Overview
- Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA leaders held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday at East 119th Street to begin excavation for a TBM launch shaft as the project moves from planning into major construction.
- A recent restoration of about $3.4 billion in congressionally authorized federal funds plus the release of roughly $58–$60 million of withheld reimbursements allowed the MTA to award key contracts, including a roughly $1.97 billion tunneling contract.
- The MTA plans to lower 1.5 million‑pound tunnel‑boring machines with 23‑foot cutter heads in early 2027 to dig from the launch site north to 125th Street, with officials targeting substantial completion around 2032.
- The extension will add three ADA‑accessible stations at 106th, 116th and 125th Streets, link the Q to the Lexington Avenue lines and Metro‑North at 125th Street, and is expected to serve about 100,000 East Harlem riders daily.
- Construction already requires property acquisitions, utility relocations and work that has disrupted local businesses and residents, and officials warn the build could drive near‑term closures and longer‑term pressure on housing and land values.