Friday, May 29, 2015

A Simulated 2nd Ave Subway

The Second Avenue Subway entered virtual service on Thursday, May 29th, 2015.

On this date MTA Capital Construction opened its official Second Avenue Subway Simulator at the SAS Community Information Center (CIC) at 1628 Second Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets.

The simulator gives visitors to the CIC the experience of operating a train through the three new stations that are under construction for Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway.


Second Avenue Subway Simulator (3:32)
mtainfo channel on Youtube

The simulated journey starts on the tail tracks north of the new 96th Street station and enables the operator to guide the train through the tunnels, stopping at the 96th, 86th and 72nd Street stations.

Apparently the simulator does not allow you to continue on the Q Line past the Lexington Av/63rd St station as actual riders will be able to do once the line opens in late 2016.

According to the MTA, the three new stations in the simulation were created using renderings as well as the actual materials being used in their construction, so the texture of floor and wall tiles and other materials are replicated in the virtual stations as closely as possible to how they will look when the project is completed.

The subway simulator was developed by MediaCombo, in collaboration with Black Hammer Productions and Studio Mercenary.

Further information can be found in this article:

"The MTA's $80,000 Video Game About the Second Avenue Subway Is Addicting"
By Nick Lucchesi
The Village Voice



In other news, the MTA conducted a walking tour of the underground construction site for members of the news media on May 21, 2015. A selection of images from this tour are shown below.



Patrick Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, President MTA Capital Construction, briefs members of the news media before the start of the tour.



Patrick Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Walking through one of the tunnels that leads from the Lexington Av/63rd St station to the new 72nd Street station.



Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

This image would appear to show the G4/S2 Cavern I that is shown in the diagram below. The view is looking south. The tunnel on the left leads to the north side of the upper lower level of the existing Lexington Av/63rd Street station.

This cavern has been designed to allow room for a connection to the S1 S2 tunnel that will be constructed as part of Phase 3 of the Second Avenue Subway project. The future S1 S2 tunnel will connect to this cavern on the cement wall just to the right of the existing tunnel.



G3/G4 Tunnels and 72nd Street Station
Second Avenue Subway

This diagram details the current and planned subway tunnels just to the east of the Lexington Avenue/63rd Street station.

The G3/G4 tunnels (shown in blue and green) are being built as part of Phase 1 of the project. The tunnels designated as S1/S2 (shown in red), for the future "T Line", will be built during Phase 3 of the project.



Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit



Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

Dr. Horodniceanu answers questions from the news media.



Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

A view from inside one of the new stations.



Patrick Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority

A view of a long escalator shaft inside one of the new stations.



Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit


Additional images can be found on this link:
Second Avenue Subway Update - May 21, 2015
MTAPhotos on Flickr
80 images



Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"The MTA's $80,000 Video Game About the Second Avenue Subway Is Addicting"
By Nick Lucchesi
The Village Voice

Video: "Update From Underground: NYC's Second Avenue Subway"
By Jennifer Weiss
Wall Street Journal

"MTA wants $2.5B from NYC for Second Avenue Subway"
By Rebecca Harshbarger
New York Post - 5/4/2015

"MTA: Fund the Plan or Risk Second Avenue Subway Expansion"
By Kate Hinds
WNYC - 4/29/15

"NYC's New Subway Stations Feature a Twist On Its Famous Typeface"
By Adam Clark Estes
Gizmodo - 4/28/15

"New Photos Show 2nd Ave Subway Stations Nearing Completion"
By Emma Whitford
Gothamist - 4/27/15

::

MTA Second Avenue Subway Newsletters
Volume XXXVII - May 2015

Lex Av/63rd St Station Area

72nd St Station Area

86th St Station Area

96th St Station Area