased safety
- Easier station navigation
- More dependable elevator service
Chinatown Station
Download the Chinatown station 30% design presentation
Project status: 30% design
Our plans to provide full accessibility to Chinatown station include upgrades to lighting, security, and communication systems, and improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- New station entrances at Hayward Place and LaGrange Street
- Two new elevators on southbound and northbound platforms, and replacement of the two existing elevators
- Safety feature improvements including upgraded lighting within the work zones, security, and communication systems
- Station circulation and wayfinding improvements
- Lower station maintenance costs and energy consumption
- Improved accessibility and safety
- Expanded and more reliable elevator service
- Easier station navigation
Davis Station
Download the Davis station 75% design presentation
Project status: 75% design
We’re planning accessibility and amenity upgrades to Davis station in Somerville’s Davis Square. This station will be fully accessible and will feature multiple elevators for more dependable service, as well as improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- Elevator replacement at College Avenue headhouse
- New elevator at Holland Street headhouse
- New elevator connecting the mezzanine to the platform at the center of the station
- Replacement of existing elevator connecting the mezzanine to the platform at the center of the station
- Station amenity upgrades
- New wayfinding and signage
- Full station accessibility from both entrances
- Increased safety
- Expanded and more reliable elevator service
- Easier station navigation
Jackson Square Station
Download the Jackson Square station 75% design presentation
Project status: 75% design
We’re upgrading Jackson Square station to provide an additional elevator and improved station navigation. This modernized and fully accessible station will also offer improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- Installation of a new elevator and replacement of the existing one
- Improved north and south stairways
- Improved pedestrian circulation, wayfinding, and signage
- Upgraded station amenities
- Enhanced accessibility
- Improved safety
- Expanded and more dependable elevator service
- Easier station navigation, including improved bus and transit connections
- Lower station maintenance costs and energy consumption
Massachusetts Avenue Station
Download the Massachusetts Avenue station 75% design presentation
Project status: 75% design
Our planned accessibility upgrades will make Massachusetts Avenue station fully accessible. Improvements will include a new elevator, easier station navigation, and better bus and pedestrian connections.
- Installation of a new elevator and replacement of the existing one
- New entrance over the Orange Line tracks
- Enhanced pedestrian circulation, signage, and wayfinding
- Upgraded key station amenities
- Enhanced accessibility and safety
- More reliable elevator service
- Easier station navigation
- Lower station maintenance costs and energy consumption
North Station
Download the North station 75% design presentation
Project status: 75% design
Our accessibility upgrades to North Station will include a pedestrian bridge in addition to two new elevators. The fully accessible station will also offer improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- Two new elevators leading from the lobby to inbound and outbound platforms
- Pedestrian bridge connecting the entrance lobby and outbound platform
- Pedestrian circulation and wayfinding improvements
- Full station accessibility
- Improved safety
- More reliable elevator service
- Improved pedestrian circulation and wayfinding
- Lower station maintenance costs and energy consumption
State Station
Download the State station 30% design presentation
Project status: 30% design
Our planned upgrades to State station include a new elevator and better lighting, security, and communication systems, and enhanced station navigation. A fully accessible State Street station will also offer improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- One new elevator in the Washington Mall headhouse
- Replacement of the two existing elevators
- Milk Street lobby floors and stairs will be rebuilt to meet accessibility requirements
- Improved safety features including upgraded lighting, security, and communication systems
- Better circulation and wayfinding
- Lower maintenance costs and energy consumption
- Full accessibility
- Additional and more reliable elevator service
- Safety upgrades
- Easier station navigation
Sullivan Square Station
Download the Sullivan Square station 30% design presentation
Project status: 30% design
Our planned upgrades will make Sullivan Square station fully accessible, with easier navigation and improved bus and pedestrian connections.
- A new pass-through-style elevator will connect the lower bus loop with the Orange Line station entrance
- Two existing elevators will be converted to the pass-through style
- Better station pedestrian circulation and wayfinding
- Lower maintenance costs and energy consumption
- Full accessibility
- Greater safety
- Improved elevator service reliability
- Easier station navigation
Related Projects
Recent Accessibility Updates
Past Events
Contact Us
For all questions and comments related to these accessibility improvements, please email ElevatorProgram@MBTA.com.
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Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
Accessibility on the MBTA
The MBTA is dedicated to the work we're doing to make each mode of transit accessible to everyone.