How tweaking on subway stop can change Bronx Tourism forever

Entrance to the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo

This tourist attraction has seen bright-eyed faces for more than a century. But in the years since its opening, getting to the Bronx Zoo has become much more of a challenge. In the past New Yorkers and tourists could easily take a subway train to the famous zoo. You could easily take the extension lines on the Thrid Ave Elevated train or the extension on the Wakefield line. Today most have to drive to the century-old institution, which for most new yorker and torrist that lack personal vehicle access. That leaves folks with the closest advertised train station on the zoo’s website Pelham Parkway Station. This station, while relatively far from the zoo it’s the only ADA-compliant station in the area. This is a barrier for many New Yorkers and tourists who would love to see this world famous destination but avoid it due to the long walk.  

But one station that used to exist as a branch line still stands. Today you can even see the rusted reminisce older prepose, this being the West Farms-Tremont Ave station. Today this station is only two blocks away from the zoo. It is only a 5min walk compared to the 27 min walk from Pelham Parkway. Yet its position isn’t being utilized to its fullest extent. As the MTA works to make the subway more ADA-compliant, why not speed up the priority for West Farm Road? Not only that, why not take the opportunity to rename the station to reflect its closeness to the zoo? So when tourists or New Yorkers see a station on the map they’ll know its an easy trip to this cultural institution. An elevator and a new name like West Farm-Bronx Zoo could do wonders for Bronx tourism and for the local economy around the station. 

Getting here - Bronx Zoo. (n.d.). Bronx Zoo. https://bronxzoo.com/plan-your-visit/getting-here/transit