United Spinal Association Settles Suit with MTA Regarding Accessibility at a Subway Station

New York, NY – July 21, 2011– It was announced today that the MTA has agreed to the installation of an elevator at the Dyckman Street subway station.  The agreement was the product of settlement of litigation between United Spinal Association — represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) — the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA).

In the settlement, the MTA commits to installing an elevator at the elevated southbound platform of the Dyckman Street Station, which will enable people who use wheelchairs, among others, to get on and off southbound #1 trains.

When stations are renovated,  the ADA provides that a portion of the renovation costs be spent on accessibility.

“Installing elevators during scheduled station renovations goes far to promote transportation access for people who use wheelchairs.  This is a significant resolution that will enhance subway access for all users of the station with mobility challenges,” said James Weisman, SVP & General Counsel of United Spinal Association.

“More mass transit access decreases the demand for Access-A-Ride, MTA’s expensive alternative,” he added.

The class action suit was brought by United Spinal Association, whose members live with physical disabilities due to spinal cord injuries and disorders. The plaintiffs were represented by Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”), a non-profit disability rights legal center headquartered in Berkeley, California that specializes in high-impact cases on behalf of people with disabilities.

“We want to commend the MTA for working with us to improve accessibility for our clients who use wheelchairs, particularly as transportation options for the disabled in New York City are scarce,” said Plaintiffs’ attorney Julia Pinover of Disability Rights Advocates.

“The settlement will truly benefit everyone in the community.  In addition to accessibility for people using wheelchairs, an elevator will also provide vital transport access for people who have age or injury related mobility impairments, people carrying unwieldy bags, and caregivers with strollers,” she added.

Access for people with disabilities is especially important in Inwood, where the Dyckman Street Station is located, because the 2000 U.S. Census showed that 25.1% of residents in the ZIP Code covering that station self-identified as having a disability, 5.8 percentage points higher than the rate of disability in the population as a whole.

Of the 468 subway stations in New York City, only 86, or 18.5%, are currently fully accessible to people with disabilities.  According to United Spinal Association and its attorneys, making accessible improvements incrementally during station renovations, will keep the MTA compliant with the ADA requirements.

Media contacts:

Ahvi Spindell
Media Relations Services
United Spinal Association
212-580-4567
ahvi@spindellmediarelations.com

Julia Pinover
Disability Rights Advocates (New York)
212-644-8644, jpinover@dralegal.org