PCAC staff recently toured the newly created Jay Street/MetroTech station in Downtown Brooklyn. Formerly the Jay Street/Borough Hall ACF station and the Lawrence Street/MetroTech R station, only two blocks apart, these two stations are now connected with a new free walkway that features: three new ADA elevators (including one to the R); widened stairs; more openings in the floor to improve visibility/light/ventilation down to the platforms; “open riser” stairs (see through) so there are no hidden spots on the platform; and a dramatic 103′ long glass mosaic by Ben Snead representing species that have migrated to Brooklyn — European starling, a house sparrow, Red Lion fish, Monk parrot and Koi — as well as one species that is departing, the Tiger Beetle. (By the way, you can check out the art at all stations at the MTA Arts for Transit website.)
The rehabilitation of the Jay Street station also includes reorganization of the fare control areas to improve customer flow, reorganization of the station rooms, a power upgrade, new lighting throughout the complex, a new communication system, new flooring, new wall tiles, and painting throughout.
NYCT reported that the two new escalators provide the most popular transfer off the R platform. If ridership grows, both escalators can run upwards to clear the platform during peak periods. Unfortunately, a full renovation of the R station was deleted from the project. It remains somewhat dark and dingy. Too bad it couldn’t have been painted.