New York Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a major shift in her state's transportation plans, announcing that the long-discussed Second Avenue subway extension will instead run along 125th Street rather than its traditional route down Second Avenue. The decision marks a significant change to over a century of planning by New York officials, who have been working towards creating a train line connecting the Financial District to the Upper East Side.
According to Hochul's plan, three new stations on 125th Street will be added, culminating in a terminal at Broadway in Morningside Heights. The expansion is expected to cost around $7.7 billion, with the state covering the design costs, which must be approved by the Legislature as part of next year's budget.
The move is seen as a key step towards creating a critical connection for residents in Harlem who currently lack easy or accessible travel options east-west or access to the Upper East Side. The new line will provide Q train stops at Lenox and St. Nicholas Avenues, as well as transfer points to several other trains, potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars in future costs.
The project is expected to be completed by 2032, pending completion of the second phase of the project, which extends the Q line through East Harlem. While some community advocates have expressed concerns about gentrification and displacement caused by construction, Hochul's plan aims to provide a more affordable option for residents.
When asked about the anticipated cost to design the proposed extension, Hochul's office said it would be revealed in her upcoming executive budget release next week. Despite the high costs, advocates argue that this project will have significant benefits, including moderate travel time savings and very high ridership projections.
According to Hochul's plan, three new stations on 125th Street will be added, culminating in a terminal at Broadway in Morningside Heights. The expansion is expected to cost around $7.7 billion, with the state covering the design costs, which must be approved by the Legislature as part of next year's budget.
The move is seen as a key step towards creating a critical connection for residents in Harlem who currently lack easy or accessible travel options east-west or access to the Upper East Side. The new line will provide Q train stops at Lenox and St. Nicholas Avenues, as well as transfer points to several other trains, potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars in future costs.
The project is expected to be completed by 2032, pending completion of the second phase of the project, which extends the Q line through East Harlem. While some community advocates have expressed concerns about gentrification and displacement caused by construction, Hochul's plan aims to provide a more affordable option for residents.
When asked about the anticipated cost to design the proposed extension, Hochul's office said it would be revealed in her upcoming executive budget release next week. Despite the high costs, advocates argue that this project will have significant benefits, including moderate travel time savings and very high ridership projections.