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Photos: 'Cautiously Optimistic' Cuomo Visits 2nd Avenue Subway Station
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 10, 2016
Modified Dec 10, 2016
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Governor Cuomo's Office
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 10, 2016
Modified Dec 10, 2016
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There are just 21 days in the year—and that's also how many days there are until the MTA finally, hopefully opens the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway. Governor Andrew Cuomo checked out the station at East 72nd Street on Friday and his office shared these photos.
There have been concerns that the transit agency won't hit the year-end deadline, as there are have been delays with testing and other issues, with the tunnels not being wide enough for trains.
Melissa DeRosa, the governor's chief of staff, said in a statement, "Governor Cuomo visits the Second Avenue subway several times a week and holds weekly meetings with the MTA and its contractors. Today was another one of those visits. The Governor believes the progress is encouraging and he's cautiously optimistic about hitting the January 1 deadline."
The MTA's website about the massive project, which will finally bring a second subway line to the Upper East Side, says:
The Second Avenue Subway will reduce overcrowding and delays on the Lexington Avenue line, improving travel for both city and suburban commuters, and provide better access to mass transit for residents of the far East Side of Manhattan. The line is being built in phases; the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway will provide service from 96th St. to 63rd St. as an extension of the Q Line train.
When complete in December 2016, the first phase will:
- Serve approximately 200,000 daily riders
- Decrease crowding on the Lexington Avenue Line by as much as 13%, or 23,500 fewer riders on an average weekday; and
- Travel time will be reduced by 10 minutes or more for many riders traveling from the Upper East Side
No matter what happens, we'll always have videos of test trains:
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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