Testimony of Nicholas Astor, Constituency Liaison for People with Disabilities, Before the Port Authority of New York and...

Testimony of Nicholas Astor, Constituency Liaison for People with Disabilities, Before the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Accessibility in PATH Stations

Thank you Port Authority Board of Commissioners for holding this meeting.

My name is Nicholas Astor, Constituency Liaison for People with Disabilities at the New York City Comptroller's Office, and I will be testifying on behalf of Comptroller Brad Lander.

Comptroller Lander believes that the Port Authority should dedicate funding in the 2026-2035 Capital Plan for accessibility improvements at the 9th Street, 23rd Street, Christopher Street, and 14th Street Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) stations.

The PATH's eight New Jersey stations are accessible, but nothing has been done to make the PATH system more accessible here in New York City.

The lack of accessible PATH stations makes it difficult for people with disabilities, people with strollers, and even individuals with heavy carts or suitcases to commute back to New Jersey. And as one of the most cost-effective ways to commute from New York City to New Jersey, this not only an accessibility issue, but an economic and equality issue. People with disabilities should be seen as the ideal PATH users, but with only two accessible stations in NYC, it makes for an unideal commute.

Accessibility goes beyond elevators.

Accessible PATH stations must ensure the gaps between the platforms and trains are in accordance with the federal regulations, and where they are not, PATH must add gap-fillers to ensure they do not prevent people with disabilities from boarding and deboarding trains. PATH should also add way-finding accessibility improvements, including tactile foot traffic paths so that people who are blind can navigate the stations. Similarly, high visibility tactile domes must be installed and maintained on all platform edges.

To address the risk of people falling onto the tracks, PATH should also add platforms doors or gates, as transit systems around the world have been doing for years. And finally, PATH must ensure accessible communication systems throughout its stations and trains, including clear and contemporaneous audible announcements and clear, visual signage - including digital signage - conveying all relevant information for people who are blind, deaf, or have other disabilities.

Port Authority should follow the MTA's lead. In the last capital program, the MTA allocated $5.2 billion and moved forward with making 67 of its 472 stations accessible. If the MTA can make 60 stations accessible in their 2025-2029 Capital Plan the Port Authority can surely make four stations accessible over the course of a decade.

Thank you for your time.

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