MTA has defended its decision reduce funding for the Second Avenue Subway line between Lower Manhattan and Harlem, delaying completion beyond 2019.
New York City officials have been critical about the authority’s decision to cut funding for the project in its 2015-19 capital programme.
MTA said the change reflected the work it could realistically complete in four years, given the challenges associated with building an underground railway in a busy metropolitan area.
In a statement, MTA said: “We have committed that if we can speed up the schedule to begin tunnelling the East Harlem phase sooner, we will pursue a Capital Program amendment to do so.
“Governor Cuomo has made clear that he would like us to accelerate work on the Second Avenue Subway, and we are actively looking for ways to deliver the project faster.”
The 14-kilometre line will extend the Second Avenue Subway from Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan to 125th Street in Harlem.
It will also include a connection to the 63rd Street and Broadway Lines, providing direct service from East Harlem and the Upper East Side to West Midtown via the Broadway express tracks.
Hah, the 2019 target would have marked the centenary of the original proposal. Work has been abandoned several times – in 1929 after the Wall Street Crash. In the 1940’s due to World War 2 and in the 1970’s due to New York City’s bankruptcy. The Second Avenue Subway looks sure to become the first metro rail project anywhere with an implementation taking over 100 years.
Its a huge Project requiring billions of Dollars . Where is the Govt going to get the money to built the Line ? It cant be magicked out of thin air . . They could increase the cost to Commuters say put an extra 1 dollar per journey made . . But that wouldn’t be popular either . .
The MTA capital budget does have billions of dollars in it. Just not enough billions to get this finished by 2019. So it’ll get finished around 2025.
Id be interested to know if they will find the necessary manpower for this Project.