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When the chief suits and ties take a few symbolic jackhammer swipes on Thursday to relaunch construction on the Second Avenue Subway, they won't exactly be breaking new ground. A 3-minute video from NY Times shows the history of three previous groundbreaking ceremonies held in the 1970s.
"Groundbreakings are meant to symbolize progress and things actually getting done," narrates William Neuman. "In the case of the Second Avenue Subway, that has not always been the case." He visits the three aborted construction sites:
1. 103 St and 2nd Ave - Groundbreaking 1972
2. Canal Street and Bowery - Groundbreaking 1973
3. 2nd St and 2nd Ave - Groundbreaking 1974
Neuman calls site #3 "The most poignant of all the 2nd Avenue Subway groundbreaking ceremonies, because no section of tunnel was ever built here." Thursday's event will take place below 2nd Avenue at 99th Street, in a section of existing tunnel - here's hoping fourth time's a charm (although the residents who are being kicked out to make way for the subway aren't so thrilled).
More: NY1: Second Avenue Subway Groundbreaking Set for April 12th and Gothamist: Second Avenue Subway T's Up .
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How about some new trains and subways in the parts of the city that aren't fully built out with million dollar condos? What a waste.
I'm sure our great-great-great-grandchildren will enjoy riding on the Second Avenue Subway when it first opens.
I know I am just pi##ing into the wind here- but was there ever any thought put into getting a street car? I just rode the light rail in Newark NJ and it was really nice and modern. And it would probably cost about 1/10 the cost (at most), be built faster, etc.
Light rail is appropriate in certain cases, but the East Side really needs this line.
Newark, NJ doesn't have 8 million people to haul back and forth everyday. It's a nice idea but not very practical. There were talks years ago about having a trolley/street car running cross town on 42nd. Guess it never got off the drawing board if it ever reached the drawing board.
I only wish these guys (MTA) had the foresight to route this brand new tunnel into alphabet city but that would be asking far too much of them.
Just get to work and build the damn thing already ! I don't care about any ground breaking ceremonies. Build the damn thing and be done with it !
hopefully when this project is finished the mta will connect the the 4th avenue brooklyn subway with staten island..another project that was started and never finished...