Transit For All

By Jess Ge

Subculture

Mobility Challenged Seniors + Busy Commuters

Thesis Statement

How can slowness be redefined as a shared spatial value—supporting seniors while also enhancing the commuter experience?

Union Square Station as a multi-paced transit environment that prioritizes equity and spatial dignity by designing for slowness—not only as a necessity for mobility-challenged seniors, but as a meaningful experience for all users.

Mobility Challenged Seniors (65 and above)

Interview Quotes:

“Good luck finding an elevator that actually works.”

“People are too busy to even notice us.”

“I could not read it to find out what the train was not doing.”

Conclusion: Elevators often broken, missing, or difficult to locate.

Many subway lines (especially 4, 5, 6) lack elevator access.

Benches too low; difficult to sit or stand.

No escalators; stair use is dangerous.

Busy Commuters

Challenges Identified:

Frustration with delays, congestion, unclear signage

Navigating crowded platforms under time pressure

Cognitive fatigue during peak hours

Avoidance of elevators when unreliable or slow

No space to pause without disrupting others

Needs:

Fast, direct routes between lines

Highly legible wayfinding for quick decision-making

Predictable transfer paths

Streamlined flow with minimal visual distractions

Consistent system logic across zones

Shared Concern

Senior

Commuters

Clarity

Signage legibility, directional help

Instant recognition, fast decisions

Safety

Reliability

Fall prevention, noise management

Predictable circulation, alert system

Navigation

Working elevator

Simple transfers, side corridors

Escalator function, service updates

Logical flow, speed of movement

Environmental Psychology

Noise → Sensory overload

Poor signage → Cognitive fatigue

Dim lighting → Anxiety & disorientation

Crowds → Loss of personal space, fear of accidents

Key Theories:

Availability Heuristic: Negative past experiences

shape future avoidance

Uncertainty Avoidance: Ambiguous environments increase anxiety

Cognitive Overload: Cluttered space = decision fatigue

Research Synthesis

Key Design Principles from Research:

Multi-sensory clarity: Design for sight, sound, and spatial orientation to reduce confusion and sensory overload.

Use lighting, sound, and intuitive wayfinding to guide movement and ease stress across user types.

Redundant vertical access: Place elevators where they’re visible, accessible, and trustworthy— then double up.

No more “elevators in the back.” Elevators should be central and consistent across platforms to restore trust.

Resting & reset zones: Create places where people can pause, breathe, and feel dignified while navigating the station.

These are not waiting areas—they’re moments of relief and recovery within the flow of movement.

Emotional connection through design: Incorporate art, light, and interaction to create memorable and meaningful commuter experiences.

Design elements that spark curiosity, reflection, or calm can make even a short journey feel human again.

MTA Art and Design

MTA Arts & Design plays a vital role in shaping the emotional, cultural, and perceptual dimensions of New York City's transit spaces. More than aesthetic enhancements, these installations function as meaningful landmarks, narrative devices, and placemaking elements that enrich the commuting experience. Recognizing this, I integrated MTA Arts & Design not merely as embellishment, but as an active agent in my spatial strategy.

At the concourse level of Union Square Station, I deliberately designed spaces to align with the categories outlined by MTA Arts & Design—permanent art, digital art, graphic posters, music, and performance. These categories offer a framework for engaging the senses and promoting a deeper connection between people and place. My goal was to slow people down in a high-speed urban context by transforming transitional spaces into moments of pause and presence.