NEW YORK, NY – Today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, officially broke ground on Phase II of the transformative Second Avenue Subway expansion, a long-awaited project that Espaillat has championed for years.
“East Harlem has long been a transit desert, leaving more than 100,000 New Yorkers without access to the subway system in a city that boasts the nation’s premier public transportation network. When I arrived in Congress, I made it a priority to advance the construction of Second Avenue Subway stations at 106th Street and 116th Street, as well as the connection to 125th Street,” said Congressman Espaillat.
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“After years of hard work in the community and in Congress, today marks another milestone in our successful effort to make this new subway line a reality, finally delivering a project that had remained stalled for decades. I am grateful for the shared commitment and efforts of Governor Hochul, Leaders Schumer and Jeffries, Janno Lieber, our local elected officials, and many others,” Espaillat continued.
“Looking ahead, I will continue working with this coalition of leaders to expand our current initiatives and ensure that this historic project translates into skilled, well-paying jobs for our neighbors in El Barrio, while also implementing the appropriate protections that provide peace of mind during future construction and allow residents to remain and thrive in the neighborhood they know, love, and define through their identity.”
Governor Kathy Hochul stated
“The Second Avenue Subway expansion represents a historic investment in East Harlem. Working closely with Congressman Espaillat, we have created an unprecedented local hiring program to ensure that this investment—and the good-paying jobs generated by this project—directly benefit the community. I thank Congressman Espaillat for his tireless advocacy on behalf of Upper Manhattan residents to expand access to quality jobs and workforce training opportunities that will strengthen this community for decades to come.”
Senator Chuck Schumer said
“Today’s groundbreaking, along with the awarding of another major construction contract for Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway, brings us one step closer to achieving transit equity and excellence in New York City. This project will provide East Harlem with greater access to jobs, healthcare, family connections, and essential services while reducing traffic congestion, subway overcrowding, and improving air quality.
Working shoulder to shoulder with Congressman Adriano Espaillat and Governor Kathy Hochul, I secured $3.4 billion in federal funding—the largest Capital Investment Grant in history at the time—to move this transformative project forward. When construction is completed, more than 300,000 New Yorkers will benefit from nearly two miles of new track, six new stations, and one fully renovated station.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated
“New Yorkers have waited long enough for the Second Avenue Subway expansion, which will reduce commute times, create new job opportunities, and provide critical transit connections in East Harlem. I am proud that the MTA is achieving savings of more than $1 billion and that portions of the project are advancing ahead of schedule. These vital infrastructure projects drive our economy and will deliver the safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation system that riders and families deserve.”
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said
“Today’s groundbreaking marks another important step toward transit justice for East Harlem, the community in New York City that depends on public transportation more than any other.”
Jamie Torres-Springer, President of MTA Construction & Development, stated:
“The new MTA is delivering on the long-standing promise of bringing subway service to East Harlem. By applying the lessons learned from Phase I, we are executing this project more efficiently, faster, and at lower cost, generating savings of more than $1 billion to date.”
Bringing Transit Equity to East Harlem
East Harlem is a historically underserved neighborhood that contains one of the highest concentrations of affordable housing in the United States, with approximately 70 percent of residents relying on public transportation.
Phase II will create three new fully accessible stations at the heart of the community—located at 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street—and will provide direct, no-transfer service from East Harlem to the Upper East Side, West Midtown, and Coney Island, reducing travel times by as much as 20 minutes.
The Phase II Second Avenue Subway project is expected to generate more than 70,000 jobs, including union construction positions. A 20 percent local hiring goal will create well-paying employment opportunities for hundreds of East Harlem residents.
For decades, East Harlem has been promised a subway connection along Second Avenue. In the 1920s, the proposed “Second System,” which eventually evolved into the IND subway system, included service along Second Avenue. In 1948, New York City voters approved bond financing intended to build the Second Avenue Subway, but the project was ultimately shelved following the outbreak of the Korean War.
Construction finally began in East Harlem in 1972 but was later abandoned in 1975 during New York City’s fiscal crisis. Phase II will make use of sections of tunnels originally built during the 1970s.
About Phase II
Phase II of the project will extend Q train service north from 96th Street to 125th Street and then west along 125th Street to Park Avenue, covering approximately 1.5 miles.
The expansion will provide a direct passenger connection to the existing 125th Street Lexington Avenue subway station and include a new entrance at Park Avenue to facilitate convenient transfers to the Metro-North Harlem–125th Street station.
Each station will include surface-level ancillary buildings housing ventilation, mechanical, and electrical equipment, as well as ground-floor space for potential retail and community uses.
The extension is expected to serve an additional 110,000 daily riders and will add three new ADA-accessible stations, raising standards of comfort and convenience for transit users.
Enhanced multimodal connectivity at the 125th Street and Park Avenue hub—with links to subway lines 4, 5, and 6, Metro-North Railroad, and the M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport—will make transfers easier and provide faster, more seamless travel throughout New York City and the surrounding metropolitan region.
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