The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has approved a $1.972 billion tunneling contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue subway, extending Q train service from 96th Street to 125th Street in East Harlem. The contract was awarded to Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture between Halmar International and FCC Construction, and represents the largest tunneling contract in the agency’s history. Phase 2 will deliver three new ADA-accessible stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets.
106 St Station, via MTA
Construction under this contract will include boring a new tunnel between 116th and 125th Streets and excavating space for the 125th Street Station. In addition, crews will outfit a section of tunnel built in the 1970s to accommodate the 116th Street Station, a cost-containment measure that will save the MTA an estimated $500 million. Heavy civil construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with tunnel boring set to start in 2027. The overall Phase 2 project has a $6.99 billion budget and is on track to begin revenue service in September 2032.
125 St Station entrance, via MTA
125 St Station entrance, via MTA
Phase 2 is being advanced through four contracts. The first, awarded in January 2024, covers utility relocation work from 105th to 110th Streets to prepare for the 106th Street Station. The second, announced this week, covers tunnel boring. The third contract will construct underground space for the 106th Street Station, while the fourth will complete the stations and systems necessary for operations. The project is supported by federal funding, congestion pricing revenues, and savings from new construction practices, with more than $1.3 billion in cost reductions already achieved.
125 St, platform view, via MTA
“As someone born and raised in East Harlem, I know this project is about far more than just laying track, it’s about fulfilling a promise generations in our community have waited to see realized,” said Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs. “Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway expansion will bring good-paying union jobs, shorten commutes, and open up opportunity for thousands of our neighbors who have long been shut out by the lack of transit access.”
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Excellent news, this and the likely future phase across 125th St are needed.
However omitting the provisions for future expansion into the Bronx in this phase was shortsighted.
Don’t get me started.
The early plans had it running to the East 181st St. Station in the Bronx, formerly the Westchester Railroad headquarters, using a steel viaduct now demolished. Let us hope this can be built without the excessive cost overruns which plagued the original work.
This will drive “gentrification” in Harlem. Property values and rents will increase substantially in Harlem because of this.
Absolutely; all of that NYCHA housing n/o 96th will be bulldozed (What, you think billions are going to be invested to facilitate the slackers living there?)
This project is projected to cost $4 billion per mile and we know it will be more. New subway lines lines in Europe cost a fraction per mile, even LA’s new purple line is only $800m per mile. The MTA should never be in charge of new construction. Let them run the trains and dirty stations. A separate contractor should be in charge of construction with bonuses for on time and on budget. This will be another MTA mess.
This is awesome
Every single person better be prepared if 10 years of construction hell coming. And each and every area resident and business owner better pack their bags — you think billions are going to be invested in this work to maintain the status quo? NYCHA buildings, good riddance. Local small businesses selling crap and pot, see ya! Sneaker shops, later.
Need proof of the future? Look 96th St and below: new developments, tall residences, beauty. This the sole chance to upgrade the dilapidation and put the criminal elements that’ve been festering for decades.
Billions should be poured into getting rid of slackers like you on New York Yimby instead!
Can we fix the existing system first? Add elevators to all of the existing first? Can’t folks continue to use the 4/5/6, 2/3, or metro north?
Can’t imagine why the MTA is strapped for cash…oh that’s right, just raise the fare for the most vulnerable new yorkers! -__-
There will never be elevators in all subway terminals. Some stations will absolutely never be ADA accessible it is too cost prohibitive it will never happen
This isn’t true. Not sure why you think this.
It is actually – I work with the MTA every day. It is common knowledge within the MTA that some stations simply will never be ADA accessible
Even after the opening of the Second Avenue Subway from 96th Street, the 4/5/6 still operates over capacity. Giving people who live on the east side more than one subway line to rely on is a good thing (despite the inevitable waste and corruption in the building of it).
Wait for the Environmental nuts to start protesting that the new tunnel will be harming some rare underground species, and the wacko leftists decrying the abject ray-sizm of dispossessing minority owned businesses in the area.
It must be tiring always inventing a person in your mind to get mad at all day.
I’ve already seen two news articles decrying the displacement of the (checks notes) 44 residents who will be bought out through eminent domain and one business owner who will need to relocate. She’s not making things up.
Oh noooo we have to inconvenience (checks notes) 45 people in order to improve the quality of life for a million?? How on earth could we do such a thing! If it were china they’d have bulldozed the homes without even asking
Somebody’s a wacko here…
We should just give temporary visas to koreand and japanese (and maybe chinese) and let them building the railroad at 1/5 of the total cost at 1/5 of the projected construction time