In a surprising turn of events, Governor Kathy Hochul has decided to redirect the long-awaited Second Avenue Subway project, opting for a crosstown route instead. This decision raises significant doubts about the timeline for completing the remaining sections of the subway line.
During her recent State of the State address in Albany, Hochul unveiled a fresh proposal that involves extending the Second Avenue subway all the way along 125th Street. The new plan includes the addition of Q train stations at key intersections such as Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway.
However, this shift in focus has left many commuters outraged. As Lola Young, a 38-year-old resident, expressed to The Post, "Let’s just keep it real. There are already plenty of trains operating on 125th Street. We’re in dire need of a new train line in our area to cut down on the lengthy walks we endure every day."
Hochul’s announcement indicates a willingness to postpone the long-planned southward expansion of the line from 72nd Street. This decision comes after a state-funded feasibility study, costing $16 million, revealed that continuing the tunnel boring straight across Harlem would ultimately be more time-efficient and cost-effective after the initial East Harlem extension is projected to finish around 2031.
Hochul stated, "Our initiatives to extend the Second Avenue Subway will save hundreds of millions of dollars in future expenses and decrease commuting time—significant advantages for the anticipated 240,000 daily riders that will benefit from this extension."
The proposed crosstown segment aims to establish an essential east-west subway link in Upper Manhattan, connecting the Q line with several others, including the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, and D lines. According to estimates from MTA in 2023, this extension could cost around $7.5 billion.
Notably, Hochul’s strategic pivot also sidesteps the more intricate and pricier downtown construction, which the MTA has projected would cost approximately $13.5 billion, divided into two phases.
Although a final decision regarding this project won’t be reached until the MTA prioritizes its funding in the 2029 capital plan, Hochul’s redirection effectively postpones the long-cherished vision of extending the Second Avenue line all the way downtown.
This ambitious plan sought to add an additional 3 miles stretching from 72nd Street to Houston Street, featuring stops at notable locations like 55th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, 14th, and Houston Streets.
Ana Perdomo, a 57-year-old commuter from upstate New York, shared her thoughts on the expansion, stating that if it ever materializes, it would significantly reduce her daily travel time since she currently takes a train to Grand Central and then walks to her workplace near 23rd Street and Second Avenue five days a week.
"How can they not go through with it now?" Perdomo asked, expressing her frustration. "This situation isn’t good. Maybe they believe it’s too costly, but it seems to me they’re generating enough revenue. They’ve raised fares—where does all that money go? There should be sufficient funds available."
The concept of this extension has been in discussion since the 1920s, with the MTA investing a staggering $1.05 billion on environmental assessments and design work for a new track along Manhattan’s far east side during the early 2000s. Back then, studies indicated that this new track would support the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. In addition, the MTA allocated $700 million in the 1990s to investigate the north-south leg of the Second Avenue subway.
