In addition, the completed SAS will include a connection from Second Avenue through the 63rd Street Tunnel to current service tracks to areas like West Midtown and Brooklyn. This long-awaited addition will expand on the already extensive New York City Subway system. The first construction contract was awarded in March 2007 and construction began on April12, 2007.

Second Avenue Subway Project

The Second Avenue Subway, also known as the SAS, is a project currently in construction that will include a two-track subway line along Second Avenue from 125th Street to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.

Advantages of the SAS

Each of these steps serves to make the SAS line the most accessible for all commuters. The SAS line is expected to finally accommodate East Manhattan’s continued residential growth.

The Second Avenue Subway will drastically reduce costly delays and overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue Line, improving travel for commuters that live in the city and in the suburbs. In addition, stations on the SAS line will include a combination of escalators, stairs, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, elevator connections from street level to station platforms.

Major Milestone for the SAS

In September of 2011 the long delayed Second Avenue Subway project reached a significant milestone. The 485-ton boring machine being used to complete project made its second pass from 92nd Street and Second Avenue. Construction broke into an existing tunnel at the Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street Station marking significant progress in the project.

Residents and business owners on the East Side are encouraged by the headway being made but are still concerned about the effects construction could have on their air quality. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it is working hard to curb these worries and will announce their plans soon.

Funding for the SAS

In June 2012 the Federal Transit Administration awarded $197 million to the Second Avenue Subway construction’s first phase. This grant accounted for a portion of the $1.3 billion in federal funding committed for the MTA project.

Shortly after this amount was awarded, government officials announced that another installment of $123 million would also be conferred. Representative Carolyn Maloney’s office confirmed that these funds will be included in the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget, and will aid in completing the SAS Line by December 2016.