Back in 2018, the MTA announced their plan to move forward with plans regarding the Second Avenue Subway project, but it’s been a bumpy road. Most recently, the MTA had to halt the expansion after a sudden loss in funding from the pause on NYC’s congestion pricing program. However, everything is now back on track following Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement of $54 million worth of state funding.
The long-awaited extension will extend the Q line into East Harlem, one of the most transit-dependent neighborhoods in NYC, improving commutes for area residents by creating new stations on Second Avenue and 125th Street.
“I have been committed to the Second Avenue Subway since the day I took office, and we will deliver this project for the people of East Harlem and the millions of riders who will use it every day,” said Governor Hochul. “When I announced the pause on implementing congestion pricing, I directed my team to think creatively about how to keep these generational investments moving forward. Now, we are committing the funds needed to continue the utility relocation contract, the first step to building this transformational project to meet the needs of everyday New Yorkers.”
The renderings show a new station on East 125th Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue where straphangers will be able to catch the Q train as well as grab connections to the 4, 5, and 6 lines.
The station is proposed to have many windows, allowing for an abundance of natural light.
This phase will bring a long overdue subway line back to the neighborhood of East Harlem (which hasn’t had easy subway access since the Second Avenue El stopped service above 57th Street in 1940) by extending service north from 96th Street to 125th Street.
The service extension will create three new stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th streets, each with above-ground buildings that house ventilation, mechanical, and electrical equipment, as well as space for possible ground-floor retail and community uses.
In addition to improving mobility and reliability for commuters and residents of East Harlem, it will also reduce crowding along the 4, 5, and 6 lines on Lexington Avenue.
Benefits of the project include:
- Three new ADA-accessible stations at 106 St, 116 St, and 125 St
- Increased transit connectivity at the 125th Street station, with connections to the 4, 5, and 6, Metro-North trains, and M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport
- A one-seat ride from East Harlem to the Upper East Side, West Midtown, and Coney Island
- Less crowding on the 4, 5, and 6 lines, as well as the 96 St Q and local bus service
- Shorter commute times (some passengers may save as much as 20 minutes)
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Advancing that utility work now – while congestion pricing is on pause – puts MTA in a position to keep the overall Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project on schedule while Albany resolves how to fund the $15 billion outstanding for the MTA’s 2020-24 Capital Program.”
Phase 2 is currently underway again with the funding allocated towards the utility relocation contract. Learn more about the project here.