Will The $7 Billion East Harlem MTA Line Ever Be Built?
The long-awaited plan to bring subway service directly into East Harlem is gradually progressing, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has unveiled impressive renderings of the future stations and initiated the bidding process for the first significant contract.
However, as the entire project will cost around $7 billion in total, local residents have been asking where will this money come from?
The contract for East Harlem, announced on Wednesday, is valued at an estimated $50-$100 million and will finance the relocation of underground utilities in Manhattan between 104th Street and 112th Street. This step is crucial for the initial phase of extending the Second Avenue subway line northward from its current terminus at 96th Street.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her commitment to advancing transit equity in New York State and highlighted the project’s potential to expand vital public transportation services and create more opportunities for East Harlem residents. She emphasized the determination to move this long-envisioned project forward swiftly, expressing pride in its progress.
The second phase of the project aims to extend the Q line up Second Avenue, featuring stops at 106th and 116th streets, before turning westward at 125th Street and continuing to Lexington Avenue. This extension will facilitate easier transfers between the Q line and the existing 4/5/6 lines, as well as the Metro-North service.
The recently announced contract represents only a fraction of the overall estimated cost, which ranges from $7 billion to $7.7 billion for the entire extension.
Local politicians have been strong advocates for the subway extension for decades, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on commute times, traffic reduction, and air pollution mitigation, particularly in an area of the city with high asthma rates.
The released renderings showcase a unified entrance for the Q line and the 4/5/6 lines at 125th Street, with the Metro-North’s elevated tracks in close proximity. Additionally, the illustrations feature the entrance to the 106th Street station adjacent to neighboring residential towers.
Officials have also confirmed that they are reviewing the size and scope of the proposed station designs after a Post investigation revealed that they were twice as large as necessary, potentially leading to hundreds of millions in additional costs beyond the $7 billion budgeted for the project.
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