Beauty as well as efficient were stated design goals when the New York City Transit system was founded in 1904, but nearly a century of use has taken a toll on its 469 stations, creating serious safety and security problems. Interim repairs over the years have added clutter to the problem. To remedy the situation, a comprehensive Station Rehabilitation Program was established as part of the 1992-1996 Capital Construction Program.

Challenged with a comprehensive improvement program, the transit system needed guidelines that would apply to all stations, assure achievement of program goals over the lifetime of its rehabilitation and accommodate staggered funding conditions.

These guidelines define a design philosophy for the overall guidance of the program, establish design principles for the rehabilitation and provide a detailed narrative description for all elements of the scheme. Meaningful, economical and code-consistent standards were set for safety and security systems, Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, architectural finishes, graphics and signage, railings and benches, lighting, acoustics, art work, vertical circulation and fare collection.

The program is now being implemented with a focus on capital and lifecycle work and a priority on safety and security. The guidelines will serve to bring the system back to that state of beauty and efficiency envisioned by its original builders.

CREDITS...

• MTA/New York Transit, Office of Station Design
• Prentice & Chan, Ohlhausen

JURY COMMENTS...

The station guidelines provide for economical approaches to improving safety and security for riders, insuring full accessibility for persons with disabilities, reducing noise, providing for an aesthetically-pleasing waiting environment, and improving signage to facilitate passenger flow.

Given the funding availability over several decades, the real challenge of the guidelines was to provide a base document which would be operable over a full generation.