Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans to extend the Second Avenue subway west along 125th Street, abandoning its original plan to run down Second Avenue all the way to the Financial District. The proposed $7.7 billion project will add three new stations on 125th Street, ending at Broadway in Morningside Heights.
The decision marks a significant shift from more than a century of planning by New York transportation officials, who have been trying and failing to create a train line that runs down Second Avenue to the Financial District. Hochul's office said the plan will establish a critical connection for Harlem residents who currently lack easy or accessible travel options east-west in the neighborhood or access to the Upper East Side.
The westward extension would add Q line stops at Lenox and St. Nicholas Avenues, as well as provide new transfer points to multiple trains. The project is expected to save hundreds of millions of dollars in future costs and reduce travel time for the 240,000 daily riders projected to benefit from the expansion.
Hochul's announcement comes as the MTA works to complete the second phase of the Q line extension through East Harlem, which is currently under construction and expected to wrap up in 2032. The governor directed the MTA to move forward with designing the 125th Street project, which will require approval from the Legislature as part of the budget.
While some community advocates are excited about the plan, others have expressed concerns that it could lead to gentrification and price out long-time residents. RanDe Rogers, treasurer of the East 125th St. business improvement district, said that mom-and-pop businesses may have less say and protections against damages during construction.
The proposal has also raised questions about whether the line should be renamed since it will only run along Second Avenue for a short distance. The MTA's 20-year needs assessment estimated the cost of the proposed line at $8.1 billion, including the cost of new subway cars needed to service the line.
Despite the high cost, Hochul's office said that the project is "cost-effective with very high ridership and moderate travel time savings." The governor will reveal the anticipated cost to design the extension when she releases her executive budget next week.
The decision marks a significant shift from more than a century of planning by New York transportation officials, who have been trying and failing to create a train line that runs down Second Avenue to the Financial District. Hochul's office said the plan will establish a critical connection for Harlem residents who currently lack easy or accessible travel options east-west in the neighborhood or access to the Upper East Side.
The westward extension would add Q line stops at Lenox and St. Nicholas Avenues, as well as provide new transfer points to multiple trains. The project is expected to save hundreds of millions of dollars in future costs and reduce travel time for the 240,000 daily riders projected to benefit from the expansion.
Hochul's announcement comes as the MTA works to complete the second phase of the Q line extension through East Harlem, which is currently under construction and expected to wrap up in 2032. The governor directed the MTA to move forward with designing the 125th Street project, which will require approval from the Legislature as part of the budget.
While some community advocates are excited about the plan, others have expressed concerns that it could lead to gentrification and price out long-time residents. RanDe Rogers, treasurer of the East 125th St. business improvement district, said that mom-and-pop businesses may have less say and protections against damages during construction.
The proposal has also raised questions about whether the line should be renamed since it will only run along Second Avenue for a short distance. The MTA's 20-year needs assessment estimated the cost of the proposed line at $8.1 billion, including the cost of new subway cars needed to service the line.
Despite the high cost, Hochul's office said that the project is "cost-effective with very high ridership and moderate travel time savings." The governor will reveal the anticipated cost to design the extension when she releases her executive budget next week.
I'm tellin' ya, this whole thing reeks of a hidden agenda 
. First off, why is it gotta be 125th Street and not Second Avenue all the way to the Financial District? What's really goin' on here? Is it some kinda ploy to gentrify Harlem and push out the long-time residents? Those mom-and-pop businesses are the backbone of the community, ya know? 
And what about the cost? $7.7 billion is a lotta dough 
. I mean, I get that it's supposed to be cost-effective with high ridership, but where's the proof? It just seems like a buncha hooey to me 
. And let's not forget about the MTA's 20-year needs assessment... that's just some fancy way of sayin' they're hidin' somethin' 
. I'm watchin' this one, folks...
! Extending the Second Avenue subway west along 125th Street is like, a total game-changer for Harlem residents and businesses 
. I'm all about making public transport more accessible and affordable for everyone, especially in neighborhoods that are often overlooked 
.
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. Maybe we can even explore ways to incorporate more affordable housing options into the project 
.
Anyway, I'm excited to see how this project comes together and what benefits it'll bring to Harlem and beyond 
!
I am literally SOOOO excited about this new subway plan!!! 
extending it to 125th Street is gonna be a GAME CHANGER for Harlem residents 
they've been waiting for like, forever for easy access to the Upper East Side 