New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board has approved the tunnel-boring contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, the project extending the Q train from 96 Street to 125 Street that will deliver new transit access to East Harlem residents.

The new tunnel will extend from 116 Street to 125 Street. Crews under this contract will also excavate space for the future 125 Street Station, and in a cost-containment measure that saves the MTA $500 million, will outfit the tunnel along the route that was built in the 1970s to accommodate the future 116 Street Station. 

Early work will commence later this year, with heavy civil construction starting in early 2026 and the tunnel boring itself expected to begin in 2027.  

"It's been a century since the people of East Harlem were promised the new subway they deserve — and we are finally getting it done," Governor Hochul said. "East Harlem is one of the most transit-reliant neighborhoods in New York, but every day, tens of thousands of commuters lack subway access."

"The Second Avenue Subway will change everything; it will shorten commutes for over 100,000 daily riders and make East Harlem more vibrant than ever," Governor Hochul added.

According to an agency release, the contract, valued at $1.972 billion, is being awarded to Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture between Halmar International and FCC Construction. It is the second of four construction contracts for the Q train extension.

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Moves Forward With Record Contract

Despite New York City's high construction costs, the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2's cost-benefit is significant and is projected to have the lowest cost per rider of any active heavy rail project in the country. 

"This is a meaningful step forward not only for the project but for everyone in East Harlem and Central Harlem," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a release. "Thanks to investments from Governor Hochul and our partners in Washington, today the new MTA is moving forward with the largest tunneling contract in agency history, but – more important – with a project that pencils at the lowest cost per rider of any heavy rail project in America." 

The line's first construction contract was awarded in January 2024 for utility relocation work. Crews working under that contract are relocating underground utilities from 105 Street to 110 Street on Second Avenue at the site of the future 106 Street Station, in order to facilitate the subsequent construction of the station.  

Crews working under the third contract will build the underground space for the future station at 106 Street and Second Avenue. That contract is currently in procurement. The fourth and final contract will cover the fit-out of the three stations, at 106, 116, and 125 Streets, and the systems needed to run train service, such as track, signal, power, and communications. This contract is currently in design. 

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 is on schedule with a revenue service date of September 2032. The project budget is $6.99 billion and is funded in part by revenues from the Congestion Relief Zone tolling program.  

In 2023, the MTA unveiled new conceptual renderings of the proposed stations for the extension, providing future riders with a glimpse into the potential station interior and exterior designs.  

"After generations of promises, the new MTA is delivering," MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said in a release. "Today's contract award brings us closer to world-class transit service in East Harlem. Using lessons learned from Phase 1, we're excited to keep our momentum going and complete this contract better, faster, and cheaper than ever."