7 Subway Extension
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This article or section contains information about a proposed, planned, or expected public transportation infrastructure in the United States. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available. |
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The 7 Subway Extension — Hudson Yards Rezoning and Development Program refers to the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) plans to extend the IRT Flushing Line, which carries the 7 service, westward from its current terminus at Times Square, adding one new station at Eleventh Avenue–34th Street. A second station at Tenth Avenue–41st Street dropped from the plans in October 2007, but could be restored if funding can be found.[1]
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[edit] Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project
The extension, part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project, is intended to aid redevelopment of the west side of Midtown Manhattan around the Long Island Rail Road's Caemmerer Railyard, and was originally proposed as part of the failed attempt to build the West Side Stadium for the New York Jets and the city's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Although the stadium plan was rejected by city and state planning agencies, the 7 subway extension plan is still on the table, as New York political leaders would like to see the warehouse district west of 8th Avenue and north of 34th Street redeveloped, and subway service would be an essential part of that effort. The extension would also serve the newly expanded Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
[edit] Current status
On December 3, 2007, the MTA conducted a ceremony at the Times Square subway station marking the launch of construction of the 7 line extension, and as of April 2008, the MTA's contractor is making progress excavating the station adjacent to the Javits Convention Center. Reports in late December 2007 indicate that the postponed 41 Street/10th Avenue station might be partially built if the City of New York and MTA can come to terms on the additional financing for the station shell. [2]
In October 2007, the MTA awarded a $1.1 Billion contract to begin tunnelling on the initial tunnel segment from the current 7 line terminus in Times Square.[3][4] The 41st Street and 10th Avenue station is not included in the contract award; however, a $450 Million option to build a shell for the station was included as part of the contract, and must be acted on by the city within nine months, if the city wants to have a station shell built as part of the initial contract.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's December 12, 2006 address to the League of Conservation Voters noted that in November 2006, the government began issuing bonds to fund the extension of the No.7 subway line to 11th Avenue and 34th Street.[5]. The $2 Billion 7 subway extension is being funded with New York City funds from municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bond sales that are expected to repaid with property tax revenues from future developments in areas served by the extension.[6]
One of the physical hindrances to the construction of the extension is the fact that the IND 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal station was constructed with a lower-level platform, ironic because the lower-level, downtown only platform was built by the IND most likely to prevent the IRT from extending west what is now the 7 train. The now-abandoned platform will have to be partially razed in order for the 7 train extension to be built.[7]
In September 2007, it was announced that the new station on the line will feature platform screen doors. [8] The new station (along with the new South Ferry station on the 1 line) will include special air-cooling systems to reduce the temperature along platforms[9].
[edit] Future extension southward
The 7 subway extension will have service tracks that extend to near 23rd Street. These tracks will be used for moving and storing trains. This track segment opens up the possibility that the line could be extended further south to 23rd Street and 11th Avenue to a possible future station to serve the Chelsea section of Manhattan and Chelsea Piers, which has become a popular recreation facility.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ Transit Board Approves Funding For 7 Line Extension, NY1, 25 October 2007
- ^ 7 line extension may get 41st Street stop
- ^ Transit Board Approves Funding For 7 Line Extension, NY1, 25 October 2007
- ^ [1] Mayor's Press Release December 3, 2007
- ^ NYC Mayor Outlines Long-Term Growth Plan GlobeSt.com, 13 December 2006
- ^ City Raises $2 Billion In Bonds For No. 7 Line Extension NY1, 7 December 2006
- ^ "No Whoosh, No ‘All Aboard’" The New York Times, 20 April 2008
- ^ MTA Plans To Install Platform Doors On 7 Line Extension, NY1, 8 September 2007
- ^ Cooler subways coming - eventually, New York Daily News, 4 August 2006
[edit] External links
- 7 Subway Extension Update - Official MTA 7 Subway Extension Project Page (not up-to-date)
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