If you have recently passed by Second Avenue, anywhere from 125th street to the high 60s, you may have noticed blockades and lots of wood on either side of the street. The reason behind this massive construction is the building of a new subway system on Second Avenue. At its expected completion date in 2016, the two-track line will extend from 125th street to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.
According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, “The Second Avenue Subway will reduce overcrowding and delays on the Lexington Avenue line, improving travel for both city and suburban commuters, and provide better access to mass transit for residents of the far East Side of Manhattan.” But what do the real New Yorkers have to say about this future “improvement?” While strolling the streets of Second Avenue, I interviewed several of those who will be affected by both the construction and the subway itself.
An elderly woman was grateful that the subway will bring her closer in time to the hospital. In her words, this “should’ve been done a long time ago.”
The owner of Second Avenue’s Silver Star Diner said, “Initially, it will hurt business because of the construction and the vermin. But there will be a business boom eventually because the city will be more interconnected.”
Pedestrians’ responses were not always positive, however. A less optimistic businesswoman living on the avenue complained, “I’m afraid of the noise level and the congestion. I think there’s going to be a lot of uncontrollable pedestrian traffic…Frankly, I’d rather walk a little bit to Lexington and get some exercise.” Another woman thought it would be easy for businesspeople due to Lexington’s constant crowds, but she said that, personally, she “couldn’t care less.”
Next, I stopped by the apartment building at 265 E. 66th St. to chat with the workers there who must commute to Second Avenue every day of the work week. They also seemed to think that the subway would be more beneficial to others than it would be to themselves. When asked “Will it affect you?” the concierge said, “No, but it will affect most people. These are long blocks!” I asked the building’s porter, who rides his bike to work every day, “Will you ever change how you get to work?” He replied, “No. I’ll ride my bike for the rest of my life.”
From these interviews, I suspect that the Second Avenue subway will not affect as many people as expected. But perhaps in 2016, its aesthetics and convenience will drive those who were at first reluctant of the construction to take advantage of this opportunity.