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The long awaited Second Avenue subway has finally arrived in New York. How long has NYC been waiting? About 100 years, which is why it’s such a big deal. Phase 1 of the Second Avenue subway opened to the public on 1 January 2017.
Three new subway stations opened as part of the launch, 96 St, 86 St and 72 St all on Second Avenue. Also part of phase 1 was an expansion for Lexington Av/ 63 St. station.
More great news came to the New York Subway this month as we were told that all NYC subway stations, including the new Second Avenue stations, now have free Wifi. This is all thanks to a 27-year partnership between the MTA and Transit Wireless. You can find out how to connect to the free WiFi on the Transit Wireless website.
So why has a subway line, proposed nearly 100 years ago, taken so long to get here? Plans for the Second Avenue line were first submitted in 1919 as part of a larger expansion to the subway. This is because after World War 2 ended there was a rise in ridership on the NYC subway.
A revised version of the plans were submitted in 1927 and in 1929 the expansion was actually approved. Unfortunately timing was against the New York subway and the Great Depression meant the work just wasn’t possible anymore. Between the 40s and 90s there were multiple attempts to kick-start the project but it wasn’t until the mid 2000s that the project officially starting moving forward again.
So what’s next? What about the future of the Second Avenue Subway? Sadly Second Avenue enthusiasts have another long wait ahead of them before they get to experience the launch of Phase 2. It has entered the Project Development phase already but current plans put the opening between 2027 and 2029.
Well, we waited this long. What’s another 10 or 12 years?
The long awaited Second Avenue subway has finally arrived in New York. How long has NYC been waiting? About 100 years, which is why it’s such a big deal. Phase 1 of the Second Avenue subway opened to the public on 1 January 2017.
Three new subway stations opened as part of the launch, 96 St, 86 St and 72 St all on Second Avenue. Also part of phase 1 was an expansion for Lexington Av/ 63 St. station.
“After nearly a century, the Second Avenue Subway is no longer a dream that only a few still believe is possible. Thanks to the dedication and tireless efforts of thousands of great New Yorkers, the stations are open, the trains are running and it is spectacular.” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.The new stations have been built with climate control in mind, meaning they will be roughly 10 degrees colder than outside. In the middle of January it can be hard to imagine this being a good thing, but once New York reaches spring and summer, commuters will be thanking the cooler temperatures. Accessibility has been a big focus for the Second Avenue subway and all new stations are accessible by wheelchair via elevators. The insides of the station have also been constructed without columns, making them easier to get through and giving a sense of openness. It’s not just the cool temperature and open design that’s making the stations a more enjoyable place to be. The new Second Avenue stations are also home to lots of incredible artwork. It’ll be worth a visit to the new stations just to see it all!
More great news came to the New York Subway this month as we were told that all NYC subway stations, including the new Second Avenue stations, now have free Wifi. This is all thanks to a 27-year partnership between the MTA and Transit Wireless. You can find out how to connect to the free WiFi on the Transit Wireless website.
So why has a subway line, proposed nearly 100 years ago, taken so long to get here? Plans for the Second Avenue line were first submitted in 1919 as part of a larger expansion to the subway. This is because after World War 2 ended there was a rise in ridership on the NYC subway.
A revised version of the plans were submitted in 1927 and in 1929 the expansion was actually approved. Unfortunately timing was against the New York subway and the Great Depression meant the work just wasn’t possible anymore. Between the 40s and 90s there were multiple attempts to kick-start the project but it wasn’t until the mid 2000s that the project officially starting moving forward again.
So what’s next? What about the future of the Second Avenue Subway? Sadly Second Avenue enthusiasts have another long wait ahead of them before they get to experience the launch of Phase 2. It has entered the Project Development phase already but current plans put the opening between 2027 and 2029.
Well, we waited this long. What’s another 10 or 12 years?