The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has approved a $1.9 billion contract to extend the Q line into East Harlem, a project long delayed but now set to move forward. The Second Avenue Subway, initially proposed in 1929, will bring new stations to 106th, 116th, and 125th streets, serving over 110,000 commuters.
Gov. Kathy Hochul hailed the plan as “transformational,” stating that it is long overdue. The first phase of the Second Avenue Subway opened in 2017 with three new Upper East Side stations. This phase will involve boring a new tunnel north from 116th Street and utilizing an existing underground segment at 110th Street.
The new stations are expected to alleviate congestion on the Lexington Avenue lines, which are currently the busiest in the city. Commuters expressed hope that the subway line will improve their commute, with one resident stating, “It would make a big difference because we want to go places, but we have to walk so far to the other stations or take a bus.”
The project is part of a larger $7.7 billion expansion plan, which will also include the relocation of underground utilities. The MTA aims to save an estimated $100 million by reducing costs on tunnel construction and employing smaller work crews.
A portion of the funding for the project will come from congestion pricing, a Manhattan vehicle tolling plan that has seen benefits in reduced traffic and increased business. Gov. Hochul praised the plan’s success, saying it is working to “send our friends in Washington a message.”
Source: https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/18/q-train-harlem-second-avenue-subway-hochul