With the 2025 opening day in the books, Forte Construction Corp., a leading general contracting firm involved in significant transit and public works projects throughout downstate New York, successfully replaced two vital escalators that serve as the only free and accessible connection between the underground B/D trains and the elevated 4 train at the historic Yankee Stadium 161st Street station in the Bronx.
The 112-year-old station predates The House that Ruth Built by almost a decade and sees over 5.3 million riders every year, making it the busiest subway station in the Bronx and the 54th-busiest in the The Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s (MTA) 472-station system. Pre-pandemic, in 2018 and 2019, the station ranked as the 40th busiest in the system, serving an average of 8.3 to 8.4 million riders, which coincided with back-to-back 100-win seasons.
In 2018, the Yankees won 100 games, finishing second to Boston in the American League East (AL East). The following year, the team finished with 103 wins, taking first place in the AL East, eventually reaching the American League Championship.
The New York Yankees hosted opening day on March 27 versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
Over the course of the nine-month MTA modernization project, Forte replaced escalators that dated back more than 20 years with new models that feature larger, noise-free motors. As part of this modernization, the equipment machine room (EMR) was improved, receiving a new sprinkler system, air conditioning units to ensure a controlled temperature, more secure doors, new fire alarms and a remote escalator monitoring system to provide real-time monitoring of the escalator system.
“We are proud to have completed this project at Yankee Stadium on behalf of the MTA. These upgrades will not only improve the station’s functioning, but the passenger experience as well,” says Forte Project Manager Nirmal Bharatia.
Bringing the subway home
The construction team overcame significant challenges and worked proactively with the MTA to mitigate any impacts on passengers, while remaining cognizant of increased ridership during the baseball season.
The neighborhood’s busy traffic volume also had an impact on the timing of water service installation from underground mains below street level, to support dozens of fire suppression sprinklers protecting the stations. Excavation at the street level was carried out on non-peak days and times to ensure minimal traffic disruption.
The project signaled another crucial step in enhancing transit infrastructure and adds to a growing list of Forte escalator renovations across the MTA system, including those at Roosevelt Island, High Street, 53rd St./Lex Ave., Bowling Green, Penn Station and most recently, DeKalb Avenue.
Forte Construction, renowned for diverse projects across New York City and Long Island, collaborates with key government agencies like MTA, NYC SCA, NYCHA and DASNY. Forte is an affiliate of TAP Electric, founded in 1969. Forte and its affiliates are headquartered in Islandia, New York and also maintain permanent facilities in Holbrook, Manhattan and Queens.
