| 7 Subway Extension | |
|---|---|
  The 7 and 7 Express (designated as <7> on rolling stock) services serve the entire 7 Subway Extension. | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Locale | Manhattan,New York City |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 1constructed (1proposed) |
| Service | |
| Type | Rapid transit |
| System | New York City Subway |
| Operator(s) | New York City Transit Authority |
| History | |
| Opened | September 13, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-09-13) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Character | Underground |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Electrification | 625VDCthird rail |
The7 Subway Extension is asubway extension of theNew York City Subway'sIRT Flushing Line, which is served by the7 local and<7> express services. The extension stretches 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest from its previous terminus atTimes Square, at Seventh Avenue and 41st Street, toone new station at 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue. A second station at10th Avenue and 41st Street was dropped from the plans in October 2007. The entirety of the extension is located within theNew York City borough ofManhattan. The extension, a key part of theHudson Yards Redevelopment Project, is expected to bring business and entertainment into the area, as well as aid redevelopment of nearbyChelsea andHell's Kitchen, located around theLong Island Rail Road'sWest Side Yard. The extension also serves the nearbyJacob K. Javits Convention Center.
The project was originally proposed in 2005 as part of the Hudson Yards project, which included the failed attempt to build theWest Side Stadium for theNew York Jets andthe city's bid for the2012 Summer Olympics. Although the stadium plan was rejected by the state legislature, the rest of theHudson Yards rail yard development, including the 7 Subway Extension, went forward. Construction on the extension started in 2007.
The extension's opening was postponed multiple times from its original target of December 2013. The delays were attributed to a variety of problems, mostly involving the 170-foot-long (52 m)incline elevators that were custom-designed for the new station. The extension finally opened to the public on September 13, 2015.
Proposals to extend the transit system to the Far West Side to support massive redevelopment were floated as early as 1969, when theNew York City Planning Commission's (CPC's) master plan proposed to expand midtown westward along a 48th Street transit line to replace what the plan described as "blocks of antiquated and deteriorating structures of every sort" between Eighth and Twelfth avenues.[1] That proposal for the West 40s and 50s failed after voters rejected a state bond issue that would have financed the proposed new east–west transit line or "people mover."[2] Subsequently, attention shifted to the West 30s and theIRT Flushing Line.
In response to the CPC's 1993 proposal to improve access to the Manhattan Central Business District,[3] theMetropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began exploring the possibility of a 7 extension to New Jersey.[4] In June 2001, a business and civic group convened by SenatorCharles Schumer argued that a westward extension of the Midtown office district could not be accomplished without a subway extension, saying:[5]
The long blocks along the avenues make the walk as long as 20 minutes to the westernmost parts of the area. In addition, there is no convenient link fromGrand Central Station or elsewhere on the east side of Manhattan, making the Far West Side a difficult commute for workers from parts ofManhattan,Queens,Westchester andConnecticut.[5]
In December 2001, theNew York City Department of City Planning issued a study entitledFar West Midtown: A Framework for Development that recommended zoning changes and an extension of the Flushing Line to revitalize Far West Midtown. Thegovernment of New York City devised a rezoning plan for the Hudson Yards area and proposed two new subway stations to serve that area, with the extension of the subway to be financed by $2.1 billion of city-issued bonds. The project also included an expansion of theJavits Center and a proposedWest Side Stadium, the latter of which was to serve as the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field events in theNew York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6][7][8] The City wanted to get funding before July 2005, at which time theInternational Olympic Committee would vote on funding. However, due to shortfalls in the MTA's Capital Program, as well as preexisting funding for theSecond Avenue Subway andEast Side Access, the MTA could not pay to fund the extension.[4] After the proposal for the West Side Stadium was rejected in 2005,[9] New York City quickly lost their Olympic bid.[10] The subway extension was approved[4] following the successful rezoning of about 60 blocks from 28th to 43rd Streets, which became theHudson Yards neighborhood.[11]
MayorMichael Bloomberg's December 12, 2006, address to the New YorkLeague of Conservation Voters noted that in November 2006, the government began issuing bonds to fund the extension of the 7 subway to Eleventh Avenue and 34th Street.[12] The $2.4 billion extension was funded with New York City funds from municipalTax Increment Financing (TIF) bond sales that are expected to be repaid with property tax revenues from future developments in areas served by the extension.[13]
In October 2007, theMetropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded a $1.145 billion contract to build 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of twin-tube tunnel from the 7 train's then-terminus at Times Square to the then-planned shell of the 34th Street–Hudson Yards station. The contract was awarded to S3, a joint venture of J.F. Shea,Skanska USA Civil, and Schiavone.[14][15][16] The extension's construction was overseen by the MTA'sCapital Construction division.[8] Dattner Architects, designed the 34th Street station.[17] After excavating the new terminal's shell and creating the first 1,000 feet (300 m) of tunnel using the drill-and-blast method, S3 placed twotunnel-boring machines (TBMs) in the ground to dig the remaining 6,000 feet (1,800 m); as it dug, each TBM placed precast concrete liner segments to create the tunnel interior.[17]
Early on in the project, it was announced that the new stations would featureplatform screen doors.[18] The stations (along with the newSouth Ferry station on theIRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and the three Phase 1Second Avenue Subway stations on theUpper East Side) would include special air-cooling systems to reduce the temperature along platforms.[19] Due to its depth, the extension has ventilation towers, rather than the ventilation grates ubiquitous in the rest of the subway system.[20]
However, in October 2007, soon after the announcement of the new extension, the 10th Avenue station was canceled due to an overrun of the $2.4 billion budget,[14] and the MTA did not have an extra $500 million to build the 10th Avenue station.[21][22] On December 3, 2007, the MTA conducted a ceremony at the Times Square subway station marking the launch of construction of the 7 train extension. The contractor began excavating the station cavern adjacent to the Javits Convention Center.[23] One physical hindrance to the construction of the extension was the lower-level platform at42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal on theIND Eighth Avenue Line. The abandoned platform was partially razed to allow the 7 train extension to be built.[24] In order for the TBMs to meet up with the existing lay-up tracks west of Times Square, the Eighth Avenue Line had to be underpinned to support the existing line.[25]
In June 2008, construction on the tunnels began along Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan.[26] In February 2009, S3 lowered the first of two tunnel-boring machines into a giant shaft at the corner of 25th Street and Eleventh Avenue. The two boring machines dug parallel 7,100-foot (2,200 m) long tunnels north along Eleventh Avenue to the current terminus of the 7 service at 41st Street and Times Square.[27] The MTA posted a construction update with photographs on its website in November 2008, showing substantial progress.[28]
The MTA completed excavation of a 150-foot (46 m) long cavern in June 2009. The cavern was dug below the bus entrance ramp to the lower level of thePort Authority Bus Terminal and formed part of the eastern end of the new extension and connected it to the Times Square station. At the same time, tunnels were being dug northward from the machine shaft at 26th Street; soft ground at 27th and 28th Street required 300 feet (91 m) of ground to be frozen so that the tunnel-boring machines could easily dig through the soil.[29] On December 21, 2009, it was announced that a tunnel-boring machine broke through the 34th Street station cavern wall.[29][30] Both tunnel-boring machines were scheduled to finish the required tunneling in the spring of 2010.[31]
In June 2010, one of the TBMs completed its tunnel at the cavern.[32] The second TBM broke through the wall of the cavern on July 15, 2010, completing its tunneling operation.[33] The TBMs were partially disassembled and backed up to the 25th Street shaft, where they were lifted out.[32][33][34] In April 2011, the MTA announced that the contract covering the tunnels, the 34th Street station mezzanine and passenger platform was 85% complete, and that the systems contract, covering mechanical and electrical systems, electric power, lighting and train tracks would be awarded by July 2011. A second entrance to the station is planned.[35] In May 2012, the MTA announced that the extension, now 65% complete, had received the installation of the first set of rails.[36]
On August 21, 2013, the MTA announced that the 7 Subway Extension was 90% complete.[37] On December 20, 2013, MayorMichael Bloomberg took a ceremonial ride on a train to the new terminal, celebrating a part of his legacy as Mayor; at the time, the proposed opening date was June 2014.[38][39]
Soon after Bloomberg's ceremonial ride, the opening date of the subway extension was postponed from June to early fall 2014,[40] then to November 2014,[41] then to February 2015,[42] and then to May 2015.[43] Most of the problems were attributed to theincline elevators being installed in the station,[44] and to the ventilation fans along the tunnel.[42]
On October 1, 2014, the MTA told theNew York Daily News that the agency had signed a new agreement with the prime contractor, offering up to $4.75 million in incentive payments if the new station was finished and ready to open to the public by February 24, 2015.[45]
Just two and a half months later, though, the MTA stated that it was unable to open the subway extension for service until April to July 2015, due to the failure to get the inclined elevators to work properly.[43][46] Problems with the security and fire alarm systems were also blamed for the delays.[47] A December 2014New York Post article attributed the delay to theHudson Yards rail yard development's developer,The Related Companies', need to digcaissons for the foundations, just above the subway station, and the foundation work needed to be complete before the MTA could open the station.[48] Continuing trouble with the fire and security alarms in March 2015 would delay the opening until summer.[49][50]
The use of inclined elevators was intended to provide wheelchair-using patrons with a shorter, easier path to the train platform, as well as to reduce tunneling costs.[40] The two elevators were manufactured by Maspero Elevatori, inAppiano Gentile, Italy, using a controller made on Long Island, speed governors made inOhio, and buttons and other parts in Queens.[40] The software for the elevator was written in the United States. Maspero Elevatori assembled the elevators in Italy, and they failed an operational test there, prior to being shipped to the United States.[40] The MTA said the manufacturer chose to use American subcontractors in place of local Italian suppliers after reading the specifications the transit agency submitted. The MTA had been working with the manufacturer to try to resolve the problems caused by a very high level of customization.[40]
On June 1, 2015, a representative for the MTA described the extension as "99% complete". That day, test runs of 7 trains started running to 34th Street–Hudson Yards in preparation for the summer 2015 opening of the extension.[51] However, on June 15, the extension was postponed again to "before the end of the third quarter".[52] On July 20, 2015, it was reported that the MTA planned to open the extension to the public on September 13, 2015.[53][54] The opening date was confirmed on August 28, 2015.[55][56] The station was opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13 at about 1 p.m.[57][58][59][60]
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The 34th Street–Hudson Yards station is under the intersection of11th Avenue and34th Street. It is the only station on the extension, and it opened on September 13, 2015.[57][58][59] The MTA says that the new station will "make it possible for new housing, restaurants and entertainment to grow" in the surrounding neighborhoods, includingHell's Kitchen andChelsea.[61] The station is also close to theJacob K. Javits Convention Center.[62]
Passenger access to the station includes a pair of incline elevators.[44] The project has been plagued by delays because of the mishaps involved in the installation of the custom-made elevators.[63] In June 2012, the extension's opening was delayed to June 2014, with the rest of the 34th Street–Hudson Yards station to open at the end of 2015;[64][65] As of December 15, 2014[update], the opening date was changed to mid-2015.[43][46] In April 2014, the first of the 170-foot-long (52 m) incline elevators was installed in the station.[44] The 80-foot (24 m) high incline elevators[25][66] are the first of their kind in the system.[44] The station is the third station in the New York City Subway to have low vibration tracks installed. These tracks provide a smoother, quieter ride for passengers, and eliminate the need for wooden track blocks.[25]
The extension contains five street-level structures:[67]
Although a new station at 10th Avenue and 41st Street was part of the original plan, the intermediate station was eliminated in October 2007 due to cost overruns, leaving the terminal station at Eleventh Avenue and 34th Street as the only new station on the extension. The MTA indicated that the 10th Avenue station could be included in the project if funding were found.[14] The station was not included in the original (2007) contract award, but was listed as a $450 million option. In late December 2007, reports indicated that the postponed station might be partially built if the City of New York and the MTA agreed on the additional financing for the station shell.[69] In February 2009, the MTA announced that it would build the station if the agency received sufficient funds from thefederal economic stimulus package.[70] In June 2010, the city announced it was seeking funding to assess the feasibility of constructing the station at a later date using a two-platform, two-entrance model without an underground connecting passage.[71][72][73][74][75]
Construction of the line proceeded to its completion in 2014 without the station or its shell.[76][77] In January 2016, theNew York City Economic Development Corporation released arequest for proposal (RFP) for a site of a proposed development at 41st Street and Tenth Avenue,[78][79] including a study into the 10th Avenue station's feasibility.[80] The new station was projected to cost $1 billion at the time.[81]New York City Council candidateErik Bottcher proposed completing the station in mid-2021,[82] and elected officials again pushed for the station's construction in August 2022.[83][84] By 2023, the MTA predicted that the station could cost $1.9 billion.[85]
In 2010,The New York Times reported that MayorMichael Bloomberg's administration had been considering an extension toHoboken and toSecaucus Junction inNew Jersey, allowing commuters from that state to more easily accessGrand Central Terminal and other subway routes.[86] If opened, the extension would take the New York City Subway outside the borders of both New York City andNew York state for the first time.[87] The planned extension would have cost less than the canceledAccess to the Region's Core project, but travel times would be longer than the ARC project.[88] The project, which could require five additional years to develop, would not be automatically entitled to the federal funding allotted to the ARC tunnel.[89][90][91]
On February 2, 2011, the city's Economic Development Corporation voted to budget up to $250,000 for afeasibility study of the proposed New Jersey extension, carried out by engineering firmParsons Brinckerhoff.[92][93] Amtrak's February 2011 announcement of theGateway Project, which entailed two new commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River, included a proposal to extend the 7 service three blocks east of Eleventh Avenue toNew York Penn Station, instead of five miles west to Secaucus.[94]Congress allocated $15 million for studies for the project in November 2011, with the likelihood that Gateway and the subway extension would be in competition for funding.[95] In April 2012, citing budget considerations, the director of theMTA,Joe Lhota, said that it was doubtful the extension would be built in the foreseeable future.[96] After the Parsons Brinckerhoff feasibility study was released in April 2013,[97][98] Bloomberg said: "Extending the 7 train to Secaucus is a promising potential solution ... and is deserving of serious consideration."[97][99] In November 2013, theNew Jersey Assembly passed Resolution 168[100] supporting the extension of the line toHoboken and Secaucus.[101]
In 2017, a further extension of the 7 train to New Jersey was suggested once again, this time as an alternative to constructing a replacement for the Port Authority Bus Terminal.[102] An alternative would include a new terminal at Secaucus Junction in connection with the 7 extension.[103] In February 2018, it was revealed that the Port Authority had advertised for consultants to write an 18-month feasibility study for such an extension, and that it had received bids from several companies. This extension was being planned along with the Gateway Project and, if built, would be able to accommodate a projected 38% increase in the number of people commuting between the two states.[104][105] If the New Jersey subway extension were constructed, it could complement the Gateway Project, which was predicted to become overcrowded by 2040.[105][106] At the time, the Port Authority was upgrading thePATH system, the only rapid transit link between New York and New Jersey, to accommodate more frequent trains.[105]
TheRegional Plan Association, in its Fourth Plan in 2017, proposed extending the 7 subway down the tail tracks and the Hudson waterfront to a new station at 14th Street and Tenth Avenue, with an intermediate stop at 23rd Street and Eleventh Avenue. If constructed, the new Tenth Avenue station would feature a pedestrian connection to the14th Street/Eighth Avenue station, with transfers to theA, C, E, and L trains, and the tunnel would be configured to allow for a New Jersey extension.[107]
The New York State Society of Professional Engineers awarded the first construction phase, "Running Tunnels and Underground Structures," its 2013 Construction Project of the Year. According to the society, the project team won the award "for outstanding professional engineering efforts in developing creative solutions and innovative technologies in construction of an infrastructure project. The No. 7 project used the first double-shieldedtunnel boring machines (TBMs) to tunnel under New York City while placing precast concrete segments to form the tunnels' walls. For the first time in the world, aground freezing method was used to harden soil to act as rock to allow TBMs to maintain proper course while boring and placing the tunnel liners."[108] While the extension extends 1 mile (1.6 km), the tunnels are actually 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long.[109]
The new station opened September 13, 2015
The troubled extension ... will eventually extend the 7 train one station west to serve a new development over the West Side Yard train tracks (known as Hudson Yards) and finally provide a rail link to the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| YouTube video clips about the 7 Subway Extension by Metropolitan Transportation Authority | |
 | |
 Update, January 12, 2010; 2:31 | |
| Update, July 16, 2010; 3:12 | |
| Update, May 4, 2011; 2:58 | |
| Update, November 16, 2011; 2:26 | |
| Update – Rails being delivered, May 10, 2012; 2:52 | |
| Update, December 4, 2012; 3:07 | |
| Inaugural Ride, December 20, 2013; 9:30 | |
| 7 Line Extension Train Operator and Dispatcher Training, May 31, 2015; 3:39 | |
| 34 St-Hudson Yards Station, September 13, 2015; 4:51 |
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