Riding the NYC subway step-free
Quick answer: Of the MTA's 445 subway station complexes, 126 are fully accessible and 14 partly. Many of the big ones are step-free, including Times Sq-42 St, Grand Central-42 St, 34 St-Penn Station, Fulton St and South Ferry. Elevators do break, so check before you go and have a backup.
How many stations are step-free?
The MTA lists 445 subway station complexes. 126 are fully accessible, 14 are partly accessible (only some platforms or directions), and 305 are not accessible.
Source: MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov).
Step-free stations visitors use most
- Times Sq-42 St
- Grand Central-42 St
- 34 St-Penn Station (both the 1, 2, 3 and the A, C, E stations)
- 34 St-Herald Sq
- 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr
- 57 St-7 Av
- 59 St-Columbus Circle
- 72 St on the 1, 2, 3
- Fulton St
- South Ferry (1) and Bowling Green (4, 5), for the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island ferries
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr in Brooklyn
- Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av, for the Q70 bus to LaGuardia
- Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport and Howard Beach-JFK Airport, for the AirTrain
Source: MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov).
Popular stations that aren't step-free
- Not accessible: 5 Av/53 St, 81 St-Museum of Natural History, 72 St on the B and C, and Rector St.
- Partly accessible: 49 St (uptown platform only), 14 St-Union Sq (the 4, 5 and 6 platforms aren't step-free), and Whitehall St-South Ferry (the R and W platforms aren't).
If your nearest station isn't step-free, ask Cobblehop for a step-free route; it may suggest another station or a bus.
Source: MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov).
Check the elevators before you go
An elevator out of service can turn a step-free station into one you can't use. The MTA posts elevator and escalator outages, and Cobblehop reads them: ask "is the elevator at Times Square working?" and you'll get the outages the MTA reports. Plan a backup station, or a bus, in case.
The MTA also suggests using an elevator station and avoiding rush hour if you're carrying luggage.
Source: MTA elevator and escalator data (data.ny.gov); MTA: riding the subway.
Reduced fares
People 65 and older or with a qualifying disability pay $1.50 on the subway, Staten Island Railway and local and Select buses, with a Reduced-Fare OMNY Card. Apply in person or by mail. Service animals are allowed on all MTA subways, buses and trains.
Source: MTA: reduced fare; MTA: rules of conduct.
Step-free subway: common questions
How many NYC subway stations are wheelchair accessible?
Of 445 station complexes, 126 are fully accessible and 14 partly accessible, according to the MTA's station data.
Is Times Square station accessible?
Yes. Times Sq-42 St is step-free, as are Grand Central-42 St and both 34 St-Penn Station stations.
How do I find out if an elevator is working?
The MTA posts elevator and escalator outages. Ask Cobblehop about a station's elevator and you'll get the outages the MTA reports.
Is the subway to the Statue of Liberty ferry step-free?
Yes, by the 1 to South Ferry or the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. The R and W platforms at Whitehall St aren't step-free.
Who can get a reduced fare?
People 65 and older or with a qualifying disability pay $1.50 with a Reduced-Fare OMNY Card.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov)
- MTA elevator and escalator data (data.ny.gov)
- MTA: riding the subway
- MTA: reduced fare
- MTA: rules of conduct
Published November 7, 2026. Station accessibility was checked against the MTA's open data on data.ny.gov in November 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route, a leave-in countdown and a buzz before your stop.
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