Harrison Leong via Wikimedia Commons
Free Upper West Side News, Delivered To Your Inbox
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced that two Upper West Side subway stations—59th Street–Columbus Circle and 96th Street–Broadway—will soon house new 24/7 Customer Service Centers designed to make navigating the system easier for riders.
Advertisement
The centers, which are part of a citywide expansion, will allow riders to switch to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system, enroll in reduced-fare and Fair Fares programs, and get real-time assistance with trip planning, accessibility questions, and service updates.Once the new locations open, the MTA will have 30 Customer Service Centers across the five boroughs. The first opened in Coney Island in 2023, and the newest—at Grand Central–42nd Street—launched last month.
“We’re making it even easier for customers to get assistance by meeting them where they are with new customer service centers coming to locations throughout the transit system,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “As we continue to transition to tap-and-ride, customers can easily transfer funds from MetroCards to OMNY at their nearest customer service center where knowledgeable station agents are there to help.”
The centers are staffed at all times (with the exception of the St. George location on Staten Island) and are designed to serve as neighborhood extensions of the MTA’s downtown headquarters at 3 Stone Street. According to the agency, they will occupy repurposed booths or retail spaces within stations and feature improved lighting, accessibility, and new signage.
NYC Transit Executive Vice President of Subways Bill Amarosa Jr. said the goal is to make the subway more user-friendly for all of New York’s more than four million daily riders.
“These centers are a one-stop resource for accessing reduced fare programs, obtaining essential service information, with a focus on customer-friendly design and enhanced ADA accessibility,” Amarosa said. “We’re committed to ensuring that all riders have an easier and more efficient experience navigating the New York City Transit system.”
The MTA says all 15 new centers will open by the end of 2025.
Have a news tip? Send it to us here!
