BREAKING NEWS: SAS Phase 2 Moves Forward

Phase 2 of Second Avenue Subway Project to be
included in the MTA's 2015-2019 Capital Plan Request

Benjamin Kabak at 2nd Ave. Sagas first reported today that MTA Chairman Thomas Pendergast has now confirmed that Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway will be included in the MTA's upcoming 2015-2019 Capital Plan request.

Penergast's made the statement this morning during a meeting of the NY State Assembly Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.

As originally proposed, Phase 2 of the project would extend the Q Line from 96th Street to 125th Street, with intermediate stations located at 106th and 116th streets.


Final Environmental Impact Statement (2004)
Proposed Phase 2
Figure 5

Phase 2 of the project would utilize existing tunnels between 99th and 105th streets, and 110th and 120th streets. These tunnels were originally built in an earlier attempt to build the line during the 1970s.

According the the 2004 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the "only" new tunnels required would extend from 120th Street and 2nd Avenue to the new 125th Street station and onward to Park Avenue (the extension under Second Avenue to Park Avenue would be used for train storage); as well as a stub tunnel north on Second Avenue to 128th Street, which would also be used for train storage.  Of course this is all subject to change when the EIS is updated.

These tunnels, and the new 125th Street station, could be particularly challenging to construct considering their proximity to the Lexington Avenue 125th Street subway station and the numerous historic structures along 125th Street.

Conceptional plans (shown below) for the 125th Street station were developed as part of the Environmental Impact Statement that was finalized in 2004.


Final Environmental Impact Statement (2004)
125th Street Station (as proposed)
Figure 8-2


Final Environmental Impact Statement (2004)
Conceptional Drawing of the 125th Street Station (as proposed)
Figure 2-7

As noted in the diagrams above, the new 125th Street station would include a pedestrian connection to the Lexington Avenue 4/5/6 subway line and Metro-North Railroad's Harlem-125th Street station.

Apparently $1.5 billion in funding will be requested from the state in the next capital plan with an unknown amount of additional funding to be requested from federal sources.

Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to open in December 2016.

See also:

"MTA to propose allocating $1.5 billion toward Phase 2 of Second Ave. subway"
By Pete Donohue
NY Daily News - 8/7/14

"MTA Wants to Keep Second Avenue Subway Momentum Going"
By Kate Hinds / Jorteh Senah
WNYC News - 8/7/14

"SAS Phase 2 leads capital plan as funding questions loom"
By Benjamin Kabak
2nd Ave. Sagas - 8/8/14

"M.T.A. Chief Gives Preview of Proposed Five-Year Capital Plan"
By Matt Flegenheimer
The New York Times - 8/8/14

"Don't interrupt Second Ave. subway project"
By The Editorial Board
amNY - 8/10/14