The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s (MBTA) major elevator upgrade program will replace outdated and small elevators, as well as add new ones, to meet accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act in some of the busiest subway stations between downtown Boston and Harvard University in Cambridge.
Facing complaints from the community about the reliability, size, and number of elevators at several of the most heavily used subway stations, the MBTA selected Kleinfelder to investigate the feasibility of enlarging the cabs of six existing elevators in four stations and adding ten new elevators in five stations. Working closely with the MBTA and its elevator consultant, Kleinfelder completed the study in only eight days. This provided the MBTA with the information needed to further honor commitments made in the 2006 settlement between the MBTA and the Boston Center for Independent Living to improve accessibility across the system.
Subsequently, Kleinfelder was awarded a separate contract for design and construction phase services for the new elevator additions, which will provide redundant access at the Porter Square, Harvard Square, Park Street, Downtown Crossing, and State Street stations. Kleinfelder delivered architectural, civil, survey, structural, mechanical, fire and life safety, and electrical engineering, as well as energy conservation, urban design, landscape architecture, site planning, historic preservation, and environmental review and permitting—all without interruption to existing subway services.
Kleinfelder’s quick action and accelerated feasibility study enabled the MBTA to effectively respond to a community lawsuit in a timely manner. The final design and construction of these new elevators at several MBTA stations ensures a high-performance standard beyond the minimum requirements of compliance and, more importantly, will ensure increased service reliability.
Location:
Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts
Owner:
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
