University Trustees don’t like the look of the 168th Street subway station—and the MTA plans to do something about it.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning a renovation of the No. 1 train station that services New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. Although still in the planning stage, the project is slated to begin in December and wrap up before the end of 2014, according to a MTA representative.
“It’s probably the worst looking subway station I’m aware of in the city and it is a Columbia-related station,” professor Ronald Breslow, the chair of the campus planning committee, said at a University Senate plenary meeting last week. He added that the subway station came up at a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees, and several said that they were concerned.
The grimy station has grown unpopular with commuters and Washington Heights residents alike, who complain that it is poorly ventilated, dirty, difficult to navigate, and understaffed.
“It’s too hot, I can’t breathe,” said commuter Anna Concepción, a medical worker. She had few kind words for the station, besides “the train comes”.
Isaac Naconbo, a recent transplant to the Washington Heights area, said he doesn’t even think the trains are that great. He said the late-night trains don’t generally run on time.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions within the 168th Street station.
“Coming up, I saw someone peeing inside [the station],” he said.
According to MTA press liaison Kevin Ortiz, one of the key aims of the project is not only to clean up the station but also to preserve and renovate the historic structural details of the station, specifically the arches and the bridge connecting the uptown and downtown sides of the No. 1 train platform. They will reinforce both with glass fiber and polymers to enhance their structural integrity.
Columbia officials said they agree that the station needs a renovation, but there are currently not any plans for the University to work with the MTA on its planned renovations.
“For many of our students, patients, faculty and visitors, the subway station is the first thing they see when coming to CUMC,” said Ross Frommer, associate dean for Government and Community Affairs in a statement to Spectator. “As the largest destination for subway riders in this part of the city, we would work with the MTA in any way that we can to make improvements to the station.”
A joint project that might include Columbia signage, similar to the 116th Street station, would require more discussion among the University Trustees.
However, not all Washington Heights residents said they see any cause for a costly renovation. Alex, a news vendor whose stand sits directly next to one of the station’s entrances, said he is perfectly happy with its conditions. “Nothing’s wrong,” he said, kissing the tips of his own fingers to emphasize his point. “People now complain for everything.”
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