Governor Kathy Hochul has made a significant shift in her transportation strategy, choosing to divert plans for the long-anticipated Second Avenue Subway towards a new route along 125th Street. This decision raises critical questions about the timeline for completing the remaining segments of the subway line that many commuters have eagerly awaited.
In her recent State of the State address in Albany, Hochul unveiled a revised plan to extend the subway along 125th Street, adding new Q train stations at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. However, this pivot has sparked frustration among commuters, who feel that their needs for a direct southbound line from 72nd Street are being overlooked. "Let’s just keep it real," remarked Lola Young, a 38-year-old resident, in an interview with The Post. "125th already has a lot of trains passing through—what we really need is a train line here to avoid long walks."
This new approach indicates that Hochul is placing the north-south continuation of the Q-line on hold. A recently conducted feasibility study, funded by the state and costing $16 million, suggested that it would be more efficient and cost-effective in the long run to continue drilling straight across Harlem after the East Harlem extension is finished, which is projected for around 2031. "Our efforts to extend the Second Avenue Subway will save hundreds of millions of dollars in future costs and reduce travel time—a significant benefit for the estimated 240,000 daily riders," Hochul stated.
The proposed crosstown link aims to establish an east-west subway connection in Upper Manhattan, effectively connecting the Q line to existing lines including the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, and D lines. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has estimated the cost of this project at approximately $7.5 billion.
Interestingly, this change in plans also conveniently sidesteps the more complicated and pricey downtown construction, which the MTA has projected to cost around $13.5 billion, divided over two construction phases. Although a final determination won’t be reached until the MTA sets its funding priorities for the next capital plan in 2029, the governor's decision effectively puts the dream of completing the Second Avenue line all the way down to Houston Street on indefinite hold.
The initially proposed plan aimed to extend the subway by 3 miles from 72nd Street to Houston Street, with additional stops planned at 55th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, 14th, and Houston Streets.
Ana Perdomo, a 57-year-old upstate resident, expressed her disappointment regarding the expansion's uncertain future, noting that it would greatly reduce her commute. She currently travels to Grand Central and then walks to work near 23rd Street and Second Avenue five days a week. "How can they not proceed with this now?" Perdomo questioned. "It’s not good. Maybe they believe it’s too costly, but I think they generate enough revenue. They raised the fare; where is that money going? They should have sufficient funds."
Plans for the Second Avenue Subway have been in various stages of development since the 1920s, with the MTA investing $1.05 billion in environmental studies and design for a new track along Manhattan's far east side in the early 2000s. At that time, studies indicated that this new track would aid in revitalizing Lower Manhattan. Additionally, the MTA spent $700 million in the 1990s exploring the north-south segment of the Second Avenue subway.
