Second Ave. subway to E. Harlem gains ground
The planned extension of the Second Ave. Subway into East Harlem has rumbled closer to reality, entering what the government calls its engineering process, officials said Thursday.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he got word that the project has moved to the engineering process in an afternoon phone call from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“It’s great news,” Schumer told the Daily News. The development signals that federal funding for the project is likely assured, he said.
“Once they do the engineering, they don’t typically turn it down,” Schumer said of full funding. “We’re on the fast-track.”
Schumer pushed for federal money for the project in the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden in November.
The MTA had asked the feds for permission to move the project to the engineering phase, in which engineers assess the scope of the project and construction specifics.
The Second Avenue extension will
stretch the Q line to three new subway stations, at E. 106th St, E. 116th St, and E. 125th St. and Lexington Ave. in East Harlem. The line now terminates at E. 96th St.
Federal funding for the more than $6 billion project fell into limbo after former President Donald Trump failed to fulfill a deal with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Gov. Hochul, who has promised to complete the final extension in a 50-year, 8.5-mile project during her tenure, also said she had spoken to Buttigieg.
“The Second Avenue Subway project is moving down the tracks!” she said in a tweet.
Republicans last summer slammed Schumer’s efforts to plow cash into New York’s transit system.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) tweeted sarcastically in August that he had “asked if Chuck is going to gold-plate every rail in the NYC subway system. He’s asking for enough money to do that.”
The MTA won’t get gold rails anytime soon. But funding uncorked by the infrastructure law easily covers the federal government’s 49% share of the costs from the project, according to Schumer’s office.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who represents East Harlem and joined Schumer in the push for transit cash, hailed Thursday’s news.
“Today’s announcement kickstarts the Second Avenue Subway extension and will serve as a catalyst for improving the local economy and small business development while addressing environmental and social issues for years to come,” Espaillat said in a statement.