Not All Elevators at Yankee Stadium Subway Stop Ready for Opening Day

As baseball returns to Yankee Stadium on Friday, two elevators at the neighboring 161st Street-Yankee Stadium subway station will remain out of service, with their return to operation still weeks away, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Contractors for the transportation authority have been replacing five elevators at the station since late 2024, but the MTA announced on Thursday that some work remains, even after three new elevators went into service just in time for the home-opener against the Miami Marlins on Friday.

The outage, which began in November 2024, has been a significant inconvenience for New Yorkers reliant on the elevators. Anthony Jerez, a 28-year-old who underwent knee surgery after a recent accident, shared his frustration as he passed an "ELEVATOR CLOSED" sign and slowly climbed stairs to the southbound No. 4 line platform with the help of a cane. "For people like me, it's a big problem," Jerez said. "We have to force ourselves onto the platform or else find some other way to go."

The project to replace five subway elevators at the station next to Yankee Stadium started in November 2024 and was initially scheduled to be completed by late last year. However, MTA officials attributed the delays to significant structural challenges stemming from the age of some elevator components. Yvette Alston, a 37-year-old mother pushing a baby stroller through the station on Thursday, expressed her frustration as well. "Actually, it's been more than a year, it just feels longer," she said.

Despite the setbacks, a pair of elevators connecting the station mezzanine with the northbound and southbound platforms for the B and D lines were put into service in the nick of time, on Thursday, along with one at street level. The work is part of the MTA's broader efforts to accelerate the installation of elevators at subway stops across the city. The two remaining out-of-service elevators that will carry riders to and from the elevated platform on the No. 4 line are set to open "in the coming weeks," according to the MTA.

The ongoing project highlights the challenges faced by the MTA in modernizing its aging infrastructure, particularly in areas with high passenger volumes like the Yankee Stadium station. As the subway system continues to evolve, the agency's commitment to improving accessibility and reliability remains crucial for the convenience and safety of millions of riders each day.