New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed a significant expansion to the Second Avenue Subway, setting sights westward towards 125th Street Station in NYC. This ambitious plan aims to construct three new stations along 125th Street, creating a vital crosstown artery that will seamlessly connect the east side’s Q line with a multitude of subway lines serving the west side and the Bronx.
Announced during her State of the State address in Albany, Governor Hochul underscored the urgency and importance of this project. According to the governor’s 2024 State of the State policy book, “Governor Hochul knows New York needs another crosstown rail connection, and we can’t wait another decade to begin planning it.” This statement highlights the administration’s commitment to improving New York City’s intricate public transportation network and addressing the growing need for efficient crosstown travel options.
The proposed extension promises to deliver three strategically located stations on 125th Street, specifically at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. This expansion is designed to create a major transit hub at 125th Street Station Nyc, linking the Q train to the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, and D subway lines. Furthermore, the new stations will provide enhanced access to numerous bus routes, streamlining commutes for residents across Upper Manhattan and beyond.
While currently a proposal, and initially reported by Gothamist, the 125th Street Station NYC extension represents a long-term vision requiring extensive planning and approvals. The project is anticipated to undergo numerous reviews and will take several years before any construction commences.
This westward expansion plan follows significant progress in the ongoing Second Avenue Subway project. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently secured $3.4 billion in federal grants to extend the Q train from its current terminus at 96th Street and 2nd Avenue to 125th Street and Lexington Avenue. This phase, known as Phase 2, is poised to begin construction soon, connecting with the 4, 5, and 6 lines at Lexington Avenue, though completion is still several years away.
Map of proposed Second Avenue Subway extension
Proposed map of the Second Avenue Subway extension to 125th Street Station NYC, illustrating the three new stops at Lenox, St. Nicholas, and Broadway.
The environmental review for Phase 2 was completed in 2004, highlighting the decades-long planning and development inherent in major subway expansions like the Second Avenue Subway, which has been conceptualized since the 1920s. Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway, reaching 96th Street, was finally inaugurated in 2017, demonstrating the lengthy timelines involved in these large-scale infrastructure projects.
The estimated cost for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway is $7.7 billion, which includes debt servicing. The MTA’s recent 20-year needs assessment further evaluated the westward extension to Broadway, estimating its cost at $7.55 billion. This assessment played a crucial role in shifting the focus from a southward extension to Lower Manhattan to the westward expansion towards 125th Street Station NYC.
Historically, the ambition was to extend the Second Avenue Subway southward to serve the East Side of Lower Manhattan. However, the MTA’s needs assessment concluded that a westward extension would be a more impactful investment. The assessment indicated that extending the line west to 125th Street Station NYC would yield greater benefits in terms of ridership and cost-effectiveness.
125th Street streetscape in Harlem
Street view of 125th Street in Harlem, showcasing the vibrant urban environment surrounding the future 125th Street Station NYC.
125th Street train station in Harlem
Entrance to the existing 125th Street A train station in Harlem, a key transit point that will be further enhanced by the proposed Second Avenue Subway extension.
According to MTA projections, the westward extension to 125th Street Station NYC is expected to serve approximately 240,000 daily riders by 2045. This ridership figure surpasses the projected numbers for a southward extension to Houston Street, while also being economically advantageous. Notably, over 90% of the anticipated ridership would originate from “equity communities,” underscoring the project’s potential to improve transportation access in underserved areas. Furthermore, the extension is expected to alleviate overcrowding on the heavily utilized bus routes that currently traverse 125th Street.
Governor Hochul also emphasized the potential for cost and time savings by extending westward from 125th Street Station NYC immediately after Phase 2 completion. Since tunnel boring will already be concluded at 125th Street, proceeding with the westward extension could save over $400 million compared to undertaking this work at a later stage.
As Phase 2 construction to 125th and Lexington gains momentum, the MTA is set to initiate a feasibility study in 2024 for the westward extension to Broadway. This study will be a crucial step in evaluating the project’s viability and solidifying plans for the future of 125th Street Station NYC as a major transportation hub.
IBX Project Advances to Design Phase
In addition to the 125th Street Station NYC expansion, Governor Hochul provided updates on the Interborough Express (IBX) project, a proposed light rail line connecting Brooklyn and Queens via existing freight rail infrastructure. The 20-year needs assessment estimates the IBX project cost at $5.5 billion, with a projected daily ridership of 120,000 by 2045.
Conceptual rendering of the Interborough Express (IBX) light rail at the Wilson Avenue L train station in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a related transit initiative in New York City.
Having commenced its environmental review in January 2022, the IBX project is now advancing into the “formal design and engineering” phase. Governor Hochul highlighted this as a critical step forward, enabling the project to progress towards realization. The IBX, often referred to as the governor’s “baby,” promises to significantly enhance connectivity between Brooklyn and Queens, reducing commute times and offering transfers to numerous subway lines. The IBX is inspired by the Regional Plan Association’s TriboroRX proposal, although the Bronx segment of the original TriboroRX plan has been omitted due to the MTA’s Penn Access project.
Crackdown on License Plate Obscuration
In other transportation-related news, Governor Hochul addressed the issue of license plate obstruction aimed at toll and speed camera evasion. With over 5% of license plates currently unreadable by toll cameras, the governor announced plans to combat this issue through legislative measures.
Proposed legislation includes increased fines for plate defacement, a ban on devices designed to obscure license plates, police authority to seize plate covers, and classifying toll evasion as a “theft-of-services misdemeanor.”
Finally, Governor Hochul reiterated her support for Sammy’s Law, which would empower New York City to lower speed limits to 20 miles per hour. Despite broad support last year, the bill stalled in the Assembly, but the governor’s continued advocacy signals renewed efforts to enhance street safety in New York City.
