Daniel L. Turner of the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) publishes the “Proposed Comprehensive Rapid Transit System.”

Phase I of the plan – build Sixth and Eighth Avenue lines.

Phase II of the plan – build Second Avenue Trunk line.

Estimated cost – $165 million.

Estimated cost – $86 million.

This includes a turnoff at 34th Street, a 34th Street Crosstown Subway and an East River tunnel to Queens; a turnoff at 63rd Street to connect with the Sixth Avenue line of Phase I; and a connection in the Bronx at Morris Park and Lafayette Ave.

Later revision of the Second Avenue line has the six track line from uptown branching off – two tracks to 61st Street (instead of 63rd Street), two to Chambers Street, and two to the Fulton Street Subway.

Estimated cost for the 100 mile Phase II system – $438 million.

Construction is anticipated to begin in1930, with lines in service sometime between 1938 and 1941.

In October, however, the Wall Street stock market crashes.

From The New York Times Archive – “100 Miles of Subway in New City Project; 52 of Them in Queens” (September 16, 1929)

From The New York Times Archive – “Debt Limit Curbs City Subway Plans” (May 15, 1935)

New revisions: From Canal Street to 57th Street the line is to be four tracks, with six north of 57th Street (two for a super express to the Bronx); two tracks will be south of Canal Street; connections are planned for the lines from the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges. The plan also calls for a connection in Brooklyn with a major rebuilding of the DeKalb Avenue junction.

Estimated cost of the Manhattan segments – $242 million.

The proposed opening date is pushed back to 1951.

The new R11 “million dollar train” is unveiled as the prototype train to run on the line – 10 stainless steel subway cars, which cost $100,000 each.

Then, the Korean War starts, driving up material costs.

From The New York Times Archive – “$500,000 Voted for 2d Ave. Subway By Estimate Board” (September 14, 1951)

The New York Times reports on Jan 17, 1957, “It is highly improbable that the Second Ave Subway will ever materialize.”

From The New York Times Archive – “A 2d Ave. Subway Called Unlikely” (March 9, 1957)

A formal hearing is held to investigate the use of funds meant for new construction. Patterson, however, defends his right to spend the bond money on general system improvements.

The MTA takes over the city’s subway system, putting the Second Avenue line plan back on track. The Second Avenue line will cost $220 million for a two track line from 34th Street to the Bronx. It would connect with the 63rd Street Tunnel, the Central Park line to 57th Street, Sixth Avenue, and Broadway Avenue.

Phase II would bring the line down to Water Street near Battery Park. The New York Board of Estimate approves a two track line from the Bronx to Water Street, including the 63rd St. connection.

From The New York Times Archive – “Rockefeller and Lindsay Break Ground for 2d Avenue Subway” (October 28, 1972)

October – Mayor Lindsay breaks ground for the Second Avenue line’s downtown section.

November – After three ground breaking ceremonies and some six decades of stalled proposals for the Second Avenue line, the MTA announces the completion would be delayed – yet again – due to a lack of funds.

December – Mayor Beame calls for the constructed tunnel segments to be sealed once work is completed.

From The New York Times Archive: “2d Ave. Subway Put Off Further” (December 14, 1974)

From The New York Times Archive: “Is that finally the sound of the 2nd Ave. Subway?” (April 9, 2007)