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To the editor:
Over the years, many senior citizens and disabled residents have complained about the lack of an elevator at the Hartsdale train station. Metro North installed elevators at other train stations -- like Scarsdale -- but they have refused to make the Hartsdale train station disabled accessible, citing costs among other factors.
The lack of elevators makes it difficult and very stressful for some to take the train to and from Hartsdale. Because the bridge over the tracks was built before the Americans with Disabilities Act was approved, the station can continue to be inaccessible according to law. That doesn't make it right!
At the Greenburgh family day event recently at the Greenburgh pool, the subject of no elevators at the Hartsdale train station came up again. But this time an excellent suggestion was made by one of the residents who approached me: How about asking Metro North to install a stair lift rather than an elevator on the steps of the bridge over the tracks?
Many people have used stair lifts for years in their homes. Stair lifts provide the elderly and disabled with mobility. They are easy to operate and offer a stable, quiet ride with a comfortable chair. They usually are installed close to the wall and offer plenty of extra room on the steps. And are not very expensive.
I plan to reach out to Metro North and other lawmakers and will urge them to consider this compromise option.
If you have any thoughts about this, please advise. If you or family members or neighbors have had difficult getting to and from Hartsdale by train because of the lack of an elevator, please highlight your experiences so I can share them with Metro North.
Paul Feiner
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