Family of woman who died on subway stairs addresses MTA board
It has become a mission for family members of Malaysia Goodson and her 18-month-old daughter, Rhylee.
On January 28, Malaysia Goodson climbed down five flights to the final staircase that leads to the uptown B/D/E platform at the 7th Avenue subway station in Manhattan.
Witnesses report that she had carried Rhylee in her stroller but fell at the top of the last staircase, which has another two separate flights of stairs.
Friends and relatives attended the monthly MTA board meeting in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday.
During the public comment period, Dontaysia Turner addressed commissioners, staff and members of the public.
"Struggling up and down these stairs is not right, it's not fair. You have to do something fast, quick before something like this happens again," she said. "I don't want other families to feel the pain my family feels. We talk about my cousin every day. She should still be here with us."
Turner says Rhylee is growing up, but she always asks about her mom.
MTA Chairperson Fernando Ferrer and NYC Transit President Andy Byford listened and spoke about Malaysia Goodson's death during the media briefing.
They expressed condolences to the family and reinforced a renewed commitment to accessibility.
In 2018, the transit improvement plan known as "Fast Forward" set a goal to add 50 elevators to stations in the next five years.
25 elevator projects are currently funded. Other projects will depend on continued financing from the state budget which is due on April 1.