72 St Marks 33 Elevators in Service Under the 37 Elevators Project

EL 239 and EL 240 are now in service at 72 St Station, restoring elevator service and ADA accessibility for riders on the 1, 2 and 3 lines. The two modernized elevators mark the 32nd and 33rd elevators commissioned under the 37 Elevators Project.

Delivered by the Forte–Gramercy Joint Venture alongside the MTA, Lead Designer Stantec, and the Naik–STV JV PMC team, the elevator replacements were completed at one of the Upper West Side’s busiest subway stations, where the work extended from the station and track level into the surrounding Verdi Square area.

Along with the elevator replacements, improvements included replacing the glass block at the station kiosk with clear laminated safety glazing, installing a new air-conditioning system for the communications room, and adding a new Bilco equipment hatch within Verdi Square.

Some of the most distinctive work took place below ground. With the EL 239 hoistway surrounded on three sides by the track bed, teams completed portions of the work during General Orders with protective measures in place around the work area. The communications room air-conditioning condenser also made its way to its designated location along the track bed using a Nolan roller cart—an installation that required careful planning within the active station environment.

Above ground, that same attention extended into Verdi Square. Material routes and access were planned with historic preservation considerations in mind, allowing construction activities to move through the area while preserving the character of the surrounding public space and recognizable station setting.

Bringing EL 239 and EL 240 into service was a shared effort across the project team. As commissioning approached, the Forte–Gramercy Joint Venture worked closely with the MTA, PCEO, design and PMC teams on weekend flagging, fire alarm testing, field walkthroughs, and ADA and code requirements, helping complete the final steps needed to successfully restore elevator service at 72 St.