Second Avenue Subway Phase 2

Alignment

Phase 2 extends the Q train from its current 96th Street terminus north along Second Avenue to 125th Street in East Harlem. Three new underground stations are planned: 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street. The 125th Street station would provide an interchange with the 4, 5, and 6 trains.

The project would complete the long-planned “spine” of the Second Avenue corridor through the Upper East Side and into East Harlem — a neighborhood that has had no direct subway connection to the east side of Manhattan. The tunnels are designed to be bored, connecting to the existing 96th Street station cavern.

Updates

2026-01 — Final Environmental Impact Statement under review

The FTA is conducting its review of the Final EIS submitted by the MTA. A Record of Decision is expected in mid-2026, which would allow the project to advance into the next phase of federal funding approval.

2025-05 — FTA approves entry into Engineering

After years of preliminary engineering, the Federal Transit Administration approved the MTA’s application to enter the Engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant process, unlocking more detailed design work and keeping the project on track for a full funding grant agreement.

2024-09 — Cost estimate updated to $7.7 billion

A revised estimate reflecting current construction labor costs and updated tunnel design raised the total project cost from the earlier $6.9B figure. The MTA attributed the increase primarily to post-pandemic inflation in construction materials and union labor agreements.

2023-06 — Draft EIS published for public comment

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released, analyzing three alignment alternatives. The preferred alternative — the full two-stop extension to 125th Street — received the strongest community support during the comment period.