MTA to swap fluorescent lights for LED bulbs at all subway stations by 2026

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced they will be swapping all fluorescent lights for LED bulbs at all subway stations by 2026.

William Aguirre and Faith Graham

Feb 20, 2024, 5:49 PM

Updated 157 days ago

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced they will be swapping all fluorescent lights for LED bulbs at all subway stations by 2026.
So far, three stations have undergone the switch including the Bergen, Carol, and Lafayette Street stations in Brooklyn.
The MTA says riders can expect brighter stations which will in turn hopefully make them feel safer.
Officials say the project will also generate $6 million in energy and cost savings a year.
While it may seem like a small change, the MTA says it requires a lot of work on the backend which is why it will take nearly two years to be in place at all stations. Along with making riders feel safer, they say it will also help them protect riders.
"One thing to specifically note is that as customers feel safer. It also lightens the areas that our cameras throughout the stations will be able to get better images when things happen and occur in our system," said Demetrius Crichlow, the Senior Vice President of Subways for New York City Transit
The switch over to LED lights comes as crime in the transit system is up by 22.6% so far in 2024.
Moving forward, the MTA says they will roll out the new lights to stations that struggle with lighting as it is and so forth.


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