Elevators open at Astoria Boulevard station

Four new elevators are finally open for riders at Astoria Boulevard.

Last Friday, customers finally got to use the elevators, two from the street to the mezzanine and two from the mezzanine to the platform level. They are located at Columbus Triangle and Hoyt Playground, which are at opposite ends of the station.

The lifts are a prominent new addition to the Astoria Boulevard stop, which was closed from March to December last year for reconstruction.

The renovation project included rebuilding the mezzanine to make it more modern and shallower, reinforcing street columns supporting the station, replacing the platform roof and canopies, redoing the walkways and installing new platform edges.

The stair enclosures were replaced with glass, and new artwork was added at the station.

“The long wait for subway elevators at Astoria Boulevard is finally over,” State Senator Michael Gianaris said in a statement. “While there is more to be done to have a truly accessible subway system, today’s achievement is a step forward for all transit passengers.”