Congressman Dan Goldman Announces $2 Million For MTA Accessibility Upgrades

Grants Will Help Visually Impaired and Limited English Proficiency Commuters Navigate Public Transport

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today announced $2 million in funding was awarded to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to expand a pilot program that helps visually impaired and limited English proficiency New Yorkers navigate the subway and bus systems.  
 
“Our subway and bus systems are the lifeblood of our city, and it is critical that we put a premium on accessibility for all New Yorkers,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Visually impaired New Yorkers and those of us with limited English proficiency often face great difficulties in navigating these systems that are meant to connect us. Expanding accessibility of these systems will allow all New Yorkers to more easily travel throughout the city. I am proud to see the expansion of this program and to continue working for a more inclusive and accessible New York.”  
 
The $2 million grant will go toward adding more bus stops and subway stations capable of using the NaviLens and NaviLens Go phone apps. These apps use “NaviLens codes” – colorful, unique QR-style codes that help commuters safely navigate around public transportation systems. When the apps detect a “NaviLens code,” they provide commuters with context-specific information, in text or audio format, on nearby amenities such as station booth location, real-time transit information, elevator outages, and navigation directions to specific points on the platform.
 
The funds were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program, which was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help public sector agencies implement advanced smart community technologies in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
 
The NaviLens system also makes navigating public transportation easier for sighted users, providing them with in-station navigation, trip planning information, train arrivals and service status information in up to 34 different languages.
 
So far, the program has been tested at the Jay St-MetroTech Station in Downtown Brooklyn and along the M23 SBS Manhattan bus route.

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