The MTA on Wednesday wrapped up a five-year renovation to the Borough Hall station in downtown Brooklyn.
The $106 million project replaced the station’s once-crumbling ceiling, a piece of which collapsed and hit a woman in 2018.
The transit agency also added three new elevators, making all its platforms fully accessible. The station was also “flood-proofed” to prevent water from cascading down stairs and grates during the types of downpours that are growing more frequent in the city.
Borough Hall serves the 2, 3, 4 and 5 lines, and is Brooklyn's fourth-busiest subway station. It’s one of the oldest in the system.
“ It's been left to deteriorate over 118 years, frankly, so it was in terrible shape,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA construction and development, at a ribbon cutting for the new elevators on Wednesday.
The MTA also replaced the floors and subway tiles, upgraded the lights, added new countdown clocks and fixed the terra-cotta mosaics that decorate the station. Torres-Springer said the agency was “ taking care to ensure that every detail is right to honor this station's history.”
MTA Chair Janno Lieber has made subway accessibility a priority since taking the reins at the agency in 2021.
Other, less visible work includes replacing a 50-foot steel support girder that spans the entire station.
The MTA is on track to make half the subway system fully accessible in the coming years, with ramp and elevator projects under construction at 35 stations and 60 more being planned.
“ Gone are those days of us having to roll in the rain, snow, extreme heat like today,” said Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA’s chief accessibility officer. “Because now this station has redundant access. That means that we will never be left behind when we're trying to get to the 4, 5, 2 or 3 [trains]. There will always be access, and that's what I'm celebrating here today.”
The flood-proofing measures include deepening the roadway on Joralemon Street next to the station with a higher curb, so rainwater won’t spill over the sidewalk and into the station. The top steps at the entrances are also higher, so water doesn't cascade down the steps. The agency also waterproofed the entire station.
“ I think it looks a lot better,” Liz Brownback from Park Slope said. “I used to work here a lot, so it looks a lot better than when I was here last.”
The MTA isn’t completely done with the work. Some countdown clocks were still wrapped in plastic on Wednesday and not yet in use. Water was dripping near little stalactites forming on the recently painted ceiling near one of the turnstiles.
Torres-Springer said crews are still wrapping up the project.
