Climbing 'Mount Everest' to catch the train? MTA plans elevator for city’s tallest subway station

The 2025–2029 plan calls for adding elevators at more than 60 stations, including Smith–9th Street, which sits nearly 90 feet above the ground but currently requires riders to climb multiple flights of stairs and take an escalator to reach the platform.

Daniella Rodriguez

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Aug 9, 2025, 2:44 AM

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Updated 20 days ago

The Smith–9th Street subway station in Gowanus, the tallest in the city, could soon be more accessible under the MTA’s new capital plan.

The 2025–2029 plan calls for adding elevators at more than 60 stations, including Smith–9th Street, which sits nearly 90 feet above the ground but currently requires riders to climb multiple flights of stairs and take an escalator to reach the platform.

For longtime rider Abby Schoneboom, the change is overdue.

“It’s about 18 years too late for me because when I had a stroller in the city, it was a nightmare,” she said.

Parents like Lara say it will make a big difference for those pushing strollers or using wheelchairs.

“I’m thinking about people who have wheelchairs and how it’s difficult to do things, so that would be great,” she said.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes says the project will include a new design allowing passengers to swipe in and take the elevator directly to the platform, without transferring to a second one.

The MTA has not announced a start date for the project.