Capstones
Graduation Date
Fall 12-13-2019
Grading Professor
Jarrett Murphy
Subject Concentration
Urban Reporting
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
Many blind and visually impaired, deaf and cognitively disabled New Yorkers face challenges when using the subway. A large portion of the system is still missing key accessibility features that would make the subway usable for these groups. And while this problem is on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) radar – the MTA has launched a pilot program to address it – the agency still has no clear plan or timeline for quickly expanding these features to the entire system. Link to full project: https://medium.com/@tough_coquelicot_muskrat_287/beyond-the-elevators-132c31e3ef48
Recommended Citation
Stark-Miller, Ethan B., "Beyond the Elevators: How the New York City subway system can better serve blind, deaf and cognitively disabled people" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/344
An audio feature that is a companion to this print story. Produced by Ethan Stark-Miller. Music by Jacob Kaye.
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Victor Andrews, 32, on his morning commute from where he lives in Clinton Hill Brooklyn to 23rd Street in Manhattan, where he works at AlphaPoint. Andrews is blind and faces challenges using the subway system. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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Andrews uses his cane to navigate walking down the steep staircase to the train platform in the Clinton-Washington Avenues G train station. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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A Clinton-Washington Avenues Station sign with braille and raised tactile letters for blind and visually impaired customers like Andrews. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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High contrast tactile platform edge strips to warn blind and visually impaired customers of the platform edge at the Clinton-Washington Avenues Station. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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Andrews talking to the G-Train Motorman before boarding the train. He does this after feeling around the front of the G-Train with his cane to find the door. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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Andrews walks on a crowded platform at the 23rd Street Station as he heads for the exit. Many platforms in the subway system are narrow and often crowded, which can be challenging for blind and visually impaired people to navigate. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 4, 2019.
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Tactile guide strips and colorful wayfinding strips in the Jay Street MetroTech Station. These accessible features are designed to help blind and visually impaired and cognitively disabled people navigate train stations. They’re being tested in the MTA’s Accessible Station Lab pilot program this fall. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 23, 2019.
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A colorful wayfinding strip leading to the R-Train in the Jay Street MetroTech Station. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 23, 2019.
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Tactile stair warning strips in the Jay Street MetroTech Station. These accessible features are designed to help blind and visually impaired people find the stairs. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 23, 2019.
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Wall tiles that work with the app NaviLens in the Jay Street MetroTech Station. This app is designed to help blind and visually impaired people navigate train stations. Photo by Ethan Stark-Miller. Nov. 23, 2019.