Construction on the Second Avenue subway expansion has come to a stop following Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to pause the city’s congestion pricing program, a top MTA official said.

"We have stopped working on Second Avenue subway," MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said Tuesday, noting there could also be impacts to other MTA projects. "The loss of congestion pricing funds is very serious to the MTA."

What You Need To Know

  • MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer confirmed Tuesday that construction on the Second Avenue subway expansion has stopped 

  • However, earlier in the day, Hochul sought to relieve concerns about the congestion pricing pause, telling reporters that funding was already in place

  • The cost to complete the second phase of the project and extend the line up through 125th Street is expected to total $7.7 billion

  • The federal government awarded a $3.4 billion grant, conditioned on the MTA matching it with $4.3 billion, which was supposed to come from congestion pricing

According to Torres-Springer, funds that were meant to be generated by congestion pricing accounted for 30% of the current five-year capital plan budget, but without that funding, the MTA will need to reprioritize spending.

“The key principle with how we go forward is state of good repair. We have to keep our system running safely and reliably. There are a lot of improvements that we're not going to be able to implement that we were planning to implement,” he said.

However, earlier in the day, Hochul sought to relieve concerns about the congestion pricing pause, telling reporters that funding was already in place.

"We’re looking at a pause … that does not mean that we will not find funding for the Second Avenue subway," Hochul said.

She said that while money is available for day-to-day service, she expressed uncertainty about funding for long-term projects.

“My commitment is as strong as ever to making sure that [the MTA has] what they need for the day-to-day services that New Yorkers deserve to have. Next step is also then, how you fund the longer-term strategies for these improvements which we all agree on,” she said.

The Second Avenue subway expansion had seen recent progress with a $182 million contract awarded earlier this year to begin relocating underground utilities from 105th to 110th streets.

However, the cost for completing phase two of the project, which would extend the line to 125th Street in East Harlem, is expected to total $7.7 billion. The federal government awarded the project a $3.4 billion grant, but that was contingent on the MTA matching it with $4.3 billion originally slated to come from congestion pricing revenue.

The concept of a Second Avenue subway station dates back to the 1920s, but phase one was only completed in 2017, when new stations opened at 72nd, 86th and 96th streets.

MTA officials plan to discuss more details of their revised construction plans during a board meeting next week, Torres-Springer said.