Curbed NY - Second Avenue Subway: News and UpdatesLove where you live2017-01-10T10:36:56-05:00http://ny.curbed.com/rss/stream/112461112017-01-10T10:36:56-05:002017-01-10T10:36:56-05:00How did the Second Avenue Subway do in its first week?
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<p>Checking in on the first week of service on the long-awaited line</p> <p id="8vLa5i">As of yesterday, the Second Avenue Subway is officially up and running for real, rather than in half measures—overnight service began on the line, making it a fully integrated part of the New York City subway system. It also coincided with one week of the line being open to the public, which seems as good a time as any for a look back at how things went during week one. </p>
<p id="ZtD8DM">While the MTA doesn’t have ridership figures available for the first week of service, trips to the lines three stops at 96th, 86th, and 72nd streets prove—anecdotally, at least—that it’s been popular with both regular commuters and subway gawkers. </p>
<p id="SkQfdK">Undoubtedly the thing that is getting most people who <em>don’t </em>live on the Upper East Side out to the stations—aside from mere curiosity at what $4.5 billion and 100 years gets you—is the artwork. A quick perusal of Instagram shows that thousands of people have snapped shots of Vik Muniz’s portraits of regular New Yorkers (including plenty of selfies), Chuck Close’s mosaics, and Sarah Sze’s bright blue mural covering the 96th Street station.</p>
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<p id="Q26F0g">Riders—including this editor—have also been impressed with the cleanliness of the stations (clean tracks! no desiccated wads of gum on the platforms! nothing is covered in spit!), if not necessarily the size. Larger platforms are good; enormous mezzanines that don’t seem to serve much of a purpose beyond newness, not so much. </p>
<p id="3hn2yd">The stations were the byproduct of a joint venture between AECOM and Arup, and were designed specifically for the Second Avenue line, so expect to see a similar design in the next phases of the line—assuming, of course, we see the second phase happen anytime soon. (The projected $6 billion price tag needed to build the next three stations hasn’t gone down easy.)</p>
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<p id="6eV31E">And that leads to a larger question: has the line truly been a boon for commuters? Opinions are mixed, based on conversations with people who’ve begun using the line regularly. Rory Halperin, an Upper East Side resident, says that her commute “has been cut more than in half,” with the line having more or less on-time service thus far. </p>
<p id="1DaTaS">“The new subway stations are nothing to complain about either,” she notes. “If you do have to wait for the subway, it's so much nicer than the older stations which are so dark and dingy!” </p>
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<p id="jxDQsK">Vicki Loo, a publicist who lives in the neighborhood, agrees with that assessment: “So far everything is really clean—and I hope it stays that way. I plan to use this as my main mode of transportation downtown.”</p>
<p id="dkVV4V">Still, not everything is rosy: Some 4/5/6 riders have reported even worse delays on that line than normal since Second Avenue service began. Elevators to access the 63rd Street station <a href="https://twitter.com/ericgoldwyn/status/815687657636450306">broke down</a> last weekend. And, perhaps inevitably, signal problems took the line down within its first few days of service:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And the Second Avenue Subway is already broke… <a href="https://t.co/qM78ju9Tf7">https://t.co/qM78ju9Tf7</a></p>— Matthew Knell (@MatthewKnell) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewKnell/status/816396771404509184">January 3, 2017</a>
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<p id="rFvufc">And just a day after service began, MTA chairman Tom Prendergast announced that he was <a href="http://www.mta.info/press-release/mta-headquarters/statements-governor-andrew-m-cuomo-and-mta-chairman-and-ceo-tom">stepping down</a> from the organization, a move that was long-planned (allegedly he’d <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mta-boss-thomas-prendergast-plans-retire-early-2017-article-1.2931035">stayed on longer</a> than intended to meet the SAS deadline), but somewhat unexpected. While names have been bandied about for his replacement—who would oversee the expansion of the line—nothing concrete has happened there yet. </p>
<p id="XvDPCT">So that’s week one: some ups, some downs, some happy commuters, and three very pretty new stations. </p>
<p id="wudRhR">As for week two of SAS service, it started off with Mayor de Blasio <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mayor-not-ave-subway-not-convenient-article-1.2941819?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">telling reporters</a> that he doesn’t plan on using the line—despite the fact that the new 86th Street station is now a short walk from Gracie Mansion. (His reasoning? He likes to go to his gym in Park Slope in the mornings—but, y’know, the Q <em>does </em>run to Brooklyn.…) Perhaps that’s not the best way to endear yourself to New Yorkers—nor is admitting that you haven’t even been on the subway since mid-December. But we digress.</p>
<p id="sJeQJM">Additionally, Governor Cuomo is giving his State of the State addresses this week, and while there’s no guarantee that he’ll talk about the future of the Second Avenue line, it’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on. </p>
<p id="PVGE1c">And now for some subway photo goodness, courtesy of Max Touhey: </p>
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https://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/10/14183244/second-avenue-subway-mta-new-york-first-weekAmy Plitt2017-01-04T10:17:18-05:002017-01-04T10:17:18-05:00Here's what it looked like to rally for the Second Avenue Subway in 1923
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<figcaption>Inscription painted on the side of the float: "THE PRESENT CONDITION OF TRAVEL ON THE LEXINGTON AVENUE SUBWAY." The float was created by the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce for the N.Y.C. Silver Jubilee Parade, June 1923. | <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/44066239@N00/32004279326/">Flickr/Michael Miscione</a>/All Rights Reserved</figcaption>
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<p>The Second Avenue Subway is finally a reality, but it took decades of campaigning</p> <p id="Oi9pSF">To many New Yorkers’ great surprise, the MTA started 2017 by getting the century-in-the-making Second Avenue Subway <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/2/14146188/second-avenue-subway-opening-weekend-photos">up and running</a>. Despite <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14004044/second-avenue-subway-andrew-cuomo-opening-date">reassurance</a> from Governor Cuomo that the project wouldn’t be further delayed, many subscribed to a “I’ll believe it when I see” it attitude. But the MTA kept good on its word and opened on New Year’s Day—“on time,” by its own timetable, but overdue by nearly 100 years nonetheless. </p>
<p id="clROsQ">Local officials and members of the press were privy to an<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/1/14139394/second-avenue-subway-first-ride-governor-cuomo"> inaugural ride on New Year’s Eve</a>, and among the guests was the Manhattan Borough Historian, Michael Miscione. After taking part in the rare experience, Miscione dropped some knowledge on the plight Manhattan residents went through to get the Second Avenue Subway built, sharing a photo from his personal collection and a little-known tale of a local business group called the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce:</p>
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<cite>Museum of the City of New York Digital Collection</cite>
<figcaption>A ticket for the Silver Jubilee Parade in 1923</figcaption>
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<p id="QhvSTP">In 1922, a local business group known as the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce sent a petition to Mayor Mike Hylan and the Board of Estimate that read, in part, “We have only one East Side subway – Lexington Avenue -- and trains on this line are overcrowded before they leave the Bronx on their way downtown in the morning. We need another trunk line subway running through the East Side.” </p>
<p id="HtmU2G">A less plucky group might have remained content with mere letters and petitions, but not the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce. The following year they participated in the Silver Jubilee Parade, a march down Fifth Avenue presided over by the mayor marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the consolidation of the five-borough city. It was intended to display the grandeur of New York City’s businesses and industries.</p>
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<p id="zmOEf1">While film companies, department stores, and auto companies used the parade to showcase their latest commodities, the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce had a different agenda in mind. The group crafted a float that resembled an overcrowded subway car (pictured above) with the words “THE PRESENT CONDITION OF TRAVEL ON THE LEXINGTON AVENUE SUBWAY” inscribed on its side. Many people, including Mayor Hylan, found the float to be amusing.</p>
<p id="1ALhLW">The local organization evolved into what is now the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and over the ensuing years, millions of New Yorkers suffered through the same frustrations of overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue line. But at long last, a new day is upon New York and the Second Avenue Subway is finally here—though whether or not it truly alleviates those crowds remains to be seen.</p>
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https://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/4/14161284/second-avenue-subway-advocacy-group-vintage-photoAmeena Walker2017-01-02T18:52:34-05:002017-01-02T18:52:34-05:00New Yorkers experience the Second Avenue Subway’s opening weekend: photos
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<figcaption><a href="http://www.metouhey.com/">Max Touhey</a></figcaption>
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<p>The line’s opening weekend proved extremely popular with commuters</p> <p id="PwvrJw">It may have taken $4.5 billion and 100 years, but the Second Avenue Subway (part of it, anyway) is finally here. During its first couple of days, plenty of New Yorkers turned up to see what the fuss was all about—and, of course, documented their travels along the line on social media. </p>
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</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOx4UiJh1ZS/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Love this commemorative metrocard + NYC history nerding out/excitedly recommending following @nyhistory ! </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Anna (@ahalpinhealy) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T22:50:41+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 2:50pm PST</time></p>
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</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvBcmXhoqo/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">A feat that took only slightly less time than a Cubs World Series win. #secondavenuesubway</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Greg Zulkie (@gzulk) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-01T20:12:43+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 12:12pm PST</time></p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOw70JuD2d-/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Noel Y. C. (@nyclovesnyc)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T14:01:59+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 6:01am PST</time></p>
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<p id="KO813q">The artwork in the stations—by Jean Shin (63rd Street), Vik Muniz (72nd Street), Chuck Close (86th Street), and Sarah Sze (96th Street)—proved very popular with commuters. </p>
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</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvYfdrDhAc/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Ghosts of the past in Jean Shin's 63rd Street tile installation, inspired by archival photos of the old NYC elevated lines #secondavenuesubway</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Allison Meier (@allisoncmeier) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-01T23:34:05+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 3:34pm PST</time></p>
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<p id="yDXzaR">Muniz’s mosaics feature actual New Yorkers, some of whom posed with their idealized selves: </p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOu-4okAZE8/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Rendering vs. Reality. #2ndavesubway #qtrain #mta #nyc #newyork #infrastructure #humansofnewyork #shotoniphone #curbed #nycprimeshot #icapture_nyc #ig_nycity #newyorkcity #streetdreamsmag #alwaysnewyork</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Field Condition (@field_condition) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-01T19:50:19+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 11:50am PST</time></p>
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<div id="qNlaSI">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvZJiOBDnp/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Kelly Kopp (@newyorkcitykopp)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-01T23:39:49+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 3:39pm PST</time></p>
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<div id="Oeq6qX">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:46.712962963% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOw9cWlll2u/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Javan Ng (@javan)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T14:16:12+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 6:16am PST</time></p>
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<div id="C2CSJY">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOw50G9gXoe/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by BB (@d0ubl3b)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T13:44:30+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 5:44am PST</time></p>
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<div id="HAU7ug">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOv2cnoACuA/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Up Close With Chuck- Subway Art | New York, NY #art #2ndavenuesubway</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by nickhansen.jpg (@nickhansen.jpg) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T03:55:50+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 7:55pm PST</time></p>
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<div id="iNJtkE">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOxOWtegAuR/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">The Second Avenue subway aka MTA Art Gallery thanks to the 1% for art program. Chuck Close's portraits graces my station, 86th Street. The perfect New Year's gift! Happy 2017! Lou Reed! . . . #SecondAvenuesubway #MTA #mtaArt #1percentforart #ChuckClose #86thstreet #nyc #subway #nycsubway #loureed</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by dale b. cohen, assoc aia (@bachelorbydale) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T16:43:59+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 8:43am PST</time></p>
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<p id="Qai3PD">Inevitably, people marveled at the cleanliness of the subway stations: </p>
<div id="VG4AUI">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOxPg6egPEE/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Know what those are, people? CLEAN #subwaytracks! No food, no dark turbid pools of mysterious liquid, no rats. I give it a week. #manhattan #uppereastside #nyc #newyorkcity #yorkville #secondavenuesubway #86thststation</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by LGAppert (@lgappert) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T16:54:07+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 8:54am PST</time></p>
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<div id="DtX3GM">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOx05_Lh7tJ/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Wait. Are ALL tracks supposed to be that color... In any case, I can't get over how clean and shiny the new #qtrain #secondavenuesubway stations are. Never thought I'd say it non-ironically, but thanks #mta! #nofilter</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Hannah Robinson (@pallindrome41) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-02T22:20:51+00:00">Jan 2, 2017 at 2:20pm PST</time></p>
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<p id="wwSjZk">And a few famous (well, sort of) folks showed up to check it out: </p>
<div id="MdsQ1u">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:37.5% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvYdAJBiKe/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Such a coincidence: ran into one of the people who is the inspiration for one of Vik Muniz's mosaics in the Second Avenue Subway!</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (@nygovcuomo) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-01-01T23:33:45+00:00">Jan 1, 2017 at 3:33pm PST</time></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Charlie Pellett doing his thing at the Second Avenue Subway. He is the voice of the system. <a href="https://t.co/BtkmgGw82A">pic.twitter.com/BtkmgGw82A</a></p>— Jason Rabinowitz (@AirlineFlyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AirlineFlyer/status/815620535598071812">January 1, 2017</a>
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<ul><li id="6o7a2R">
<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/1/14139394/second-avenue-subway-first-ride-governor-cuomo">Second Avenue Subway gets its historic inaugural ride on New Year’s Eve</a> [Curbed]</li></ul>
https://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/2/14146188/second-avenue-subway-opening-weekend-photosAmy Plitt2017-01-01T13:52:39-05:002017-01-01T13:52:39-05:00Second Avenue Subway gets its historic inaugural ride
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<figcaption>Inside the 72nd Street station on the new Second Avenue subway | Amy Plitt</figcaption>
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<p>Governor Cuomo rang in 2017 at the city’s newest subway</p> <p id="4R7Egy">It’s a new day in New York City: the <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/4/21/11482070/second-avenue-subway-updates">Second Avenue subway</a> is, as of this writing, officially up and running. Who’d’ve thought? </p>
<p id="XJvGHb">To celebrate, Governor Andrew Cuomo and a whole host of other city, state, and federal officials turned the brand new 72nd Street subway station into what was (briefly) the city’s most exclusive <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/27/14094206/second-avenue-subway-ceremonial-ride">New Year’s Eve party</a>. (No, seriously—a line to get in stretched down the block, and prior to it, requests for extra tickets were apparently being thrown around like gangbusters.) </p>
<p id="cDHIJF">Though the event was basically a self-congratulatory cocktail party for Governor Cuomo, intended to celebrate the “on time” completion of the subway line, there were some exciting moments—namely the inaugural ride itself, which was commandeered by MTA chairman Thomas Prendergast and traveled to the three new stations on the Second Avenue line. Brief pit-stops at each station allowed the nattily-attired guests (and those in the press pool, which included this editor) to see the admittedly <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14010084/second-avenue-subway-chuck-close-sarah-sze">beautiful artwork</a> in each station, including Chuck Close’s portraits at 86th Street, and Sarah Sze’s enormous station-wide murals at 96th Street. </p>
<p id="QM2RQY">Hundreds of people gathered to ring in the New Year underground, including Upper East Siders, engineers and sandhogs who built the subway itself, and MTA employees. There were also plenty of politicos in attendance, including former mayor David Dinkins, public advocate Letitia James, U.S. transportation secretary Anthony Foxx, and former MTA chairman Joe Lhota. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chirlane McCray also popped by before heading to Times Square for the New Year’s Eve ball drop. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo">@NYGovCuomo</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BilldeBlasio">@BilldeBlasio</a> boarding the first Second Avenue subway. About to ride! <a href="https://t.co/Y8wZXsBSUz">pic.twitter.com/Y8wZXsBSUz</a></p>— Curbed NY (@CurbedNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurbedNY/status/815400142102740992">January 1, 2017</a>
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<p id="SxsrJe">And the mood was generally jovial. “This is a dream come true,” said Representative Carolyn Maloney, whose district includes parts of the new line. She also expressed optimism about the line’s <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/30/14124370/second-avenue-subway-mta-cost">second phase</a>, which doesn’t have a timeline in place as of right now (but <em>does </em>have an anticipated cost of $6 billion.) “We’ll work very hard to be under budget and on time—we’re going to make it happen,” she said. “It’s not going to be a stubway.”</p>
<p id="SlLTTe">In remarks given after the inaugural ride was over (but before the countdown to midnight), Cuomo noted that “this isn’t your grandfather’s subway,” name checking the design—which features expansive, column-free mezzanines and wide platforms—and the public art found throughout, which is indeed much nicer than what you’ll find at most of the century-old stations in the system. </p>
<p id="E5RDQu">He also explained the meaning behind two phrases found throughout the station: “Excelsior” (the motto of New York State) and “E Plurbis Unum,” threw some shade at the incoming Presidential administration, and gave what sounded like a stump speech, which you can watch below. </p>
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<p id="BIislF">“This is New York, and there’s nothing we can’t do when we put our mind to it,” he said. (It just might take 100 years.) </p>
<p id="Rm4FB6">The subway is <a href="http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/2ndAve_Q/New_Q_service.html">open now</a>, with rides happening until 10 p.m. for the first few days; full service begins January 9. </p>
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https://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/1/14139394/second-avenue-subway-first-ride-governor-cuomoAmy Plitt2016-12-30T11:17:03-05:002016-12-30T11:17:03-05:00As Second Avenue Subway prepares for its debut, cost of phase two is scrutinzed
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-aLcYo89Sqjo0DDBnfvv0IbITW4=/3x0:1294x968/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52524553/SAS.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Photos courtesy <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/31767342746/in/photostream/">governorandrewcuomo Flickr</a></figcaption>
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<p>One thing everyone can agree on: the cost of building this line is too damn high</p> <p id="oqTn3X">Now that the first phase of the Second Avenue subway is poised to open, transit wonks and officials are looking ahead to Phase 2, which would extend the line to Harlem and add three new stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets. Even though there’s not a set timeline—or even a start date—for work on that portion, there’s one thing that most people seem to agree on: the projected $6 billion price tag is too damn high. </p>
<p id="dLxXXt">In an interview with the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/mta-rethinks-approach-to-second-avenue-subway-1483035309?mod=rss_newyork_news"><em>Wall Street Journal</em></a><em>, </em>MTA chairman Thomas Prendergast acknowledged that the cost of the line’s next phase is one of many factors that the agency is examining right now. “We always do a looking-back exercise to see could we have done something better,” he explained, but stopped short of saying that the first phase—which cost a staggering <em>$4 billion</em> to construct—was too much. </p>
<p id="zbyN8I">And of course, there are reasons why the subway cost that much: Putting infrastructure (like tunnels and tracks) in place, building three entirely new stations—each of which comes with its own challenges and expenses—and labor all add up, as Business Insider <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/maps/new-york-citys-most-iconic-buildings-mapped?utm_campaign=ny.curbed.social&utm_medium=social&utm_content=curbedny&utm_source=facebook">breaks down</a>.</p>
<p id="7UuN68">But $10 billion to construct what is, essentially, six subway stops, is a hard pill to swallow. A <a href="https://pedestrianobservations.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/second-avenue-subway-phase-2-to-cost-6-billion/">piece</a> by mathematician Alon Levy cited by the <em>WSJ </em>found that the Second Avenue subway’s first phase cost approximately $1.7 billion per kilometer, making it one of the most expensive subway construction projects ever; if the projected $6 billion estimate for the next phase actually comes to pass, it would shatter that record by costing about $2.2 billion per kilometer. </p>
<p id="jdcIuH">Understandably, plenty of folks are not too pleased with that number. Here’s what some had to say: </p>
<p id="ifLPUL">From Levy, in that <a href="https://pedestrianobservations.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/second-avenue-subway-phase-2-to-cost-6-billion/">same piece</a>: </p>
<blockquote><p id="suYklH">In a world in which subways cost $60,000 per weekday rider and $2.2 billion per km, New York cannot extend the subway. If it has money in its budget for investment, it should look into things other than transportation, such as social housing or schools. Or it could not borrow money at all to pay for big projects, and in lieu of the money spent on interest, reduce taxes, or increase ongoing social spending.</p></blockquote>
<p id="XpxxD1">On Second Avenue Sagas, writer Stephen Smith <a href="http://secondavenuesagas.com/2016/12/19/guest-post-enough-enough-tell-elected-officials-mtas-costs-high/">argued</a> for citizens taking action over those high costs: </p>
<blockquote><p id="YqY1Eu">[I]t’s time for New Yorkers who care about transit to stand up and say enough is enough. Supporting transit in theory is one thing, but blind obedience to an agency whose primary goal is keeping labor, contractors and warring management fiefdoms happy is not helpful to the cause of better transit. Bringing costs back down to earth for New York’s subway projects wouldn’t be about saving money, but about building more transit. </p></blockquote>
<p id="FOIqLD">Business Insider’s Josh Barro, in the all-too-accurately titled “New York's incredibly expensive new subway explains why we can't have nice things”:</p>
<blockquote><p id="wbb2AE">Manhattan, of course, is a dense place with lots of existing stuff underground that complicates the digging of tunnels. Building a subway there will never be cheap. But infrastructure in New York isn't just expensive compared with younger, sparser cities. It's expensive <a href="https://pedestrianobservations.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/us-rail-construction-costs/">compared with places like London and Paris</a> — places that are also pretty old and also have well-compensated construction workers represented by powerful unions.</p></blockquote>
<p id="hUjGgd">You get the idea. And for his part, Prendergast says that the MTA is examining options to make the planning and construction of Phase 2 more efficient: using a “design-build” model, where one firm is responsible for design and construction, for one, and looking at how the actual digging of the thing can be done more efficiently. </p>
<p id="xHpBH7">But will that be enough? Not everyone is optimistic, especially since a game plan for Phase 2 has yet to be announced. “The fact that these things are happening in piecemeal rather than a logical succession we think is as problem,” Jon Orcutt of TransitCenter told the <em>Journal. </em>(The fact that Phase 1 took as long as it did doesn’t help, either.) </p>
<p id="bpDFaz">At this point, all we can do is wait and see—and in just a few days, we’ll be able to gauge whether that $4 billion for Phase 1 was worth it after all. </p>
<ul>
<li id="L3ncgT">
<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/mta-rethinks-approach-to-second-avenue-subway-1483035309?mod=rss_newyork_news">MTA Rethinks Approach to Second Avenue Subway</a> [WSJ]</li>
<li id="Wsqojv">
<a href="https://pedestrianobservations.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/second-avenue-subway-phase-2-to-cost-6-billion/">Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 to Cost $6 Billion</a> [Pedestrian Observations]</li>
<li id="5UlBr1">
<a href="http://secondavenuesagas.com/2016/12/19/guest-post-enough-enough-tell-elected-officials-mtas-costs-high/">Enough Is Enough. Tell your elected officials the MTA’s costs are too high</a> [Second Ave Sagas]</li>
<li id="COhHTy">
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/second-avenue-subway-cost-nyc-infrastructure-2016-12">New York's incredibly expensive new subway explains why we can't have nice things</a> [BI]</li>
<li id="6ZDAg2">
<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/second-avenue-subway">All Second Avenue Subway coverage</a> [Curbed]</li>
</ul>
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/30/14124370/second-avenue-subway-mta-costAmy Plitt2016-12-27T17:30:02-05:002016-12-27T17:30:02-05:00Second Ave Subway's ceremonial first ride will be a New Year's party for city officials
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<figcaption>Photos courtesy <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/31767342746/in/photostream/">governorandrewcuomo Flickr</a></figcaption>
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<p>Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio will take part in the inaugural festivities</p> <p id="Mpye2y">While the rest of us will be spending our New Year’s Eve elsewhere, Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning on spending his on the inaugural New Year’s Eve ride for the long-awaited Second Avenue Subway line, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2016/12/26/post_189.php?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds#photo-1">reports</a> <em>Gothamist</em>. </p>
<p id="NuB6Dk">The celebratory ride will take Governor Cuomo, along with Mayor Bill de Blasio, MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast, city and state officials, and the press from the 72nd Street stop to each of the new stations, beginning at 10:30 p.m. As for the rest of us, we’ll have to wait until January 1st, when the Second Avenue Subway officially opens to the public at 6 a.m. with limited service.</p>
<p id="alQhzv">“I am proud to ring in the New Year on the Second Avenue Subway and welcome a new era in New York where there is no challenge too great, no project too grand and all is possible,” Cuomo said in a statement (<a href="http://www.amny.com/transit/second-avenue-subway-s-inaugural-ride-on-new-year-s-eve-to-include-cuomo-de-blasio-1.12808319">h/t</a> <em>amNewYork</em>).</p>
<p id="nAq0tq">The ceremonial ride is being co-sponsored by several organizations that include the Central Park Conservancy, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mets, and more.</p>
<p id="xHKhxA">On Thursday, December 22nd, the MTA held an “open house” at the 96th Street station, giving the public a first real glimpse inside the new subway stop. Check out a few of those flicks below.</p>
<p id="89SQdL"></p>
<ul>
<li id="EVsBN6">
<a href="http://gothamist.com/2016/12/26/post_189.php?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds#photo-1">Governor Cuomo Will Ride The Second Avenue Subway On New Year's Eve</a> [Gothamist]</li>
<li id="OtKYnz">
<a href="http://www.amny.com/transit/second-avenue-subway-s-inaugural-ride-on-new-year-s-eve-to-include-cuomo-de-blasio-1.12808319">Second Avenue subway’s inaugural ride on New Year’s Eve to include Cuomo, de Blasio</a> [amNewYork]</li>
</ul>
<p id="LeMz9a"></p>
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/27/14094206/second-avenue-subway-ceremonial-rideAmeena Walker2016-12-19T15:15:17-05:002016-12-19T15:15:17-05:00Second Avenue Subway art, including work by Chuck Close, is unveiled
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W3Sr-yLQR_dnDHkT83pFbd-1O34=/0x0:2048x1536/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52363531/31360252610_ca54b6e99f_k.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>All photos courtesy <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/albums/72157674093685694">Governor Andrew Cuomo’s flickr</a></figcaption>
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<p>It’s the state’s largest permanent public art installation</p> <p id="YiU26H">In the early part of 2014, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority <a href="http://untappedcities.com/2014/01/22/subway-art-on-the-future-second-avenue-subway-line-revealed-nyc/">revealed</a> that it would liven up stations along the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway line with tons of public art. Now less than two weeks from the <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14004044/second-avenue-subway-andrew-cuomo-opening-date">line’s opening</a>, Governor Andrew Cuomo is showing off the finished products on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/albums/72157674093685694">his flickr page</a>. </p>
<p id="FLglmg">The expansive and mesmerizing installations are the largest permanent public art installation in New York State history, and dozens of works spread out over the four stations along the extension.</p>
<p id="mWe3Ws">"The Second Avenue subway provides New Yorkers with a museum underground and honors our legacy of building engineering marvels that elevate the human experience," Cuomo said in a statement. "Public works projects are not just about function—they’re an expression of who we are and what we believe. Any child who has never walked into a museum or an art gallery can walk the streets of New York and be exposed to art and education simply by being a New Yorker. That is where we came from and that is what makes New York special."</p>
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<p id="adWmLW">↑ At the 63rd Street station, artist Jean Shin has used archival photos of the Second and Third avenue elevated trains to create images in ceramic tile, glass mosaic and laminated glass. All the scenes are a throwback to the time when those trains were in operation.</p>
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<p id="JoZDPt">↑ At the 72nd Street station, Vik Muniz’s installation “Perfect Strangers” features colorful images of New Yorkers created in mosaic. In all, the Brazilian artist has created over three dozen characters throughout the mezzanine and entrance areas.</p>
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<p id="CRuwax">↑ Chuck Close is behind “Subway Portraits” at the 86th Street Station. In all, Close has created 10 works in mosaic and two works in ceramic tile. The nine-foot-high installations feature well-known subjects like Philip Glass, Kara Walker, and Lou Reed, along with the artist himself, of course.</p>
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<p id="vQARfW">↑ Sarah Sze’s “Blueprint for a Landscape,” is made up of nearly 4,300 porcelain tiles spread throughout the 96th Street station, and in total the artwork spans about 14,000 square feet. The images depicted include “sheets of paper, scaffolding, birds, trees, and foliage—caught up in a whirlwind velocity that picks up speed and intensity as the composition unfolds throughout the station with references to energy fields and wind patterns.”</p>
<p id="0wvNOz">Cuomo is confident that the Second Avenue Subway will have its inaugural run on New Year’s Eve, so here’s hoping we can all catch a glimpse of these works (and ride the train too) very soon.</p>
<ul>
<li id="iWAsQZ">
<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/7/7/12120358/chuck-close-second-avenue-subway-mosaic">Chuck Close Will Bring Mosaic Portraits to the Second Avenue Subway</a> [Curbed]</li>
<li id="FAly4M">
<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14004044/second-avenue-subway-andrew-cuomo-opening-date">Cuomo: Second Avenue Subway is ‘going to open Jan. 1’</a> [Curbed]</li>
</ul>
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14010084/second-avenue-subway-chuck-close-sarah-szeTanay Warerkar2016-12-19T09:15:01-05:002016-12-19T09:15:01-05:00Cuomo: Second Avenue Subway is ‘going to open Jan. 1’
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<figcaption>Inside the 72nd Street station on the Second Avenue subway line | Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo</figcaption>
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<p>Cuomo is determined to make it happen</p> <p id="Y4GrNb"><strong>UPDATE:</strong> When the Second Avenue Subway opens on January 1, 2017 at noon, it will operate on limited service for the first week or so with trains running every six minutes and in between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Full service will get underway on January 9.</p>
<p id="LqYuvT">The race to open the <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/second-avenue-subway">Second Avenue Subway</a> is on, and the latest <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/10/13907016/second-avenue-subway-governor-cuomo-site-visit">assurances</a> that it will really, truly make its December 31 deadline comes from none other than Governor Andrew Cuomo himself. In an interview with <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-Second-Avenue-Subway-Service-Begins-January-Gov-Cuomo-Says-407383455.html">NBC New York</a>, Cuomo confirmed that the oft-delayed subway line will have its inaugural, ceremonial run on New Year’s Eve, with revenue service—i.e., service for the general public—beginning the next day. </p>
<p id="CK2AWp">In an interview with the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-promises-ave-subway-open-jan-1-article-1.2915501?utm_content=buffer929a4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw"><em>New York Daily News</em></a><em>, </em>the Governor was slightly more cautious. “As you can see, it’s not all buttoned up,” he told the <em>Daily News. “</em>Obviously something unforeseen could always happen. But we’re saying that’s going to open on January 1.” But the final tests are underway, and Cuomo seems extra-determined to keep this deadline. “You miss a deadline, it’s a failure. It’s important to tell the people of the state, we can actually take on a big project and get it done.”</p>
<p id="bDLOrI">City and state officials, including Mayor de Blasio, will take the first ride in New Year’s Eve. (And according to the <em>Daily News, </em>that ceremonial ride “will be sponsored by The Mets, the New York Historical Society and the Central Park Conservancy.” Oh … kay?) All three new stations at 96th, 86th, and 72nd streets will open at once, along with the transfer to 63rd St-Lexington Avenue. </p>
<p id="8XPYic">And if you needed more proof that the Second Avenue line is truly gearing up for its debut, subway maps with the Q extension added in have appeared throughout the subway system: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's happening. The Q train appears along Second Avenue on the subway map. <a href="https://t.co/Ppebw1P4Cr">pic.twitter.com/Ppebw1P4Cr</a></p>— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) <a href="https://twitter.com/emmagf/status/810511368071839744">December 18, 2016</a>
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<p id="3KzSI9">Of course, this isn’t really the end of the SAS story: planning for the second phase of the line, which would run from 96th to 125th streets, is underway, with initial cost estimates coming in at a <a href="http://www.amny.com/transit/second-avenue-subway-should-get-federal-support-before-obama-leaves-office-officials-say-1.12763301">staggering $6 <em>billion</em></a><em> </em>to get it done. </p>
<p id="PcM5R6">Still: nearly a century after the idea of a Second Avenue line was first proposed, and a decade after construction actually began, the Second Avenue subway is <em>thisclose </em>to becoming a reality. (But it’s not really done until someone makes that first MetroCard swipe.) </p>
<ul>
<li id="9YTYw8">
<a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-Second-Avenue-Subway-Service-Begins-January-Gov-Cuomo-Says-407383455.html">2nd Avenue Subway Service to Begin Jan. 1: Gov. Cuomo</a> [NBC New York]</li>
<li id="3199FX">
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-promises-ave-subway-open-jan-1-article-1.2915501?utm_content=buffer929a4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDailyNewsTw">Gov. Cuomo promises Second Ave. subway will meet deadline, open on New Year's Day</a> [NYDN]</li>
<li id="ua2mk2">
<a href="http://www.amny.com/transit/second-avenue-subway-should-get-federal-support-before-obama-leaves-office-officials-say-1.12763301">Second Avenue subway should get federal support before Obama leaves office, officials say</a> [AM New York]</li>
<li id="aFvsmA">
<a href="http://ny.curbed.com/second-avenue-subway">All Second Avenue Subway coverage</a> [Curbed]</li>
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<h3 id="xqqvMe">Watch: The Holiday Nostalgia Train</h3>
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https://ny.curbed.com/2016/12/19/14004044/second-avenue-subway-andrew-cuomo-opening-dateAmy Plitt