2nd Ave Subway 82% Complete

On Monday April 27th the MTA reported that Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway is now 82% complete. 

The announcement was by Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, President MTA Capital Construction, during a presentation that he made to MTA Board Transit/Bus Operations Committee.

At this time the project remains on-track to open in December 2016.

Dr. Horodniceanu's full presentation to the MTA Board Transit/Bus Operations Committee can be found on this YouTube link.

A selected set of images from the presentation are shown below:


Metropolitan Transportation Authority

A six-story ancillary building rising on the site of the former Century Lumber yard on 97th Street.  Its interesting to see that the exterior walls are being built using concrete.  Clearly this will  be a very secure facility.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority

This current images shows utility work that is taking place above the 96th Street station.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New escalators in the 72nd Street Station.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority



Metropolitan Transportation Authority

New electric power distribution and control equipment.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The frame of a new entrance to the 63rd St/Lexington Ave station.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority

An interesting view from the new lower level platform for the Q Line.  What is interesting is the station name on the wall - which suggests that that the MTA my have plans to change the name of this station from "Lexington Av - 63 St" to simply "Lex 63".


The complete set of images from the presentation can be found on this link:
Second Avenue Subway Update
MTA - 4/27/2015

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

"Second Avenue Subway Brings Fear-Inducing LED Streetlights"
By Shannon Ayala
Curbed NY - 4/24/15

"A Photographer Shows What’s Really Going On With the Second Avenue Subway"
By Ben Shapiro
New York Observer - 4/15/15

"Whistleblower alleges pay scam at Second Avenue Subway project"
By Rebecca Harshbarger
New York Post - 4/6/15

"Second Ave. subway project will be cut short if funding doesn't come through, MTA chief says"
By Pete Donoghue
NY Daily News - 3/2/15

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MTA Second Avenue Subway Newsletters
Volume XXXVI - April 2015

Lexington Av/63rd Street Station Area

72nd Street Station Area

86th Street Station Area

96th Street Station Area

Continued Progress Underground

A few construction progress photos courtesy of the MTA.


Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
12/13/2014

A view of one of the new tunnels under Second Avenue.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Rehema Trimiew
72nd Street station cavern - 2/6/2015

Workers in another section of the tunnel.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Rehema Trimiew
72nd Street station cavern - 1/14/2015

A view from the the mezzanine level of the 72nd Street station.  The platform level can be seen in the lower right quadrant of the image.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Rehema Trimiew
72nd Street station cavern - 1/14/2015

A view from the platform level of the new station.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Rehema Trimiew
72nd Street station cavern - 2/6/2015

A recent image of the 72nd Street station cavern and both tunnels.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
86th Street station - 12/13/2014

An image of a deep escalator shaft at the 86th street station.


Additional images can be found on these links:
Second Avenue Subway Update: January and February 2015
12 images

Second Avenue Subway - December 18, 2014
21 images

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

"Why the Second Ave. subway could be delayed—again"
Crain's New York Business - 2/25/15

"Throughout 2nd Ave Subway Build, Local Businesses See Fewer Customers, No Aid"
By Shannon Ho
Gotham Gazette - 2/23/15

2nd Ave Subway Station Shell at 86th Street Complete
MTA Press Release - 12/18/14

"First look at a Second Avenue Subway station"
By Steve Cuozzo
New York Post - 12/7/14

"Second Avenue, After Construction"
By Daniel Fitzsimmons
NYpress.com - 11/5/14

"Soft Rock, High Speeds: The 2nd Avenue Subway"
Ny Steph Yin
Cafe.com - 10/29/14

"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help"
By N.B.
The Economist - 10/17/14

"State Review Board Nixes MTA Capital Program"
By Jorteh Senah
WNYC - 10/3/14

"Promise of New Subways Has West Siders Excited and East Siders Skeptical"
By Tatiana Schlossberg
The New York Times - 10/2/14

MTA Wants 2nd Ave Subway Down payment, But Can’t Tell Us How Much It’ll Cost
By Stephen Smith
New York YIMBY - 9/26/14

Community Board 8 Second Avenue Subway Task Force Update
MTA Capital Construction
1/22/15

SAS Quarterly Report - 4Q2013
MTA Capital Construction

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MTA Second Avenue Subway Newsletters
Volume XXXIV - February 2015

Lex Av/63rd St Station Area

72nd St Station Area

86th St Station Area

96th St Station Area

"Finally, a 2nd Ave. Subway"

Living City | Finally a 2nd Ave. Subway (6:35)
Video by Melanie Burford and Greg Moyer
The New York Times
10/2/14

This interesting video, which is part of a 6-part series that NYTimes.com launched last month called "Living City", was posted on the New York Times web site this afternoon.

Produced by Melanie Burford and Greg Moyer of Blue Chalk for The New York Times, each episode looks at various parts of New York City infrastructure by asking simple questions about big engineering systems using graphics, animation, interviews and knowledgeable guides.

The video, which was put together by a credited production staff of fourteen people is, as one would expect, very professional.

The accompanying 1,500 word article can be found on this link:

"Promise of New Subways Has West Siders Excited and East Siders Skeptical"
By Tatiana Schlossberg
The New York Times
10/2/14

And here are the link to the previous episodes from this series:

Living City | Where Does Our Trash Go? (7:47)
The New York Times via YouTube
9/25/14

Living City | A Tale of Two Bridges (7:09)
The New York Times via YouTube
9/18/14

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

MTA Wants 2nd Ave Subway Downpayment, But Can’t Tell Us How Much It’ll Cost
By Stephen Smith
New York YIMBY
9/26/14

SAS Quarterly Report - 2Q2014
MTA Capital Construction

MTA wants $1.535 Billion to start SAS Phase 2

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority today published its proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program, which included a request for $1.535 billion to start construction of Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway.

The only construction that will be funded, if approved, would be the necessary tunnels from 105th Street to 125th Street.

The construction of the new stations would, in all likelihood, be funded as part of the MTA's 2020-2024 Capital Program.


Proposed 2015-2019 Capital Plan
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
9/24/14

Quoting from the MTA text,

The proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program includes tunneling from the Phase 1 terminus north of 96th St. and Second Avenue to 125th St. and 5th Avenue.

All elements of project management, design, construction management, insurance, and real estate necessary to support construction are also funded. The balance of the work necessary for operation will be funded in future capital programs

In its entirety, SAS Phase 2 will complete the full project’s East Harlem segment. Its alignment will run under Second Avenue to 120th St., then will turn west along 125th St., crossing Lexington Avenue and ending at 5th Avenue to accommodate storage tracks.

SAS Phase 2 will utilize a tunnel section built in the 1970s from 110th St. to 120th St. and will be outfitted with tracks and other essential equipment. Three new stations will also be constructed at 125th St.,116th St., and 106th St.

If approved, the $1.535 Billion would be allocated according to the following proposed schedule:


Proposed 2015-2019 Capital Plan
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Page 212
9/24/14

Bottom line -- the start of revenue service for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway is probably at least ten years away.


Related links:

Second Avenue Subway Construction in the 1970s
The Launch Box
9/21/09

"NYC Can't Afford to Build the Second Avenue Subway, and It Can't Afford Not To"
By Benjamin Kabak
The Atlantic CityLab - 7/17/14

MTA Capital Program 2015-2019
Board Briefing presentation
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
9/24/14

MTA Proposes 2015-2019 Capital Program
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Press Release
9/23/14

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

MTA Second Avenue Subway Newsletters
Volume XXIX, September

Lex Av/63rd St Station Area

72nd St Station Area

86th St Station Area

96th St Station Area