Business remains tough for Broadway stores blocked by MTA accessibility project
On Wednesday, city officials did a walk-through to see—or in this case, not see—what storefronts are dealing with.
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Stores along Broadway in Fieldston say business has remained tough since a construction barrier went up at the Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street subway station due to an MTA accessibility project.
On Wednesday, city officials did a walk-through to see—or in this case, not see—what storefronts are dealing with.
Stores like Broadway Joe’s Pizza are barely visible behind massive green netted fencing, as sounds of construction blare on. Owner Louie Porco’s family has run the shop since the 1960s, but says they’ve seen a drop in business by more than 30% since the work began.
Porco says the construction takes up parking spots and narrows the walkway, which has led to less foot traffic and pickup orders. He says although the project, which will bring a much-needed elevator to the busy subway station, will benefit the community, businesses need more support until the construction is complete. Porco adds that there were around five months when construction was stalled but scaffolding remained up.
The MTA said it had temporarily paused excavation to redo drawings before work could resume safely. The project itself was very much ongoing and proceeding during that time.
Commissioner of NYC Small Business Services, Dynishal Gross, suggested that businesses be assigned a construction liaison who can keep them updated on the progress of the project. Councilman Eric Dinowitz, whose district includes this area, added that the city council has worked on a package of laws to speed up delays on projects and to minimize the effects of scaffolding or other construction.
The ADA accessibility upgrades at Van Cortlandt Park–242 Street station are expected to be complete by the final quarter of 2026. The MTA told News 12 that businesses, community stakeholders, and members of the public can contact the agency directly with any questions or concerns about the project at 407-461-7057. It also said in a statement in part: “worked closely with communities and businesses since last spring to minimize the impacts of construction as much as possible, including reducing the construction site where we can as we move past utility relocation.”
