Forte Construction completes modernization of three elevators at 125th St. subway station

Manhattan, NY Forte Construction Corp., a general contractor, completed the replacement of three elevators at the 125^th St. and St. Nicholas Ave. subway station in Harlem. The station, completed two months ahead of schedule, advances the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) ongoing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility program and improves access for riders on the A, C, B, and D lines between West and Central Harlem.

Forte has long been a trusted partner in Harlem’s transit transformation. In 2017, Forte led an elevator replacement and full systems upgrade – electrical, communications, fire alarm, plumbing and HVAC – at the 125^th St. and Lexington Ave. station, a critical intermodal hub connecting the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines with Metro-North’s Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven commuter rail lines. 

In 2019, Forte renovated the 145^th St. Station as part of a joint venture, installing new CCTV, PA systems, digital information screens, lighting, and communications infrastructure, and partnering with Boldyn Networks to bring Wi-Fi service to the station and surrounding tunnels.

“The 125^th St. station at St. Nicholas Ave. is among the most utilized stations in the system. Working with the MTA to enhance the rider experience and expand access across Harlem is something we are proud of. It means more people can get to where they need to go, whether that’s to work, to school, or to one of the many community landmarks that make this neighborhood so special,” said project manager Elif Chavez.

Built in 1932, the 125^th St. station is one of the busiest transit hubs in the MTA system, serving tens of thousands of riders on an average weekday, according to the most recent MTA ridership data. The station is a gateway to Central Harlem, the city’s 35^th largest neighborhood according to data from the NYU Furman Center, and provides access to local landmarks such as the Apollo Theater, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building.

Working in close collaboration with the MTA and lead designer Goldman Copeland, Forte replaced decades-old hydraulic elevators and upgraded machine rooms, equipment, elevator shafts and pits, establishing reliable ADA-accessible connections between the street level, mezzanine, and platform for riders on the A, C, B, and D lines along St. Nicholas Ave. Construction was conducted primarily during off-peak hours and overnight shifts to minimize disruptions to the traveling public.