Phase 2 of Second Avenue Subway advances to engineering phase of CIG program

Jan. 7, 2022

Phase 2 will include the construction of three new subway stations and serve East Harlem where 70 percent of residents rely on transit to get to work.

Mass Transit Staff Report

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, second from right, MTA Acting Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, right, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, second from left, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, left, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer tour the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 tunnel in East Harlem between 110 St and 120 St on Tue., Nov. 23, 2021.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 expansion has been approved to enter the New Starts Engineering phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants Program.

"Earlier this afternoon I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg who shared the exciting news that the U.S. Department of Transportation is making a huge step forward on Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway expansion, which will unlock incredible potential for the people of East Harlem in expanding transit equity and economic opportunity," said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. "This moves us into the home stretch towards full funding and the start of construction on this incredibly important project. Last month I toured the site of the extension with MTA leadership and elected officials seeing firsthand the sheer grandeur of this exciting project. We made a clear commitment then to the people of East Harlem that we would keep this project moving swiftly, and now we see the first element of making that vision a true reality for so many New Yorkers. I want to thank Secretary Buttigieg, our Congressional leadership, and the MTA for their tireless advocacy for this project, and I can't wait to get the trains running."

The Second Avenue Subway opened in January 2017 and extended Q train service from 96th St. to 63rd St. Phase 2 will include the construction of three new subway stations, at 106th St, 116th St and 125th St in East Harlem.

MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "The East Harlem community has been waiting for the Second Avenue Subway for decades. Phase 2 will serve an area with one of the largest concentrations of affordable housing in the country where 70 percent of residents rely on public transportation to get to work. The new line extension will build on the success of Phase 1 and bring the total Second Avenue Subway ridership to 300,000, which is equivalent to the entire Philadelphia rail system. A big thank you to the FTA for moving the project to the next stage. My team is ready to go."