Hold onto your MetroCards (or your OMNY taps): The dream of the Second Avenue Subway finally crawling further uptown is actually, truly, officially happening. Governor Kathy Hochul just announced that the MTA has awarded the massive tunneling contract for Phase 2 of the project, extending the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street in East Harlem. Yes, this time it’s not just talk—the dig is about to begin.
The nearly $2 billion contract goes to Connect Plus Partners, who will unleash 750-ton tunnel-boring machines beneath Second Avenue, carving out 1.5 miles of new track between 116th and 125th Streets. The work includes prepping a new 125th Street station and reactivating a stretch of tunnel that’s been sitting dormant since the 1970s, saving the MTA roughly $500 million. All told, Phase 2 is projected to come in $1.3 billion cheaper than the first phase, which is basically a bargain in New York infrastructure terms.
Construction will roll out in stages: Early site work kicks off later this year, heavy civil construction starts in 2026 and tunneling begins in 2027. If all goes according to plan (and this is the MTA, so cross your fingers), East Harlem commuters could be riding the Q straight to 125th Street by September 2032…