New Stairs Will Ease Passenger Congestion at One of City’s Busiest Stations
Project Expected to be Substantially Completed in Fall 2023
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that construction to significantly improve the passenger experience at Flushing-Main St Station will begin at the end of June. Work will commence on eight new staircases to ease current overcrowding and acute congestion on platform and street level stairs during peak hours. The new stairs will better accommodate both incoming and outgoing passengers west of Main St while improving service for those using all stairs throughout the station.
Four new street to mezzanine stairs will be installed in addition to four new mezzanine to platform stairs. The new street to mezzanine stairs will be located on the north and south corners of Main St and to the west of Main St along both the north and south sides of Roosevelt Ave. Four existing street stairs will be rehabilitated for ADA compliance and four existing platform stairs will be reoriented. The mezzanine will be expanded and two new fare control areas with six new turnstiles will be constructed. The existing CCTV camera system will be upgraded and wayfinding signs within the station will be improved. Including the expense of relocating existing utilities, the total estimated cost of this project is $61 million.
“Flushing-Main-St Station is one of the top ten busiest stations in our entire subway system, and it is time its infrastructure supported that reality,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Soon our passengers will be able to travel through this station more easily and comfortably.”
“Customers are returning to the subway system in greater numbers as the work continues to improve the passenger experience,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “Opening new ways for customers to get to where they need to go with ease at this station is just the way to do that.”
“These improvements will greatly enhance the customer experience traveling in one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “These eight new staircases will alleviate overcrowding on the platform and street level and ensure passengers can better move through the station.”
Construction will only occur within the station during off peak hours. Full access to a minimum of four street level stairwells will be maintained to the mezzanine areas. Access to the four stairs that serve the northbound and southbound platforms from mezzanine areas will also be maintained at all times.
The MTA is working with City agencies and local stakeholders to mitigate impacts on the local community. Signs reminding pedestrians that businesses remain open will be posted. Members of the public wishing to express concerns and raise issues will be able to contact at 24/7 construction hotline, 844-508-2636 for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be substantially complete by the end of October 2023.
Bus stops that serve the Q48 and Q50 along Main St and Roosevelt Ave, will be temporarily relocated to accommodate street stairway construction from approximately June 21, 2022 to March 2023. Stops will be temporarily relocated to Main St./39 Av in front of the GNC.