The Manhattan-bound sides of the 104th Street and 88th Street A-train stations along Liberty Avenue were reopened on Monday after four months of work. Photo Courtesy of MTA
It was a sight for sore south Queens straphanger eyes.
On Monday morning, following five months of renovation and rehabilitation, A-train customers regained access to the Manhattan-bound sides of the 104th Street and 88th Street stations along the Liberty Avenue line in Ozone Park.
The station renewal program is part of a major $39 million capital project that will see the complete overhaul of five stations along the Liberty Avenue A line, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“For these stations, originally opened in the early 1900s, these improvements will create significantly better conditions for our customers,” said NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco. “We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while we carried out this important work.”
On May 12, 2014, the Queens-bound sides of the 104th Street and 88th Street stations were the first two platforms to close for renewal work. That part was completed on Sept. 29, and work began on the Manhattan-bound platforms on Oct. 13. During the closures, customers had to take a free shuttle bus to nearby open stations.
Improvements at the two stations include repairs to staircases, mezzanine floors, doors, windows, and interior and exterior walls. Each stop was painted, and canopies, windscreen panels and railings were replaced. In addition, structural steel repairs were made to the girders supporting the subway platforms at both stations, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, which consisted of repairs to the tactile warning strips at the platform’s edge. Aside from the component improvements, customers will also notice new lighting in the mezzanine and artwork to be installed at the completion of construction.
MTA Arts & Design commissioned five artists to create durable, vibrant metal artwork for installation in the platform windscreens at the five Liberty Avenue stations. At 104th St, “On the Right Track” by artist Beatrice Coron features 24 cut stainless-steel panels with hand soldering. Representing a giant deck of 24 playing cards, each image reveals an upbeat mood that passengers may choose to adopt for the day. Haresh Lalvani created “MORPHING88,” consisting of 24 stainless steel sculptural panels. Inspired by the geography of the distance and angles of the streets located adjacent to the 88th Street station, each panel is unique with patterns generated through the use of an algorithm and a mathematical formula.
The next station scheduled for renewal along the Liberty Line is Rockaway Boulevard. An MTA spokeswoman indicated that the Far Rockaway/Lefferts Boulevard-bound platform of the Rockaway Boulevard station is slated to close for approximately 14 weeks, between February 2015 and May 2015, for renovation. During this period, Far Rockaway/Lefferts Boulevard-bound A service will skip Rockaway Boulevard.
By Michael V. Cusenza
