Sunday, January 1, 2017

AT LONG LAST, A SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY!

I can't top the New York Times, so please have a look at their updates on the opening of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway on this link:

Second Avenue Subway Opens: Updates
By Emma Fitzsimmons, Emily Palmer, Noah Remnick, Daniel Slotnik and Jonathan Wolfe
The New York Times | January 1, 2017




"Introducing the Second Avenue Subway" (11:31)
Metropolitan Transportation Authority | 1/1/2017

A wonderful video that covers the history, the planning, the construction and the artwork of what is the Second Avenue Subway in New York City.



Here's a collection of notable stories, videos, and pictures from today's start of Revenue Service for Phase 1 of the project.






"New Subway Smell: Second Avenue Subway Opens On New Year's Day"
By Scott Heins | Gothamist | January 1, 2017

"The First Day in the Life of the Second Avenue Subway"
By Jen Kirby | New York Magazine | January 1, 2017



The first incident on the new line.





"Second Avenue Subway Opens" (1:41)
WNYC | January 1, 2017




Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"NYC's Second Avenue Subway Set To Open After Decades Of Delays"
By Craig Melvin | TODAY | December 30, 2016

"Second Avenue Subway's Arrival Brings Fear That Rents Will Soar"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 30, 2016

"Second Avenue Subway Ringing In New Year With Party"
By Sarah Maslin | The New York Times | December 29, 2016

"A Long Wait for the Second Avenue Subway, but Worth It"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 28, 2016

"Gov. Cuomo to take inaugural ride of Second Ave. subway on New Year's Eve"
By Dan Rivoli | Daily News | December 27, 2016

Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Second Avenue Local

Say hello to the New Q Train . . .
the Second Avenue/Broadway Express/Brighton Local








The full schedule is available on this download link:
Q Line Subway Timetable (PDF) | effective January 1, 2017


Q trains will operate between Coney Island-Stillwell Av, Brooklyn, and 96 St/
Second Av, Manhattan, at all times.

In Manhattan, Q service operates on Second Av stopping at 96 St, 86 St, 72 St, then Lexington Av/63 St, and 57 St/7 Av. Q service runs express on Broadway (except late nights), stopping at 42 St-Times Sq, 34 St-Herald Sq, 14 St-Union Sq, and Canal St.

Late nights, the Q runs local between 96 St and Coney Island-Stillwell Av via the Manhattan Bridge.


Second Avenue service

Starting on January 1, 2017 Q trains will run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and every six minutes during peak hours.

Starting on Monday, January 9, 2017,  Q trains will begin operating in full service, which includes overnight service.


Notable points from the new Q Line timetable


Scheduled travel time from 96th St to . . . (at 7 am on weekdays)

   63rd St/Lexington Av | 6 mins

   58th St/7th Av | 9 mins

   34th St Herald Sq | 13 mins

   Canal St | 20 mins

   Atlantic Av (Brooklyn) | 29 mins

   Coney Island-Stillwell Av | 1 hr 4 mins


Oddly the strip map in the Q Line timetable does not list the new stations at 96th St, 86th St, and 72nd St as accessible stations. Either this is just an oversight or the new elevators are not yet ready. I guess we'll find out on January 1st.  (Update: The timetable was corrected on December 30th. The elevators were in fact working when revenue service started on January 1, 2017.)


A footnote:
As I write this posting it is hard for me to imagine that the countdown clock on this blog (which I posted here over three years ago) now says that we have just 2 days to go until the Start of Revenue Service. It really only seems like yesterday that I posted my first set of images of the construction of Second Avenue... back on April 14, 2007.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend Governor Cuomo's Ceremonial Ride on New Years Eve (I haven't been invited) or the Start of Revenue Service on January 1st (we have guests visiting).

I will post a set of images of the new stations in the next week or so and then I plan to wrap up this project with a retrospective posting that looks back at the past ten years.

I will leave Phase 2, 3 and 4 of this project to someone else.

Ben Heckscher




Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"A Long Wait for the Second Avenue Subway, but Worth It"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 28, 2016

"Gov. Cuomo to take inaugural ride of Second Ave. subway on New Year's Eve"
By Dan Rivoli | Daily News | December 27, 2016

"Transit fans tour the spanking new 2nd Ave subway station before official Jan. 1 opening"
By Dan Rivoli | Daily News | December 22, 2016

"Inside the new Second Avenue Subway"
By Danielle Furfaro | NY Post | December 22, 2016

Images: 96th Street Station
Office of Gov. Cuomo | December 22, 2016

"Ghost tunnel under Central Park will reopen along with Second Avenue Subway"
By Diane Pham | 6sqft | December 22, 2016

"When Manhattan Had Elevated Trains"
By Vincent Valk | The Atlantic | December 22, 2016

"Second Avenue subway cost concerns transit experts"
By Vincent Barone | amNY | December 22, 2016

"A Brief History Of The Long-Awaited Second Avenue Subway"
By Rebecca Fishbein | Gothamist | December 21, 2016

Press Release: Second Avenue Subway to Open On-Time
Press Release from the MTA | December 19, 2016

The Art of the Second Avenue Subway
Office of Gov Cuomo | December 19, 2016

"2nd Avenue Subway Will Open on New Year’s Day, M.T.A. Says"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 19, 2016

"Art Underground: A First Look at the Second Avenue Subway"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 19, 2016

Monday, December 19, 2016

2ND AVE SUBWAY TO OPEN NEW YEARS DAY

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway will open to the public on Sunday, January 1st, 2017.



Here's a link to the full story:
"Gov. Cuomo promises Second Ave. subway will meet deadline, open on New Year's Day"
By Dan Rivoli, Edgar Sandoval, and Leonard Greene | Daily News | December 18, 2016






Here's a link to recent video report, with yet another tour led by Governor Cuomo, from Sunday evening.

"2nd Avenue Subway Service to Begin New Year's Day: Gov. Cuomo"
By Andrew Siff | WNBC New York | December 18, 2016




"Art Underground: A First Look at the Second Avenue Subway"
By Randy Kennedy | The New York Times | December 19, 2016

Note that this is a 360-degree video.






It's official — the MTA has confirmed that the line will open on January 1st.

"2nd Avenue Subway Will Open on New Year’s Day, M.T.A. Says"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | December 19, 2016



Second Avenue Subway to Open On-Time
Press Release from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority | December 19, 2016

Revenue service will begin at noon on January 1, when the first uptown Q train to Second Avenue departs from the 57-7 Av station. Trains will run every six minutes during peak hours and will run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the rest of the first week. Overnight service will begin on Monday, January 9.



MTA Press Release: Governor Cuomo Presents Largest Permanent Public Art Installation in New York History Ahead of Second Avenue Subway Opening
Press Release from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority | December 19, 2016

Images: Second Avenue Subway Artwork
MTA via Flickr | December 19, 2016



Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"A History of Waiting for the Second Avenue Subway"
By Christopher Bonanos | New York Magazine | 12/16/16

"24-Story Senior Living High Rise Slated for Second Avenue in 2019"
By Shaye Weaver | DNAinfo | 12/15/16

"Second Avenue Subway Won't Open Until 'All Stations' Are Finished: MTA"
By Danielle Tcholakian | DNAinfo | 12/14/16

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

CBS2: 2nd Ave Subway Tour With The Governor


CBS New York has been all over this story over the past few days. Here are three of their recent reports from Second Avenue.



"2nd Ave. Subway Construction Noise"
Reported by Magdalena Doris | WCBS-TV | 12/14/16



"CBS2 Exclusive: 2nd Ave Subway Tour With The Governor"
Reported by Marcia Kramer | WCBS-TV | 12/13/16

CBS New York reports that 2,000 people are working 24/7 to get the line open by the end of the year.

Cuomo says, "I think we could almost open tomorrow."



"Second Ave Subway Deadline Approaches"
Reported by Janelle Burrell | WCBS-TV | 12/12/16


The countdown to the end of the year deadline continues.



Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box: Long

"With Second Ave. Subway, Cuomo Has Hands-On Role and Eye on the Future" - NYT
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | 12/13/16

"M.T.A. Races to Finish 2nd Avenue Subway as Deadline Looms"
By Emma Fitzsimmons | The New York Times | 12/12/16

"MTA: Second Avenue Subway on Track to Finish Required Systems Testing Before End of December"
By Jose Martinez | amNY | 12/12/16

Images: Gov. Cuomo Visits New 86th Street Station
Office of Governor Cuomo | 12/11/16

Images: Gov. Cuomo Visits New 72nd Street Station
Office of Governor Cuomo | 12/9/16