Manhattan judge orders MTA to keep elevator operators working at five Washington Heights stations

The Washington Heights elevator operators aren’t going anywhere but up and down.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Machelle Sweeting signed an order Friday keeping the MTA workers on the job inside three stops on the A train line and two more on the No. 1 train where some riders descend as far as 180 feet below the street.

“Ordered that respondent remains enjoined and restrained from removing, terminating, eliminating, replacing, reassigning NYC Transit Authority employees from presently operating the elevators,” she wrote in her decision.

The stations were identified as 168th St., 181st St. and 190th streets on the A line, and 181st and 191st streets on the No. 1 line in Washington Heights.

“The MTA is wildly out of touch on this issue,” said Transit Workers Union Local 100 President Richard Davis. “Riders want more uniformed staff in the subways, not less — especially in these stations, which are 15 to 20 stories below ground and require taking an elevator to get in or out.”

The judge set dates for additional hearings on Aug. 30-31 and on Sept. 1 to determine if the removal of elevator operators would violate city Human Rights law by denying a service currently available to disabled riders.

“This court finds that the elimination of the elevator attendant position does amount to a closing, a closing of the means of access to a subway station, by means of not having access to the elevator,” said Sweeting.

A Saturday email to the MTA for comment on the case was not returned.

Robert Kelley, the union vice president for stations, said he expected a huge turnout for the hearings.

“They’re going to face a lot of angry riders and elected officials from Washington Heights,” he predicted. “The MTA wants to raise fares — and reduce customer service and access to these stations — at the same time.

“The judge did the right thing and slammed the brakes on their plan.”