The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board has approved a nearly $2 billion tunnel-boring contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will extend the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street and bring new transit access to East Harlem.
Why It Matters: East Harlem residents have waited almost 100 years for their promised subway extension, per the MTA, which says the project will shorten commutes for over 100,000 daily riders.
The Big Picture: This is the largest tunneling contract in MTA history and the second of four construction contracts for the Q train extension, the MTA says. The new tunnel will extend from 116th Street to 125th Street, with crews excavating space for the future 125th Street Station.
By the Numbers: The contract is valued at $1.972 billion and will save the MTA $500 million by outfitting tunnel sections built in the 1970s to accommodate the future 116th Street Station, the MTA explains. The overall project cost is $7.7 billion, funded in part by Congestion Pricing toll revenues.
Zoom In: Tunnel boring will take place 35 to 120 feet below Second Avenue using 750-ton machines equipped with 22-foot diamond-studded drill heads, according to the MTA.
What They’re Saying: “It’s been a century since the people of East Harlem were promised the new subway they deserve — and we are finally getting it done,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.
What’s Next: Early work begins later this year, heavy civil construction starts in early 2026, and tunnel boring begins in 2027, the MTA notes. The line is scheduled to open in September 2032.
